Electro-stimulation and medical delivery device

Abstract

A pedicle screw for at least partial insertion into a bone and/or cartilage. The pedicle screw includes a head and a lower portion connected to the head. The lower portion includes at least one interface that designed to at least partially discharge an electrical current, and/or a medical substance to or adjacent to the bone and/or cartilage.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A bone screw for at least partial insertion into a bone and/or cartilage comprising a head and a lower portion connected to the head, said lower portion including at least one interface that is designed to at least partially discharge an electrical current, a medical substance, and combinations thereof to or adjacent to the bone and/or cartilage.  
     
     
         2 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said lower portion includes at least one cavity that contains at least one electrical mechanism, at least one mechanical mechanism, at least one medical substance, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said at least one cavity includes at least one access opening on an outer surface of said lower portion.  
     
     
         4 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said head includes at least one cavity that contains at least one electrical mechanism, at least one mechanical mechanism, at least one medical substance, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said head includes at least one cavity that contains at least one electrical mechanism, at least one mechanical mechanism, at least one medical substance, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 3 , wherein said head includes at least one cavity that contains at least one electrical mechanism, at least one mechanical mechanism, at least one medical substance, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said at least one cavity includes at least one access opening on an outer surface of said head.  
     
     
         8 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 6 , wherein said at least one cavity includes at least one access opening on an outer surface of said head.  
     
     
         9 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said at least one cavity includes at least one access opening on an outer surface of said lower portion, said head, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         10 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said medical substance includes at least one antithrombogenic agent, steroid, thioprotese inhibitor, antimicrobial, antibiotic, tissue plasma activator, monoclonal antibody, anti fibrosis compound, hormone, growth factor, anti-mitotic agent, immunosuppressive agent, sense or antisense oligonucleotide, nucleic acid analogue, inhibitor of transcription factor activity, anti-neoplastic compound, chemotherapeutic compound, radioactive agent, growth factor, antiplatlet compound, antitabolite compound, anti-inflammatory compound, anticoagulent compound, antimitotic compound, antioxidant, antimetabolite compound, anti-migratory agent, anti-matrix compound, anti-vital compound, anti-proliferative, anti-fungal compound, anti-protozoal compound, human tissue; animal tissue; synthetic tissue; human cells; animal cells; synthetic cells; bone-stimulation matter; bone-growth matter; bone activating matter; and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         11 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said medical substance includes at least one antithrombogenic agent, steroid, thioprotese inhibitor, antimicrobial, antibiotic, tissue plasma activator, monoclonal antibody, anti fibrosis compound, hormone, growth factor, anti-mitotic agent, immunosuppressive agent, sense or antisense oligonucleotide, nucleic acid analogue, inhibitor of transcription factor activity, anti-neoplastic compound, chemotherapeutic compound, radioactive agent, growth factor, antiplatlet compound, antitabolite compound, anti-inflammatory compound, anticoagulent compound, antimitotic compound, antioxidant, antimetabolite compound, anti-migratory agent, anti-matrix compound, anti-vital compound, anti-proliferative, anti-fungal compound, anti-protozoal compound, human tissue; animal tissue; synthetic tissue; human cells; animal cells; synthetic cells; bone-stimulation matter; bone-growth matter; bone activating matter, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said at least one mechanical mechanism includes a pump.  
     
     
         13 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said at least one mechanical mechanism includes a pump.  
     
     
         14 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said at least one mechanical mechanism includes a pump.  
     
     
         15 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said at least one mechanical mechanism includes a pump.  
     
     
         16 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said at least one electrical mechanism includes a battery, a generator, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         17 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said at least one electrical mechanism includes a battery, a generator, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         18 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said at least one electrical mechanism includes a battery, a generator, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         19 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said at least one electrical mechanism includes a battery, a generator, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         20 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said at least one electrical mechanism includes a battery, a generator, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         21 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said at least one electrical mechanism includes a microchip controller.  
     
     
         22 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said at least one electrical mechanism includes a microchip controller.  
     
     
         23 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said at least one mechanical mechanism includes a microchip controller.  
     
