System, method, and device for monitoring orthopaedic implant data over a cellular network

Abstract

A system, method, and device for monitoring implant sensor data over a cellular network includes a portable computing device, a controller, and an orthopaedic prosthesis configured to communicate with the controller over the cellular network. The orthopaedic prosthesis includes one or more implant sensors configured to generate implant sensor data and a cellular transmitter or transceiver configured to transmit the implant sensor data to the controller over the cellular network. The controller or the orthopaedic prosthesis may initiate the cellular communication. The implant sensor data is transmitted to the portable computing device by the controller. The portable computing device is configured to display the implant sensor data, or indicia thereof, to a user. The portable computing device and controller may also be used to update one or more programs executed by the orthopaedic prosthesis.

1 . A system for monitoring implant data over a cellular network, the system comprising:
 a controller; and   an orthopaedic prosthesis having a cellular transceiver configured to communicate with the controller over the cellular network.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the orthopaedic prosthesis includes a sensor configured to generate implant sensor data and wherein the cellular transceiver is configured to transmit the implant sensor data to the controller over the cellular network. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a portable computing device configured to communicate with the controller over a network, wherein the controller is configured to transmit the implant sensor data to the portable computing device. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the portable computing device is configured to display indicia of the implant sensor data to a user of the portable computing device. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a portable computing device configured to communicate with the controller over a network. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the portable computing device is configured to transmit an implant serial number and a passcode to the controller over the network. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising a database communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to verify an association between the implant serial number and the passcode using data stored in the database. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising a database communicatively coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to retrieve contact data associated with the orthopaedic prosthesis from the database based on the implant serial number. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the controller is configured to initiate cellular communication with the orthopaedic prosthesis using the contact data. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to transmit programming data to the orthopaedic prosthesis over the cellular network and the orthopaedic prosthesis is configured to update a program of a processor of the orthopaedic prosthesis using the programming data. 
     
     
         11 . A method of monitoring implant sensor data over a cellular network, the method comprising receiving the implant sensor data from a cellular transmitter secured to an orthopaedic prosthesis implanted in a patient. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 receiving an implant serial number and a passcode from a portable computing device; and   verifying an association between the implant serial number and the passcode.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein verifying an association between the implant serial number and the passcode comprises retrieving data from a database and comparing the data to the implant serial number and the passcode. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 (i) retrieving contact data associated with the orthopaedic prosthesis from a database based on the implant serial number; and   (ii) initiating cellular communication with the orthopaedic prosthesis using the contact data.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 (i) retrieving implant sensor data from a memory device of the orthopaedic prosthesis; and   (ii) transmitting the retrieved implant sensor data over the cellular network.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 (i) receiving a first implant serial number over a cellular network;   (ii) retrieving a second implant serial number from a memory device of the orthopaedic prosthesis;   (iii) comparing the first implant serial number and the second implant serial number; and   (iv) transmitting the implant sensor data over the cellular network based on the comparing step.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising transmitting the implant sensor data to a portable computing device and displaying indicia of the implant sensor data on the portable computing device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 (i) receiving the implant sensor data from an implant sensor of the orthopaedic prosthesis;   (ii) comparing the implant sensor data to a predetermined threshold; and   (iii) transmitting the implant sensor data over the cellular network using a cellular transmitter of the orthopaedic prosthesis based on the comparing step.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 (i) transmitting programming data to the orthopaedic prosthesis over the cellular network; and   (ii) updating a program of the orthopaedic prosthesis using the programming data.