Implant With Sensor Diagnostics

Abstract

Disclosed herein are joint implants and methods for tracking joint implant performance. A joint implant includes a first implant coupled to a first bone of a joint and a second implant coupled to a second bone of the joint. The second implant includes at least one of a first sensor configured to measure a first type of data, and a processor operatively coupled to the at least one of the first sensor. The process outputs the first type of data to a network to be compared with data received from other joint implants. One of the joint or the implant is determined to be in a first state based on a comparison of the first type of data to a set of predetermined values formed based on the data received from the other joint implants. The predetermined values are adapted to change with the addition of new data.

1 . A joint implant comprising:
 a first implant coupled to a first bone of a joint; and   a second implant coupled to a second bone of the joint, the second implant including: 
 a first sensor configured to measure a first type of data; and 
 a processor operatively coupled to the first sensor; 
 wherein the processor outputs the first type of data to a network, and 
   wherein one of the joint, the first implant or the second implant is determined to be in a first state based on a comparison of the first type of data to a set of predetermined values, and   wherein the predetermined values are adapted to change with the addition of new data.   
     
     
         2 . The joint implant of  claim 1 , wherein the joint is a knee joint, the first implant is a femoral implant and the second implant is a tibial implant. 
     
     
         3 . The joint implant of  claim 2 , wherein the tibial implant includes any of a pH sensor, a temperature sensor, a Hall sensor, a pressure sensor, an optical sensor, and a blood sensor operatively coupled to the processor. 
     
     
         4 . The joint implant of  claim 3 , wherein the tibial implant includes a tibial insert and a tibial stem, and wherein the tibial insert is made of polyethylene. 
     
     
         5 . The joint implant of  claim 1 , wherein the processor outputs the data to an external source connected to the network, and the joint implant further comprises a transmitter to transmit the first type of data to the external source. 
     
     
         6 . The joint implant of  claim 1 , further comprising a battery disposed within the second implant. 
     
     
         7 . The joint implant of  claim 1 , wherein the joint is a shoulder joint, the first implant is a glenoid sphere and the second implant is a shoulder insert. 
     
     
         8 . The joint implant of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a second sensor configured to measure a second type of data. 
     
     
         9 . The joint implant of  claim 8 , wherein the joint implant includes a plurality of the first sensor and a plurality of the second sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The joint implant of  claim 9 , wherein the processor outputs the first and second types of data to the network. 
     
     
         11 . The joint implant of  claim 1 , wherein the addition of new data includes the first type of data output by the processor of the joint implant. 
     
     
         12 . The joint implant of  claim 11 , wherein the addition of new data includes the data received from other joint implants. 
     
     
         13 . The joint implant of  claim 1 , wherein the joint implant is configured to initiate a warning when the joint implant is determined to be in the first state. 
     
     
         14 . The joint implant of  claim 11 , wherein the first state is any one of inflamed, infected, or injured. 
     
     
         15 . A joint implant comprising:
 a first implant coupled to a first bone of a joint; and   a second implant coupled to a second bone of the joint and contacting the first implant, the second implant including: 
 a first sensor configured to measure a first type of data; 
 a second sensor configured to measure a second type of data; and 
 a processor operatively coupled to the at least one of the first and second sensors; 
   wherein the joint implant is operatively coupled to a network of joint implants; and   wherein the processor outputs the first and second types of data to the network to determine a state of the joint implant based on data received in the network from other joint implants, and 
 wherein the joint implant is configured to initiate an alert when the joint implant is determined to be in a first state. 
     
     
         16 . The joint implant of  claim 15 , wherein the data received from other joint implants includes data measured by a sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The joint implant of  claim 15 , wherein the data received from the other joint implants includes determinations of a state of the respective joint or a state of the respective implant as determined by a user. 
     
     
         18 . A system for detecting a state of a joint implant comprising:
 a joint implant including: 
 a first implant coupled to a first bone of a joint; 
 a second implant coupled to a second bone of the joint and contacting the first implant, the second implant including: 
 at least one of a first sensor configured to measure a first type of data; and 
 a processor operatively coupled to the at least one of the first sensor; and 
 
   a device operatively coupled to the processor, the device having a network adapted to receive data from the processor and at least a second source, process the data from the processor and the second source, and output a state of the joint based on the data from the processor and the data from the second source.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the joint implant is a first joint implant, and wherein the second source includes a second joint implant including at least one of a first sensor configured to measure a first type of data. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the second source includes a determination of a state of a joint based on data provided by sensors of a joint implant as determined by a user.