System and method for transmitting orthopaedic implant data

Abstract

A system and method for transmitting implant data includes an orthopaedic implant, a wireless receiver, and a processing circuit electrically coupled to the wireless receiver. The orthopaedic implant is configured to transmit implant identification data and implant sensor data to the wireless receiver in response to a power signal. The orthopedic implant may transfer the data over, for example, a wireless network. The processing circuit receives the implant identification data and the implant sensor data from the wireless receiver and is configured to retrieve patient-related data from a database based on the implant identification data. The processing circuit may also be configured to update a patient queue, assign a patient room to a patient, and/or transmit the patient-related data and the implant sensor data to a client machine located in the patient room.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A system for transmitting orthopaedic data, the system comprising:
 an orthopaedic device to be positioned between a femur and a tibia of a knee joint during surgery, the orthopaedic device comprising (i) one or more sensors to generate output data indicative of a characteristic of the knee joint, (ii) an antenna, and (iii) transmitter circuitry to wirelessly transmit the output data via the antenna; and   a wireless receiver to receive the wirelessly transmitted output data from the antenna of the orthopaedic device.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the transmitter circuitry is further to wirelessly transmit device identification data of the orthopaedic device via the antenna. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the wireless receiver is further to receive the wirelessly transmitted device identification data from the antenna of the orthopaedic device. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the orthopaedic device further comprises processing circuitry to process the output data before the output data is wirelessly transmitted via the antenna. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a controller to process the output data after the output data is received via the wireless receiver. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising a display screen to display at least one of the output data and information derived from the output data. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise a pressure sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise a load sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise a strain sensor. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise a plurality of pressure sensors. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise a plurality of load sensors. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise a plurality of strain sensors. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise at least two of a pressure sensor, a load sensor, and a strain sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the transmitter circuitry is to wirelessly transmit the output data via the antenna using a carrier frequency of about 2.4 gigahertz. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the transmitter circuitry is to wirelessly transmit the output data via the antenna using a carrier frequency of a wireless local area network. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the transmitter circuitry is to wirelessly transmit the output data via the antenna using a carrier frequency in the 2.4 gigahertz unlicensed band. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the transmitter circuitry is to wirelessly transmit the output data via the antenna using a carrier frequency in a range of about 2.4 gigahertz to about 2.483 gigahertz. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the transmitter circuitry is to wirelessly transmit the output data via the antenna using a carrier frequency in a range of about  125  kilohertz to about  143  kilohertz. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the transmitter circuitry is to wirelessly transmit the output data via the antenna using a carrier frequency in a range of about 13.553 megahertz to about 13.567 megahertz. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the transmitter circuitry is to wirelessly transmit the output data via the antenna using a Bluetooth transmission protocol.