Medical devices, systems and methods for monitoring and stimulating osteogenesis

Abstract

Devices, systems and/or methods for monitoring and/or stimulating osteogenesis use sensor data from a target site of a bone to produce a quantitative output that can be used to determine the healing rate of the patient, when the bone at the target has fully consolidated and/or to direct further treatment of the patient.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A device for characterizing and monitoring a condition of a bone and associated tissues, the device comprising:
 a plurality of transmitters configured to be positioned on a skin surface proximate to a target site related to the bone and the associated tissues;   a plurality of receivers configured to be positioned on the skin surface proximate to the target site; and   a controller including a processing unit and a memory, the controller coupled to the plurality of transmitters and the plurality of receivers, the controller configured to operate the plurality of transmitters to transmit a first plurality of ultrasound signals to the target site, and the controller configured to operate the plurality of receivers to receive a second plurality of ultrasound signals from the target site.   
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18  wherein each of the plurality of transmitters is configured to transmit at least one of the first plurality of ultrasound signals. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 18  wherein the plurality of transmitters and the plurality of receivers are configured to be applied to the skin surface. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 18  further comprising:
 a support structure configured to carry the plurality of transmitters and the plurality of receivers. 
 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21  wherein the support structure is a sleeve configured to be disposed externally on the skin surface about the bone, and the plurality of transmitters and the plurality of receivers are spaced at radial intervals around the sleeve to surround the target site. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 21  wherein the support structure is a relatively flat body configured to be held against the skin surface, and the plurality of transmitters and the plurality of receivers are arranged on the relatively flat body in an array comprising multiple rows and multiple columns. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 18  wherein the plurality of transmitters and the plurality of receivers are arranged in an array comprising multiple rows and multiple columns. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 18  wherein the controller is configured to operate the plurality of transmitters to sequentially transmit the first plurality of ultrasound signals to the target site. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 18  wherein the controller is configured to operate the plurality of transmitters to simultaneously transmit the first plurality of ultrasound signals to the target site. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 18  wherein the controller is configured to operate the plurality of transmitters to transmit the first plurality of ultrasound signals to the target site with an overlapping length of wave transmission. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 18  wherein the controller is configured to operate the plurality of transmitters to transmit the first plurality of ultrasound signals to the target site with a non-overlapping length of wave transmission. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 18  wherein the controller is configured to operate the plurality of transmitters to transmit the first plurality of ultrasound signals to the target site with a partially overlapping length of wave transmission. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 18  wherein the plurality of transmitters are configured to transmit waves at a plurality of frequencies. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 18  wherein at least one of the plurality of transmitters is a transceiver. 
     
     
         32 . A method for characterizing and monitoring a condition of a bone and associated tissues, the method comprising:
 positioning a plurality of transmitters on a skin surface proximate to a target site related to the bone and the associated tissues;   positioning a plurality of receivers on the skin surface proximate to the target site; and   transmitting a first plurality of ultrasound signals from the plurality of transmitters to the target site; and   receiving a second plurality of ultrasound signals at the plurality of receivers from the target site.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the plurality of transmitters and the plurality of receivers are individually activated contingent on a fracture healing stage at the target site in the bone. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the plurality of transmitters and the plurality of receivers are individually activated contingent on a fracture healing trend at the target site in the bone. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 32  wherein the second plurality of ultrasound signals are generated by interactions of the first plurality of ultrasound signals with the target site. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32  wherein a pre-existing condition of the bone is used to determine a number and respective locations of the plurality of transmitters, and a number and respective locations of the plurality of receivers. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein the pre-existing condition of the bone is a type of fracture in the bone, a location of a fracture within the bone, a type of bone tissue, a part of the bone, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 33  wherein the first plurality of ultrasound signals are transmitted in a transmission path of relative to the target site that is anterior-to-posterior, posterior-to-anterior, anterior-to-anterior, posterior-to-posterior, medial-to-lateral, medial-to-lateral, medial-to-medial, lateral-to-lateral, or a combination thereof.