Remotely Activated Piezoelectric Pump for Delivery of Biological Agents to the Intervertebral Disc and Spine

Abstract

A remotely activated piezoelectric pump for delivery of biological agents to the intervertebral disc and spine in order to achieve spinal fusion. A spinal pump is implanted on the vertebrae of a patient and a spinal cage is inserted in between two adjacent vertebrae after removal of the vertebrae disc. A piezoelectric motor drives the pump and pushes osteogenetic agent through the spinal cage and into a sponge disposed within the cage. The pump is charged by an external removable induction belt worn by the patient. Delivery duration and delivery frequency may be changed before implantation of the spine pump according to the specific needs of the patient. The current device employs a mathematical model that enables the regulation as well as attenuation of the bone fusion process by extending and generalizing the model to enhance and optimize the delivery of osteogenetic agent in a regulated manner.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for delivering osteogenetic agent to the spine of a patient comprising:
 a implanted spine pump coupled to a vertebra of the patient;   a spinal cage inserted between two adjacent vertebrae of the patient and coupled to the spine pump; and   a external removable means for supplying power to the spine pump by means of induction.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the spine pump comprises:
 a pump control system; 
 a reservoir; 
 a piezoelectric motor coupled to and controlled by the pump control system; 
 a plurality of pump induction coils coupled to the pump control system; and 
 means for the piezoelectric motor to dispense the osteogenetic agent from the reservoir. 
 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the spinal cage is substantially doughnut shaped and comprises:
 an absorbable sponge disposed within the center of the spinal cage; 
 a main internal channel defined circumferentially about an inner radius of the spinal cage; and 
 a network of sub-channels coupled to and extending from the main internal channel. 
 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where the external removable means for supplying power to the spine pump by means of induction comprises:
 an induction charger; 
 a strap coupled to both ends of the induction charger; and 
 means for coupling the opposing ends of the strap not coupled to the induction charger together so as to keep the induction charger substantially stationary. 
 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  where the induction charger comprises:
 a control system, the control system comprising
 a microcontroller; 
 a induction voltage generator coupled to the microcontroller; 
 a wireless communication chip coupled to the microcontroller; 
 a display coupled to the microcontroller; and 
 a battery coupled to the microcontroller; and 
 
 a set of induction coils coupled to the control system through the induction voltage generator. 
 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2  where the spine pump further comprises a plurality of accelerometers coupled to the spine pump, and
 wherein at least one accelerometer is also coupled to a vertebra of the patient beneath the spinal cage. 
 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising means for the spine pump to deliver the osteogenetic agent systematically and evenly through the spinal cage by a diffusion model stored within the pump control system. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 2  where the reservoir comprises means for refilling of the osteogenetic agent by a syringe. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 5  where the battery of the induction charger control system comprises means for recharging through an external wall outlet. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for delivering osteogenetic agent to the spine of a patient comprising:
 a implanted spine pump coupled to a vertebra of the patient;   a spinal cage inserted between two adjacent vertebrae of the patient and coupled to the spine pump; and   a external removable means for supplying power to the spine pump by means of induction, and   wherein the spine pump further comprises a plurality of accelerometers coupled to the spine pump, and where at least one accelerometer is also coupled to a vertebra of the patient beneath the spinal cage.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  where the external removable means for supplying power to the spine pump by means of induction comprises:
 an induction charger; 
 a set of induction coils coupled to the induction charger; 
 a strap coupled to both ends of the induction charger; and 
 means for coupling the opposing ends of the strap not coupled to the induction charger together so as to keep the induction charger substantially stationary.