Systems and methods for measuring performance parameters related to artificial orthopedic joints

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017196507-A1
Application number	US-201515319936-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 19, 2015
Priority date	Jun 19, 2014
Publication date	Jul 13, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A joint monitoring system for measuring performance parameters associated with an orthopedic articular joint comprises a force sensing module and an inertial measurement units. The sensing module comprises a housing that engages with the joint articular surface having a medial portion and a lateral portion. The sensing module also includes a first and second set of sensors disposed within the housing. The first set of sensors are mechanically coupled to the medial portion of the particular surface and configured to detect information of a force incident upon the medial portion of the articular surface. The second set of sensors are mechanically coupled to the lateral portion of the articular surface and configured to detect information a force incident upon a lateral portion of the articular surface. The inertial measurement unit is configured to detect an orientation of at least one of a first and second bone of a knee joint.

First claim

1 . A computer-implemented method for tracking performance parameters associated with a prosthetic orthopedic articular joint, the method comprising:
receiving, at a processor associated with a computer, first information indicative of a plurality of forces detected at an articular interface between a first bone and a second bone of a patient; receiving, at the processor, second information indicative of an orientation of at least one of the first bone and the second bone; estimating, by the processor, a respective magnitude of each of the forces detected at the articular interface, the estimated magnitude of each of the forces based, at least in part, on the first information; estimating, by the processor, an orientation angle associated with at least one of the first bone and the second bone relative to a reference axis, wherein the orientation angle is at least partially based on the second information; and providing, by the processor, third information indicative of the estimated magnitude of each of the forces relative to the orientation angle associated with the at least one of the first bone and the second bone relative to the reference axis.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
estimating, by the processor, a respective location of each of the forces detected at the articular interface, wherein the estimated location of each of the forces is at least partially based on the first information; wherein the third information is further indicative of the estimated location of each of the forces detected at the articular surface.

3 . (canceled)

4 . (canceled)

5 . (canceled)

6 . (canceled)

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving second information indicative of the orientation of the at least one of the first bone and the second bone includes receiving information indicative of a rate of angular rotation of the at least one of the first bone and the second bone and information indicative of linear acceleration of the at least one of the first bone and the second bone, wherein estimating the orientation angle associated with the at least one of the first bone and the second bone relative to the reference axis is based, at least in part, on the information indicative of the rate of angular rotation and the information indicative of the linear acceleration.

8 . A computer-implemented method for tracking performance parameters associated with a prosthetic orthopedic articular joint, the prosthetic orthopedic articular joint comprising a bearing having a bearing surface, the method comprising:
receiving, at a processor associated with a computer, first information indicative of wear of the bearing surface detected at an articular interface between a first bone and a second bone of a patient; receiving, at the processor, second information indicative of the time between the patient receiving the prosthetic orthopedic joint and each instance of the first information; estimating, by the processor, a rate of wear of the bearing surface for any given time period based at least in part on the first information and the second information; estimating, by the processor, total wear of the bearing surface at any given time based at least in part on the first information and the second information.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising displaying, on a user interface, at least one of the rate of wear and the total wear of the bearing surface.

10 . (canceled)

11 . (canceled)

12 . An implantable sensing module for measuring performance parameters associated with a prosthetic orthopedic articular joint, comprising:
a first set of sensors disposed within a housing, the first set of sensors being mechanically coupled to a medial portion of an articular surface and configured to detect information indicative of a first force incident upon the medial portion of the articular surface; a second set of sensors disposed within the housing, the second set of sensors being mechanically coupled to a lateral portion of the articular surface and configured to detect information indicative of a second force incident upon the lateral portion of the articular surface, and at least one inertial measurement unit configured to detect information indicative of an orientation associated with the implantable sensing module.

13 . The implantable sensing module of claim 12 , further comprising a processor configured to estimate, based at least in part on the force values detected by the first set of sensors, a magnitude and a location of a force associated with the first force incident upon the medial portion of the surface, or estimate, based at least in part on the force values detected by the second set of sensors, a magnitude and a location of a center of force associated with the second force incident upon the lateral portion of the articular surface.

14 . (canceled)

15 . The implantable sensing module of claim 12 , wherein the first set of sensors includes a transducer, the transducer comprising:
a respective cantilever component at least a portion of which is configured to deform in response to the first force incident upon the medial portion of the articular surface; and a respective strain gauge coupled to the respective cantilever component and configured to measure the deformation in the respective cantilever component; wherein at least a portion of each cantilever component associated with the transducer is mechanically supported at a proximal end by a base component.

16 . (canceled)

17 . The implantable sensing module of claim 12 , further comprising a wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit the information indicative of the first and second forces to a remote processing module.

18 . (canceled)

19 . The implantable sensing module of claim 12 , wherein the at least one inertial measurement unit comprises at least one of a gyroscope, an accelerometer, or a magnetometer.

20 . The implantable sensing module of claim 12 , wherein the at least one inertial measurement unit comprises a gyroscope and an accelerometer.

21 . An implantable sensing module for measuring performance parameters associated with a prosthetic orthopedic articular joint, comprising:
a first set of wear sensors mechanically coupled to a medial portion of a bearing surface and configured to detect information indicative of bearing surface wear on the medial portion of the articular surface; and a second set of wear sensors mechanically coupled to a lateral portion of the bearing surface and configured to detect information indicative of bearing surface wear on the lateral portion of the articular surface, wherein the first set of wear sensors or the second set of wear sensors comprises a transducer, the transducer comprising a respective inductor coil component configured to measure the proximity of a metal component on the opposite side of the bearing surface where such measurement is indicative of the thickness of the bearing surface.

22 . (canceled)

23 . The implantable sensing module of claim 21 , wherein the implantable sensing module comprises a processor configured to monitor the thickness of the bearing surface over time to determine the bearing surface wear on the medial portion or the lateral portion of the articular surface.

24 . The implantable sensing module of claim 21 , further comprising a wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit the information indicative of bearing surface wear on the medial p

Assignees

• Mirus Llc

Inventors

• Singh Angad
• Fitzsimons Philip Matthew

Classifications

• A61F2/38

  for elbows or knees · CPC title

• A61B2562/0223

  Magnetic field sensors · CPC title

• A61B5/744

  Displaying an avatar, e.g. an animated cartoon character · CPC title

• A61F2002/4666

  for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension · CPC title

• A61B5/4528

  Joints (A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence) · CPC title