Adjustable implant, system and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12496103-B2
Application number	US-202217651586-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 18, 2022
Priority date	Feb 23, 2021
Publication date	Dec 16, 2025
Grant date	Dec 16, 2025

Abstract

Aspects of the disclosure relate to an adjustable implant configured to be implanted into a patient that includes an adjustable portion moveable relative to a housing. The adjustable implant may include various smart components for enhancing operation of the implant. Smart components may include a controller for managing operations and a transducer for communicating ultrasound data with an external interface device. Additional smart components may include a load cell within the housing for measuring an imparted load; a sensor for measuring angular position of the adjustable portion; a dual sensor arrangement for measuring imparted forces; a reed switch; a half piezo transducer; and an energy harvester.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An implant comprising:
a housing configured to be implanted into a patient body; a half-cylinder piezoelectric transducer positioned within the housing and having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, the housing completely surrounding the half-cylinder piezoelectric transducer to prevent the half-cylinder piezoelectric transducer from exposure to patient tissue; a metal backing positioned adjacent the inner diameter; a package positioned within the housing and substantially surrounding the half-cylinder piezoelectric transducer and the metal backing; and wherein the half-cylinder piezoelectric transducer is configured to directionally transmit data along an entire 180 degree circumferential direction to a receiver via an ultrasound signal; wherein the metal backing is a half-cylinder metal backing configured to reflect the ultrasound signal from the piezoelectric transducer so as to concentrate the ultrasound signal within a 180 degree radius.

2 . The implant of claim 1 , wherein the piezoelectric transducer is a 1 KHz-1 MHz piezoelectric transducer.

3 . The implant of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a titanium housing.

4 . The implant of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a non-ferrous, biocompatible metal.

5 . The implant of claim 1 , wherein the package includes a titanium package.

6 . The implant of claim 1 , wherein the package includes a non-ferrous, biocompatible metal.

7 . The implant of claim 1 , wherein the metal backing includes stainless steel.

8 . The implant of claim 1 , further comprising:
a filler positioned within the housing.

9 . The implant of claim 8 , wherein the filler includes fluorinated oil.

10 . The implant of claim 8 , wherein the filler includes silicone oil.

11 . The implant of claim 1 , further comprising an energy harvester configured to harvest energy imparted to the half-cylinder piezoelectric transducer from the implant during movement of the patient.

12 . An implant comprising:
an implant housing adapted to be implanted into a patient body; and a signal transmission device positioned within the implant housing, the signal transmission device including:
a partial-cylinder piezoelectric transducer having an inner diameter and an outer diameter;
a metal backing positioned adjacent the inner diameter; and
a package positioned within the housing and substantially surrounding the partial-cylinder piezoelectric transducer and the metal backing, wherein the implant housing completely surrounds the partial-cylinder piezoelectric transducer to prevent the partial-cylinder piezoelectric transducer from exposure to patient tissue, and the partial-cylinder piezoelectric transducer is configured to directionally transmit radially outwardly around an entire external circumferential area of the partial-cylinder piezoelectric transducer to a receiver via an ultrasound signal; wherein the metal backing is a partial-cylinder metal backing configured to reflect the ultrasound signal from the piezoelectric transducer so as to concentrate the ultrasound signal.

13 . The implant of claim 12 , wherein the piezoelectric transducer is a 100 KHz-1 MHz piezoelectric transducer.

14 . The implant of claim 12 , wherein the implant housing includes a titanium housing.

15 . The implant of claim 12 , wherein the implant housing includes a non-ferrous, biocompatible metal.

16 . The implant of claim 12 , wherein the package includes a titanium package.

17 . The implant of claim 12 , wherein the package includes a non-ferrous biocompatible metal.

18 . The implant of claim 12 , wherein the metal backing includes stainless steel.

19 . The implant of claim 12 , further comprising:
a filler positioned within the implant housing.

20 . The implant of claim 19 , wherein the filler includes at least one of fluorinated oil, silicone oil, and an epoxy.

21 . The implant of claim 12 , wherein the signal transmission device is configured to transmit data associated with the implant to an external interface device.

22 . The implant of claim 21 , wherein the signal transmission device is configured to direction a signal laterally relative to a patient that the implant is implanted therein.

23 . The implant of claim 1 , wherein the half-cylinder piezoelectric transducer is a single transducer element that generates a non-directional ultrasound signal.

24 . The implant of claim 12 , wherein the half-cylinder piezoelectric transducer is a single transducer element that generates a non-directional ultrasound signal.

Assignees

• Nuvasive Specialized Orthopedics Inc

Inventors

• Smidth Niels
• Bae Youngsam
• Pham Khoa
• Wilt Kyle Richard

Classifications

• A61B2017/00362

  Packages or dispensers for MIS instruments (A61B2017/0479 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G16H20/40

  relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture · CPC title

• A61B2017/681

  Alignment, compression, or distraction mechanisms · CPC title

• A61B2562/0261

  Strain gauges · CPC title

• A61B2562/0252

  Load cells · CPC title