     
         24 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said at least one mechanical mechanism includes a microchip controller.  
     
     
         25 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 19 , wherein said at least one mechanical mechanism includes a microchip controller.  
     
     
         26 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said at least one mechanical mechanism includes a microchip controller.  
     
     
         27 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 18 , wherein said at least one mechanical mechanism includes a microchip controller.  
     
     
         28 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 25 , wherein said at least one mechanical mechanism includes a microchip controller.  
     
     
         29 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 3 , including a cap or cover that at least partially obstructs said access opening.  
     
     
         30 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 7 , including a cap or cover that at least partially obstructs said access opening.  
     
     
         31 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 28 , including a cap or cover that at least partially obstructs said access opening.  
     
     
         32 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 29 , wherein said cap or cover is removably inserted in or about said access opening.  
     
     
         33 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 30 , wherein said cap or cover is removably inserted in or about said access opening.  
     
     
         34 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 31 , wherein said cap or cover is removably inserted in or about said access opening.  
     
     
         35 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 29 , wherein said cap or cover is at least partially biodegradable.  
     
     
         36 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 30 , wherein said cap or cover is at least partially biodegradable.  
     
     
         37 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 31 , wherein said cap or cover is at least partially biodegradable.  
     
     
         38 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said head and/or lower portion at least partially includes a coating material, said coating material including a compound that facilitates in the insertion and/or securing of the lower portion in said bone and/or cartilage; promotes and/or inhibits bone and/or other tissue growth; inhibits rejection of said bone screw; inhibits rejection of components connected to and/or located adjacent to said bone screw; reduces infection; reduces inflammation; reduces pain; promotes healing of surrounding tissue; combats cancer and/or other diseases; combats biological abnormalities; functions as a location and/or visual indicator; and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         39 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said head and/or lower portion at least partially includes a coating material, said coating material including a compound that facilitates in the insertion and/or securing of the lower portion in said bone and/or cartilage; promotes and/or inhibits bone and/or other tissue growth; inhibits rejection of said bone screw; inhibits rejection of components connected to and/or located adjacent to said bone screw; reduces infection; reduces inflammation; reduces pain; promotes healing of surrounding tissue; combats cancer and/or other diseases; combats biological abnormalities; functions as a location and/or visual indicator; and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         40 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 4 , wherein said head and/or lower portion at least partially includes a coating material, said coating material including a compound that facilitates in the insertion and/or securing of the lower portion in said bone and/or cartilage; promotes and/or inhibits bone and/or other tissue growth; inhibits rejection of said bone screw; inhibits rejection of components connected to and/or located adjacent to said bone screw; reduces infection; reduces inflammation; reduces pain; promotes healing of surrounding tissue; combats cancer and/or other diseases; combats biological abnormalities; functions as a location and/or visual indicator; and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         41 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 34 , wherein said head and/or lower portion at least partially includes a coating material, said coating material including a compound that facilitates in the insertion and/or securing of the lower portion in said bone and/or cartilage; promotes and/or inhibits bone and/or other tissue growth; inhibits rejection of said bone screw; inhibits rejection of components connected to and/or located adjacent to said bone screw; reduces infection; reduces inflammation; reduces pain; promotes healing of surrounding tissue; combats cancer and/or other diseases; combats biological abnormalities; functions as a location and/or visual indicator; and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         42 . The bone screw as defined in  claim 37 , wherein said head and/or lower portion at least partially includes a coating material, said coating material including a compound that facilitates in the insertion and/or securing of the lower portion in said bone and/or cartilage; promotes and/or inhibits bone and/or other tissue growth; inhibits rejection of said bone screw; inhibits rejection of components connected to and/or located adjacent to said bone screw; reduces infection; reduces inflammation; reduces pain; promotes healing of surrounding tissue; combats cancer and/or other diseases; combats biological abnormalities; functions as a location and/or visual indicator; and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         43 . A connector that is a bone screw, nail or post for at least partial insertion into a bone and/or cartilage comprising a head and a lower portion connected to the head; said lower portion including at least one cavity; said cavity adapted to include at least one medical substance selected from the group consisting essentially of antithrombogenic agent, steroid, thioprotese inhibitor, antimicrobial, antibiotic, tissue plasma activator, monoclonal antibody, antifibrosis compound, hormone, growth factor, anti-mitotic agent, immunosuppressive agent, sense or antisense oligonucleotide, nucleic acid analogue, inhibitor of transcription factor activity, anti-neoplastic compound, chemotherapeutic compound, radioactive agent, growth factor, antiplatlet compound, antitabolite compound, anti-inflammatory compound, anticoagulent compound, antimitotic compound, antioxidant, antimetabolite compound, anti-migratory agent, anti-matrix compound, anti-vital compound, anti-proliferative, anti-fungal compound, anti-protozoal compound, human tissue; animal tissue; synthetic tissue; human cells; animal cells; synthetic cells; bone-stimulation matter; bone-growth matter; bone activating matter, and combinations thereof; said cavity including at least one access opening adapted to allow said at least one medical substance to flow from said at least one cavity to an outer surface of said connector.  
     
