Portable Kinematic Joint Tracking System

Abstract

Disclosed herein are joint implants and methods for tracking joint implant performance. Braces and trackers for assessing pre- or post-surgical kinematic movement of a joint are also disclosed. The implants, braces and trackers can be utilized together or separately. Trackers having magnets can be implanted in select areas of the joint and sensors included in the braces can cooperate with the trackers to provide joint movement information to both the patient and the surgeon. Braces that do not require cooperation with implanted trackers are also disclosed, as are their uses.

1 . A kinematic tracking system comprising:
 a first tracker attached to a first bone of a joint;   a second tracker attached to a second bone of the joint; and   a wearable for the joint having first and second sensors, the first sensor detecting a first magnetic field of the first tracker and the second sensor detecting a second magnetic field of the second magnet.   
     
     
         2 . The kinematic tracking system of  claim 1 , wherein the first tracker includes a first magnet. 
     
     
         3 . The kinematic tracking system of  claim 2 , wherein the second tracker includes a second magnet. 
     
     
         4 . The kinematic tracking system of  claim 3 , wherein the wearable is a brace. 
     
     
         5 . The kinematic tracking system of  claim 3 , wherein the wearable includes first and second portions, the first portion being located adjacent the first bone and the second portion being located adjacent the second bone. 
     
     
         6 . The kinematic tracking system of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second trackers are bone attachment members. 
     
     
         7 . The kinematic tracking system of  claim 6 , wherein the bone attachment members are threaded shafts. 
     
     
         8 . The kinematic tracking system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second sensors are Hall sensors. 
     
     
         9 . The kinematic tracking system of  claim 4 , wherein the brace includes first and second portions connected by a hinge mechanism. 
     
     
         10 . The kinematic tracking system of  claim 9 , wherein the joint is a knee joint. 
     
     
         11 . The kinematic tracking system of  claim 10 , wherein the brace includes inner spaces for receiving the first and second sensors. 
     
     
         12 . The kinematic tracking system of  claim 1 , wherein the joint is a knee joint and the first tracker is attached to a femur and the second tracker is attached to a tibia. 
     
     
         13 . The kinematic tracking system of  claim 12 , further including third and fifth trackers attached to the femur and fourth and sixth tackers attached on the tibia. 
     
     
         14 . The kinematic tracking system of  claim 13 , further including a third sensor for detecting movement of the third tracker, a fourth sensor for detecting movement of the fourth tracker, a fifth sensor for detecting movement of the fifth tracker and a sixth sensor for detecting movement of the sixth tracker. 
     
     
         15 . The kinematic tracking system of  claim 1 , wherein the first sensor detects a position of the first tracker via the first magnetic field and the second sensor detects a position of the second tracker via the second magnetic field. 
     
     
         16 . A brace for a joint comprising:
 a first portion associated with a first bone of the joint;   a second portion associated with a second bone of the joint;   a first ultrasound sensor located in the first portion; and   a second ultrasound sensor located in the second portion,   
       wherein the first and second ultrasound sensors collect data pertaining to the motion of the joint. 
     
     
         17 . The brace of  claim 16 , wherein the joint is a knee joint and the first bone is a femur and the second bone is a tibia. 
     
     
         18 . The brace of  claim 17 , wherein the first and second portions are connected by a hinge mechanism. 
     
     
         19 . The brace of  claim 17 , wherein the first portion further includes third, fourth and fifth ultrasound sensors and the second portion further includes sixth, seventh and eighth ultrasound sensors. 
     
     
         20 . The brace of  claim 17 , further including a power source. 
     
     
         21 . The brace of  claim 20 , wherein the power source is a battery included in the brace. 
     
     
         22 . The brace of  claim 17 , further including a communication mechanism.