Sensored prosthetic component and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9492115-B2
Application number	US-201414182182-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 17, 2014
Priority date	Jun 30, 2009
Publication date	Nov 15, 2016
Grant date	Nov 15, 2016

Abstract

A prosthetic component suitable for long-term implantation is provided. The prosthetic component includes electronic circuitry and sensors to measure a parameter of the muscular-skeletal system. The prosthetic component comprises a first structure having at least one support surface, a second structure having at least one feature configured to couple to bone. The electronic circuitry and sensors are hermetically sealed within the prosthetic component. Sensors can be used to monitor synovial fluid in proximity to the joint to determine joint health. The prosthetic component can include a temperature sensor, a pH sensor, and an optical sensor. The temperature, pH, color, and turbidity of the synovial fluid can be correlated to a variety of joint conditions. Measurements over time can be analyzed for trends. The temperature, pH, color, and tubidity can be calibrated for the patient. The measurements are compared against this patient reference.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A prosthetic component comprising:
a temperature sensor configured to couple to synovial fluid in proximity to the prosthetic component;
at least one photo-diode configured to measure a region outside the prosthetic component; and
electronic circuitry coupled to the temperature sensor and the at least one photo-diode wherein the electronic circuitry is housed in the prosthetic component, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to measure synovial fluid temperature, wherein the at least one photo-diode is configured to monitor synovial fluid, wherein the electronic circuitry controls a measurement process and transmits measurement data to a computer and wherein the measurement data from the temperature sensor and the at least one photo-diode is used to determine a presence of an infection.

2. The prosthetic component of claim 1 further including a pH sensor coupled to the electronic circuitry wherein the pH sensor is configured to measure a pH of the synovial fluid.

3. The prosthetic component of claim 2 wherein at least one sensor in the prosthetic component is shielded to reduce parasitic coupling.

4. The prosthetic component of claim 1 wherein the prosthetic component includes a transmissive region, wherein the transmissive region of the prosthetic component is between the photo-diode and the synovial fluid, and wherein the transmissive region is transmissive to light.

5. The prosthetic component of claim 1 wherein the prosthetic component includes a transmissive region and wherein the transmissive region is transmissive to radio frequency signals to support transmission of the measurement data.

6. The prosthetic component of claim 1 further including at least one load sensor to measure a load applied by a musculoskeletal system to the prosthetic component.

7. The prosthetic component of claim 1 further including at least one light emitting diode coupled to the electronic circuitry and wherein the light emitting diode is configured to illuminate the synovial fluid for detection by the photo-diode.

8. The prosthetic component of claim 7 wherein the photo-diode is configured to measure turbidity of the synovial fluid.

9. The prosthetic component of claim 7 wherein the photo-diode is configured to measure color of the synovial fluid.

10. A prosthetic component comprising:
a temperature sensor configured to couple to synovial fluid in proximity to the prosthetic component;
at least one load sensor configured to measure a load applied by the musculoskeletal system to the prosthetic component;
at least one photo-diode configured to measure a region outside the prosthetic component in support of detecting synovial fluid color; and
electronic circuitry coupled to the temperature sensor, at least one load-sensor, and the at least one photo-diode where the electronic circuitry is housed in the prosthetic component, where the electronic circuitry is configured to control a measurement process and transmit measurement data to a computer, where one of the temperature sensor, at least one load sensor, or the at least one photo-diode is shielded, and where measurement data from the temperature sensor and the at least one photo-diode is used to determine a presence of an infection.

11. The prosthetic component of claim 10 further including a pH sensor coupled to the electronic circuitry wherein the pH sensor is configured to measure a pH of the synovial fluid.

12. The prosthetic component of claim 10 wherein the prosthetic component includes a transmissive region, wherein the transmissive region of the prosthetic component is between the photo-diode and the synovial fluid, and wherein the transmissive region is transmissive to light.

13. The prosthetic component of claim 10 where the at least one photo-diode is configured to measure synovial fluid turbidity.

14. The prosthetic component of claim 10 where at least one light emitting diode is coupled to the electronic circuitry and where the at least one light emitting diode is configured to illuminate synovial fluid in proximity to the prosthetic component.

15. The prosthetic component of claim 10 wherein the prosthetic component includes a transmissive region, wherein the transmissive region of the prosthetic component is between the photo-diode and the synovial fluid, and wherein the transmissive region is transmissive to light.

16. A prosthetic component comprising:
a temperature sensor configured to couple to synovial fluid in proximity to the prosthetic component;
at least one photo-diode configured to measure a region outside the prosthetic component in support of measuring synovial fluid turbidity;
at least one load sensor configured to measure a load applied by a musculoskeletal system to the prosthetic component;
and
electronic circuitry coupled to the temperature sensor, at least one load-sensor, and the at least one photo-diode where the electronic circuitry is housed in the prosthetic component, where the electronic circuitry is configured to control a measurement process and transmit measurement data to a computer, where one of the temperature sensor, at least one load sensor, or the at least one photo-diode is shielded, and the at least one photo-diode is used to determine a presence of an infection.

17. The prosthetic component of 16 further including a pH sensor coupled to the electronic circuitry wherein the pH sensor is configured to measure a pH of the synovial fluid.

18. The prosthetic component of claim 16 wherein the prosthetic component includes a transmissive region, wherein the transmissive region of the prosthetic component is between the photo-diode and the synovial fluid, and wherein the transmissive region is transmissive to light.

19. The prosthetic component of claim 16 where at least one light emitting diode is coupled to the electronic circuitry and where the at least one light emitting diode is configured to illuminate synovial fluid in proximity to the prosthetic component.

20. The prosthetic component of claim 16 where the at least one optical sensor further supports detection of synovial fluid color.

Assignees

• Orthosensor Inc

Inventors

• Stein Marc
• Chase Andrew
• Keggi John
• Bonnheim Noah
• Burkhard Natalie
• Henson Philip

Classifications

• A61B5/01 Primary

  Measuring temperature of body parts {; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue} (clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20) · CPC title

• A61B5/4851 Primary

  Prosthesis assessment or monitoring · CPC title

• A61B5/6846

  specially adapted to be brought in contact with an internal body part, i.e. invasive · CPC title

• A61B5/0022

  Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet · CPC title

• A61B5/0084

  for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters (A61B5/1459 takes precedence) · CPC title