Devices, systems and methods for using and monitoring spinal implants

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017196508-A1
Application number	US-201515320284-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 25, 2015
Priority date	Jun 25, 2014
Publication date	Jul 13, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Spinal device/implants are provided, comprising a spinal device/implant and a sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An implantable medical device, comprising a pedicle screw, and a sensor.

2 . An implantable medical device, comprising a spinal wire, and a sensor.

3 . An implantable medical device, comprising a spinal rod, and a sensor.

4 . An implantable medical device, comprising a spinal plate, and a sensor.

5 . An implantable medical device, comprising a spinal cage, and a sensor.

6 . An implantable medical device, comprising an artificial disc, and a sensor.

7 . An implantable medical device kit, comprising a pedicle screw, a spinal rod and a sensor.

8 . An implantable medical device kit, comprising a pedicle screw, a spinal plate and a sensor.

9 . An implantable medical device, comprising a polymer and a sensor.

10 . The medical device according to claim 9 wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of a polymethylmethacrylate, a methylmethacrylate-styrene copolymer, fibrin, polyethylene glycol, carboxymethylcellulose, and polyvinylalcohol.

11 . An implantable medical device, comprising a kyphoplasty balloon, and a sensor.

12 . The medical device according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein said sensor is located within said implant.

13 . The medical device according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein said sensor is located on said implant.

14 . The medical device according to any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein said device is sterile.

15 . The medical device according to any one of claims 1 to 14 wherein said sensor is a contact sensor.

16 . The medical device according to any one of claims 1 to 14 wherein said sensor is a pressure sensor.

17 . The medical device according to any one of claims 1 to 14 wherein said sensor is an accelerometer sensor.

18 . The medical device according to claim 17 wherein said accelerometer detects acceleration, tilt, vibration, shock and or rotation.

19 . The medical device according to any one of claims 1 to 14 wherein said sensor is a temperature sensor.

20 . The medical device according to any one of claims 1 to 14 wherein said sensor is a mechanical stress sensor.

21 . The medical device according to any one of claims 1 to 14 wherein said sensor is selected from the group consisting of position sensors, chemical microsensors, and tissue metabolic sensors.

22 . The medical device according to any one of claims 1 to 22 further comprising:
an electronic processor positioned upon and/or inside the spinal device/implant or medical device that is electrically coupled to sensors.

23 . The medical device according to claim 22 wherein the electric coupling is a wireless coupling.

24 . The medical device according to claim 22 further including:
a memory coupled to the electronic processor and positioned upon and/or inside the spinal device/implant or medical device.

25 . The medical device according to any one of claims 1 to 24 wherein said sensor is a plurality of sensors which are positioned on or within said medical device at a density of greater than 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or 20 sensors per square centimeter.

26 . The medical device according to any one of claims 1 to 24 wherein said sensor is a plurality of sensors which are positioned on or within said medical device at a density of greater than 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or 20 sensors per cubic centimeter.

27 . A method comprising:
obtaining data from sensors positioned at a plurality of locations between on and/or within the medical device according to any one of claims 1 to 26 of a patient; storing the data in a memory device located on or within the medical device; and transferring the data from the memory to a location outside the medical device.

28 . The method according to claim 27 further comprising the step of analyzing said data.

29 . A method for detecting and/or recording an event in a subject with the medical device according to any one of claims 1 to 26 , comprising the step of interrogating at a desired point in time the activity of one or more sensors within the medical device, and recording said activity.

30 . The method according to claim 29 wherein the step of interrogating is performed by a subject which has said medical device.

31 . The method according to claim 29 or 30 wherein said recording is performed on a wearable device.

32 . The method according to any one of claim 29 , 30 or 31 , wherein said recording, or a portion thereof, is provided to a health care provider.

33 . A method for imaging the medical device in the spine, comprising the steps of
(a) detecting the location of one or more sensors in the medical device according to any one of claims 1 to 26 ; and (b) visually displaying the location of said one or more sensors, such that an image of the medical device, or a portion thereof, in the spine is created.

34 . The method according to claim 33 wherein the step of detecting occurs over time.

35 . The method according to claim 33 or 34 , wherein said visual display shows changes in the positions of said sensors over time, and/or changes in temperature of the sensors or surrounding tissue over time.

36 . The method according to any one of claims 33 to 35 wherein said visual display is a three-dimensional image of said medical device in the spine.

37 . A method for inserting the spinal device/implant according to any one of claims 1 to 26 , comprising the steps of
(a) inserting an implantable medical device according to any one of claims 1 to 26 into a subject; and
(b) imaging the placement of said medical device according to the method of an one of claims 33 to 36 .

38 . A method for examining the spinal device/implant according to any one of claims 1 to 26 which has been previously inserted into a patient, comprising the step of imaging the spinal device/implant according to the method of any one of claims 33 to 36 .

39 . A method of monitoring a spinal device/implant within a subject, comprising:
(a) transmitting a wireless electrical signal from a location outside the body to a location inside the subject's body; (b) receiving the signal at a sensor positioned on a spinal device/implant according to any one of claims 1 to 26 located inside the body; (c) powering the sensor using the received signal; (d) sensing data at the sensor; and (e) outputting the sensed data from the sensor to a receiving unit located outside of the body.

40 . The method according to claim 39 wherein said receiving unit is a watch, wrist band, cell phone or glasses.

41 . The method according to claim 39 or 40 wherein said receiving unit is located within a subject's residence or office.

42 . The method according to claims any one of claims 39 to 41 wherein said sensed data is provided to a health care provider.

43 . The method according to any one of claims 39 to 42 wherein said sensed data is posted to one or more websites.

44 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium whose stored contents configure a computing

Assignees

• Canary Medical Inc

Inventors

• Hunter William L

Classifications

• A61B17/7074

  Tools specially adapted for spinal fixation operations other than for bone removal or filler handling (A61B17/7062, A61B17/808, A61B17/8858 take precedence; for spinal image producing devices A61B90/36, A61B34/20; markers A61B90/39) · CPC title

• A61F2002/30985

  using three dimensional printing [3DP] · CPC title

• A61F2/4455

  for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages (intervertebral discs A61F2/442) · CPC title

• A61B5/6853

  with a balloon · CPC title

• A61B17/7049

  Connectors, not bearing on the vertebrae, for linking longitudinal elements together (A61B17/7055, A61B17/7053, A61B17/7019 take precedence) · CPC title