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 - 44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . A system for manipulating energy transferred by members defining a joint, the members collectively defining a path of motion and having a cartilage having an 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   an energy absorbing member comprising a male member and a female member, a cylindrical portion of the male member being receivable in an opening in a female member as the members defining the joint move through flexion, the energy absorbing member being attached to the first attachment structure and second attachment structure.   
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the energy absorbing member has a flexibility and a load transferring geometry. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 45 , 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. 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 47 , wherein the energy absorbed is between about 5% to about 20%. 
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the system further comprises a dampening member. 
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the system transfers energy that the cartilage would normally experience during gait to bone outside the joint. 
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 45 , 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. 
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the energy absorbing member complements the energy absorbing component of the cartilage. 
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the energy absorbing member augments the energy absorbing component of the cartilage. 
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 45 , further comprising a sensor, the sensor being associated with the energy absorbing member and providing load information. 
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 45 , further comprising means for delivering drugs to the joint. 
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the energy absorbing member extends over a length from the first attachment structure to the second attachment structure and provides no resistance to elongation over the length. 
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the system is configured to provide no resistance to elongation between the first and second attachment structures. 
     
     
         58 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the energy absorbing member is a dampening member. 
     
     
         59 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the energy absorbing member is a viscoelastic assembly. 
     
     
         60 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the energy absorbing member is a cartilage mimicking assembly. 
     
     
         61 . The system of  claim 45 , wherein the joint is a knee joint and the first and second members of the joint are first and second bones of the knee joint. 
     
     
         62 . 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 an energy manipulation member to attach to first and second bones of the joint and to have a flexibility to permit the bones of the 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 the first bone defining the joint to the second bone defining the joint; and   configuring the energy manipulation member to comprise a male member and a female member, a cylindrical portion of the male member being receivable in an opening in a female member to absorb a percentage of the energy absorption component of the bones of the joint as the bones defining the joint move through flexion.   
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62 , further comprising configuring the energy manipulation member to bear about 1% to about 40% of the energy absorption component. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 62 , further comprising configuring the energy manipulation member to bear about 5% to about 20% of the energy absorption component. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the energy manipulation member extends over a length from an attachment to the first bone to an attachment to the second bone and provides no resistance to elongation over the length. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the bones of the joint are allowed to move apart without limitation. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the joint is a knee joint and the first and second bones of the joint are the tibia and femur bones of the knee joint. 
     
     
         68 . A method of treating osteoarthritis comprising:
 providing an energy absorber configured to be attached to bones defining a joint comprising a cylindrical shaft attached to a first base, an outer component attached to a second base, the shaft being receivable inside of the outer component, and a spring being mounted coaxially with the shaft and outer component;   implanting the energy absorber within a patient's body;   absorbing energy from a joint to provide overload protection for chondrocytes by causing the cylindrical shaft to be received in the outer component.   
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the joint is a knee joint and the bones defining the joint are the tibia and femur bones of the knee joint. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the spring is unattached at at least one end and is shorter than the shaft and outer component to provide no limitation or resistance to translation of the shaft within the cylinder in a direction of elongation as bones defining the joint move through flexion. 
     
     
         71 . A method of treating osteoarthritis comprising:
 providing an energy absorber configured to be attached to bones defining a joint comprising a cylindrical shaft attached to a first base, an outer component attached to a second base, the shaft being receivable inside of the outer component, and a spring being mounted coaxially with the shaft and outer component; and   administering a desired energy dose to the joint.   
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the desired energy dose is administered by absorbing at least a portion of the energy normally transferred in the joint during gait. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 71 , wherein the joint is a knee joint and the bones defining the joint are the tibia and femur bones of the knee joint.