     
         44 . The connector as defined in  claim 43 , including a pump mechanism that at partially causes said at least one medical substance to flow from said at least one cavity, through said at least one access opening and to an outer surface of said connector.  
     
     
         45 . The connector as defined in  claim 44 , wherein said a pump mechanism is at least partially contained in said head, said lower portion, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         46 . The connector as defined in  claim 44 , wherein said pump mechanism is at least partially attached to said head, said lower portion, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         47 . The connector as defined in  claim 45 , wherein said pump mechanism is at least partially attached to said head, said lower portion, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         48 . The connector as defined in  claim 44 , wherein said pump mechanism includes at least one MEMS, said MEMS at least partially controlling a rate of flow of said at least one medical substance from said at least one cavity, through said at least one access opening and to an outer surface of said connector.  
     
     
         49 . The connector as defined in  claim 44 , wherein said pump mechanism includes at least one microchip, said microchip at least partially controlling a rate of flow of said at least one medical substance from said at least one cavity, through said at least one access opening and to an outer surface of said connector.  
     
     
         50 . A connector that is a bone screw, nail or post for at least partial insertion into a bone and/or cartilage comprising a head and a lower portion connected to the head; said lower portion including at least one cavity; said cavity adapted to at least partially include at least one electrical mechanism, said electrical mechanism adapted to discharge a current to said bone and/or tissue positioned at least closely adjacent to said connector.  
     
     
         51 . The connector as defined in  claim 50 , including an electrical source selected from the group consisting of a battery, electric generator, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         52 . The connector as defined in  claim 50 , including at least one electrical contact point at an outer surface of said head and/or lower portion.  
     
     
         53 . The connector as defined in  claim 50 , wherein said a electrical mechanism is at least partially contained in said head, said lower portion, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         54 . The connector as defined in  claim 50 , wherein said electrical mechanism is at least partially attached to said head, said lower portion, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         55 . The connector as defined in  claim 53 , wherein said electrical mechanism is at least partially attached to said head, said lower portion, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         56 . The connector as defined in  claim 50 , wherein said electrical mechanism includes at least one MEMS, said MEMS at least partially controlling a rate of discharge of current.  
     
     
         57 . The connector as defined in  claim 50 , wherein said electrical mechanism includes at least one microchip, said microchip at least partially controlling a rate of discharge of current.  
     
     
         58 . A method of at least partially inserting a connector into a bone and/or cartilage comprising: 
 a) selecting a connector that includes a bone screw, nail or post having a head and a lower portion connected to the head, said lower portion and/or head including at least one interface that at least partially discharges an electrical current, a medical substance, and combinations thereof to and/or adjacent to the bone and/or cartilage, said interface including at least one access opening, at at least one electric contact point, and combinations thereof;    b) at least partially inserting said connector into said bone and/or cartilage; and,    c) discharging the electrical current, the medical substance, and combinations thereof to promote healing of said bone and/or cartilage about said connector.