Orthopaedic implants

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9539037-B2
Application number	US-201113701548-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 3, 2011
Priority date	Jun 3, 2010
Publication date	Jan 10, 2017
Grant date	Jan 10, 2017

Abstract

An orthopedic implant including a body defining at least one landmark and a probe comprising a sensor spaced apart from the at least one landmark a set distance. The probe and sensor being releasably fixed to the body of the implant to limit movement of the sensor relative to the at least one landmark.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An orthopaedic implant comprising:
a body defining at least one landmark, the body defining a longitudinal groove along an outer surface of the body, the longitudinal groove comprising a driving end portion and a non-driving end portion and having a length along the driving end portion and non-driving end portion, wherein the longitudinal groove is defined at least in part by side walls and a floor connecting the side walls;
a probe comprising a sensor, the sensor being spaced apart from the at least one landmark a set distance, the probe and sensor being releasably fixable to the body of the implant to limit movement of the sensor relative to the at least one landmark; and
wherein the body comprises multiple discrete receiving portions configured to releasably fix the probe to the body, the receiving portions being spaced apart along the length of the longitudinal groove, wherein each of the discrete receiving portions comprises a portion of one of the side walls that is shaped to press a section of the probe received in the receiving portion against the floor.

2. The implant of claim 1 , wherein the body defines a cannula that extends generally parallel to the longitudinal groove, the longitudinal groove being offset from the cannula; and
wherein the body comprises a wall that separates the cannula from the longitudinal groove.

3. The implant of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is located in the non-driving end portion of the longitudinal groove.

4. The implant of claim 1 , wherein longitudinal groove comprises at least a portion along the length of the longitudinal groove wherein the side walls each form an acute angle with the floor.

5. The implant of claim 4 , wherein the longitudinal groove comprises at least a second portion along the length of the longitudinal groove wherein the side walls each form an angle of approximately 90 degrees or greater with the floor.

6. The implant of claim 4 , wherein a length of the portion where the side walls each form an acute angle with the floor is between about 0.025 inches to about 0.5 inches.

7. The implant of claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal groove receives the probe and sensor in one of a releasable interference fit, press fit, friction fit, or snap fit.

8. The implant of claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal groove receives the probe and sensor in a clearance fit and the probe is coupled to the driving end of the groove.

9. The implant of claim 8 , wherein the probe is prevented from rotation and translation within the groove.

10. The implant of claim 8 , further comprising a cover for the groove.

11. The implant of claim 10 , wherein the cover is laser-welded to at least a portion of one of the groove and the implant.

12. The implant of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the longitudinal groove comprises one of a dovetail, polygonal, oval, keyhole, or circular cross-sectional shape.

13. The implant of claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal groove is configured to receive the probe such that an outer surface of the probe is positioned at or below an outer surface of the body of the implant,
wherein each of the discrete receiving portions comprises a structure that extends into or over a portion of the longitudinal groove to releasably fix a portion of the probe in the longitudinal groove.

14. The implant of claim 13 , wherein the groove comprises an opening to the outer surface of the implant, wherein the opening is located along the length of the groove along at a particular receiving portion of the receiving portions, and wherein the opening has a width perpendicular to the length of the groove, and the width of the opening at the particular receiving portion is less than a diameter of the probe that is received in the particular receiving portion.

15. The implant of claim 14 , wherein the opening to the outer surface of the implant extends along the length of the longitudinal groove proximally beyond the particular retaining portion and distally beyond the particular retaining portion, and
wherein, at locations that are proximal and distal to the particular retaining portion and are adjacent to the particular retaining portion, the opening has a width perpendicular to the length of the longitudinal groove that is equal to or greater than the diameter of the probe.

16. The implant of claim 1 , wherein the landmark is selected from the group consisting of a structure, a hole filler, a polymer screw hole window, a void, a boss, a channel, a detent, a flange, a groove, a member, a partition a step, an aperture, a bore, a cavity, a dimple, a duct, a gap, a notch, an orifice, a passage, a slit, a hole, or a slot.

17. The implant of claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal groove comprises an opening to the outer surface of the implant, the opening extending to the outer surface of the implant along the driving end portion of the longitudinal groove, along the non-driving end portion of the longitudinal groove, and from the driving end portion of the longitudinal groove to the non-driving end portion of the longitudinal groove.

18. The implant of claim 1 , the body has proximal portion, a distal portion, and a transition section forming an obtuse angle between the proximal portion and the distal portion,
wherein at least one of the retaining portions is located at or adjacent to the transition section.

19. The implant of claim 1 , wherein the body defines a recess at the non-driving end portion of the longitudinal groove; and
wherein the probe has a bushing located distal to the sensor, the bushing having an extension configured to mate with the recess to secure the bushing to the body,
the bushing having a perforation located between the extension and the sensor, wherein the bushing has a force of breakage at the perforation that is less than a force of breakage of portions of the probe located proximal to the perforation.

20. A method comprising:
releasably fixing a probe comprising a sensor to an orthopaedic implant such that (i) the sensor is spaced apart from at least one landmark defined in the orthopaedic implant a set distance, and (ii) discrete receiving portions spaced apart along a length of the orthopaedic implant releasably retain the probe in the orthopaedic implant; and
after releasably fixing the probe to the orthopaedic implant, calibrating the sensor to determine a spatial relationship between the sensor and the at least one landmark.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein fixing the probe includes placing the probe in a clearance fit in a longitudinal groove formed in the implant and coupling a driving end of the probe to the implant such that the probe is limited from rotating and translating within the groove.

22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising removing the probe and the sensor from the orthopaedic implant following implantation of the implant into a body.

23. The method of claim 20 , wherein releasably fixing the probe and the sensor to the implant comprises placing at least a portion of the probe into at least one longitudinal section of a longitudinal groove formed in the implant, the at least one longitudinal section of the longitudinal groove configured to receive the probe in one of a interference fit, press fit, friction fit, or snap fit.

24. The method of claim 20 , wherein the orthopaedic implant an outer surface and a longitudinal groove defined along the length of the orthopaedic implant, the longitudinal groove having an openi

Assignees

• Janna Sied W
• Ritchey Nicholas S
• Keltner Graham Ralph
• Faber Henry B
• Watanabe Kohsuke
• Smith & Nephew Inc

Inventors

• Janna Sied W
• Ritchey Nicholas S
• Keltner Graham Ralph
• Faber Henry B
• Watanabe Kohsuke

Classifications

• A61B17/1707 Primary

  using electromagnetic effects, e.g. with magnet and external sensors · CPC title

• A61B17/1725

  for applying transverse screws or pins through intramedullary nails or pins · CPC title

• A61B17/72 Primary

  Intramedullary devices, e.g. pins or nails · CPC title