Extra-Articular Implantable Mechanical Energy Absorbing Systems

Abstract

A system and method for sharing and absorbing energy between body parts. In one particular aspect, the system facilitates absorbing energy between members forming a joint such as between articulating bones.

1 . A system for manipulating energy transferred by members defining a joint, the members collectively defining a path of motion and having a cartilage having a energy absorption component configured therebetween, comprising:
 a first attachment structure configured to be attached to a first member of the joint;   a second attachment structure configured to be attached to a second member of the joint; and   a energy absorbing member attached to the first attachment structure and second attachment structure.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy absorbing member has a flexibility and a load transferring geometry. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy absorbing member allows the joint members to follow the path of motion and absorbs between about 1% to about 40% of the energy the joint normally experiences. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the energy absorbed is between about 5% to about 20%. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a dampening member. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system transfers energy that the cartilage would normally experience during gait to bone outside the joint. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the joint is a knee joint affected with osteoarthritis and variable amounts of energy absorption occurs while the members follow the path of motion. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy absorbing member complements the energy absorbing component of the cartilage. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy absorbing member augments the energy absorbing component of the cartilage. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy absorbing member is embodied in a bending spring assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy absorbing member is embodied in a cam engagement assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy absorbing member is embodied in a segmented support assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy absorbing member is embodied in a piston support assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy absorbing member is activated prior to flexion of the joint members. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the energy absorbing member is activated during extension of the joint members. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor, the sensor being associated with the energy absorbing member and providing load information. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising means for delivering drugs to the joint. 
     
     
         18 . A method for treating a joint, comprising:
 identifying a path of motion of bones defining the joint;   identifying an energy absorption component of bones of the joint;   configuring a energy manipulation member to have a flexibility to permit bones of a joint to follow the path of motion identified;   configuring the energy manipulation member to have a geometry to transfer at least a portion of the energy around the joint from one of the bones defining the joint to the other bone defining the joint; and   configuring the energy manipulation member to absorb a percentage of the energy absorption component of the bones of the joint.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising configuring the energy manipulation member to bear about 1% to about 40% of the energy absorption component. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising configuring the energy manipulation member to bear about 5% to about 20% of the energy absorption component. 
     
     
         21 . A system for manipulating loads on members defining a joint, the members collectively defining a path of motion and having a cartilage having a load absorption component configured therebetween, comprising:
 a first attachment structure configured to be attached to a first member of the joint, the first member having a first energy absorbing component;   a second attachment structure configured to be attached to a second member of the joint, the second member having a second energy absorbing component; and   a load bearing member including a bending spring assembly attached to the first attachment structure and second attachment structure, the load bearing member having a flexibility and a load manipulating geometry;   wherein the flexibility of the load bearing member is selected to permit the joint members to follow the path of motion and the load manipulating geometry is selected to offset about 1% to about 40% of the load absorption component of the cartilage and the first and second energy absorption components respectively of the first and second members of the joint.   
     
     
         22 . A system for manipulating loads on members defining a joint, the members collectively defining a path of motion and having a cartilage having a load absorption component configured therebetween, comprising:
 a first attachment structure configured to be attached to a first member of the joint, the first member having a first energy absorbing component;   a second attachment structure configured to be attached to a second member of the joint, the second member having a second energy absorbing component; and   a load bearing member including a cam engagement assembly attached to the first attachment structure and second attachment structure, the load bearing member having a flexibility and a load manipulating geometry;   wherein the flexibility of the load bearing member is selected to permit the joint members to follow the path of motion and the load manipulating geometry is selected to offset about 1% to about 40% of the load absorption component of the cartilage and the first and second energy absorption components respectively of the first and second members of the joint.   
     
     
         23 . A system for manipulating loads on members defining a joint, the members collectively defining a path of motion and having a cartilage having a load absorption component configured therebetween, comprising:
 a first attachment structure configured to be attached to a first member of the joint, the first member having a first energy absorbing component;   a second attachment structure configured to be attached to a second member of the joint, the second member having a second energy absorbing component; and   a load bearing member including a cam segmented support assembly attached to the first attachment structure and second attachment structure, the load bearing member having a flexibility and a load manipulating geometry;   wherein the flexibility of the load bearing member is selected to permit the joint members to follow the path of motion and the load manipulating geometry is selected to offset about 1% to about 40% of the load absorption component of the cartilage and the first and second energy absorption components respectively of the first and second members of the joint.   
     
     
         24 - 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the energy absorbing member is a dampening member. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the energy absorbing member is a viscoelastic assembly. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the energy absorbing member is a cartilage mimicking assembly. 
     
     
         41 . A method of treating osteoarthritis comprising:
 absorbing energy from a joint to provide overload protection for chondrocytes.   
     
     
         42 . A method of treating osteoarthritis comprising:
 administering a desired energy dose to the joint.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42  wherein the desired energy dose is administered by absorbing at least a portion of the energy normally transferred in the joint during gait. 
     
     
         44 . (canceled)