Instrumented orthopedic and other medical implants

Abstract

Medical implants can comprise various instrumentation to impart desirable functionality to the implant. In some embodiments, the implants comprise functional structures, such as sensors, energy propagating transducers, drug delivery systems and the like. Additional instrumentation to facilitate the functionality of these devices can include, for example, microprocessors, communication systems, power sources or the like. Drug delivery systems can comprise, for example, an isolated reservoir with a control system to control the delivery of a biological agent from the reservoir. The implants can be orthopedic implants that are designed to interface with a patient's skeletal system wherein the orthopedic implant may itself embody sensors, processors, power supplies, memory and/or communication capability.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method for operating an implanted device, wherein the device comprises a transducer electrically coupled to a microprocessor, and wherein the method comprises:
 delivering, by the transducer, energy to a site within a patient;   controlling, by the microprocessor, transmission of implant data corresponding to a condition within the patient to an external controller;   receiving instructions from the external controller regarding a future operation of the device, wherein the instructions are based on an evaluation of the transmitted implant data;   controlling, by the microprocessor, the delivery of the energy by the transducer; and   reprogramming the microprocessor based on the received instructions, the reprogramming relating to the control of the delivery of the energy by the transducer.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the implant data is transmitted over the internet. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the instructions are prepared automatically by a processor. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the transmission of the implant data comprises transmission to a patient communications hub and the patient communications hub exchanges information with the external controller. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the patient communications hub is ambulatory to the patient. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising, displaying, by the patient communications hub, information received from the external controller. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising receiving, by the patient communications hub, information from the patient. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising, transmitting, by the patient communications hub, the information from the patient to a central server. 
     
     
         29 . A biocompatible implant device comprising:
 a transducer configured to deliver energy to a site within a patient;   a microprocessor configured to:
 control transmission of implant data corresponding to the condition within the patient to an external controller; 
 receive instructions from the external controller regarding a future operation of the implant device, wherein the instructions are based on an evaluation of the transmitted implant data; and 
 control the transducer, 
 wherein the received instructions reprogram the microprocessor relating to the control of the delivery of the energy. 
   
     
     
         30 . The implant device of  claim 29 , wherein the transducer is selected from the group consisting of an ultrasonic transmitter, a heater, an electromagnetic transmitter, an electrode, and an electroporous membrane. 
     
     
         31 . The implant device of  claim 29 , wherein the transducer is selected from the group consisting of an infrared emitting diode, a radio frequency emitter, and a piezoelectric element. 
     
     
         32 . The implant device of  claim 29 , wherein the transducer is a first energy propagating transducer and the device further comprises a second energy propagating transducer. 
     
     
         33 . The implant device of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 a communications system operably connected to the microprocessor having both transmit and receive capabilities; and   a measurement transducer operably connected to the microprocessor.   
     
     
         34 . The implant device of  claim 33 , further comprising a frame that mechanically supports the microprocessor, the communications system, the measurement transducer, and the first and second energy propagating transducers. 
     
     
         35 . The implant device of  claim 34 , wherein the measurement transducer is selected from the group consisting of a chemical sensor, a temperature sensor, a position sensor, a strain gauge, an accelerometer, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         36 . The implant device of  claim 34 , wherein the measurement transducer is selected from the group consisting of a strain gauge, a pressure sensor, a volume sensor, a variable resistance sensor, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         37 . The implant device of  claim 35 , wherein the instructions are automatically prepared by a processor. 
     
     
         38 . A method for operating an implanted device wherein the device comprises a microprocessor, an energy propagating transducer, a measurement transducer, a treatment transducer, and a drug reservoir, wherein the microprocessor controls the energy propagating transducer and the treatment transducer, wherein the treatment transducer controls delivery of a drug in the drug reservoir, the method comprising:
 delivering, by the energy propagating transducer, energy to a site within a patient;   controlling, by the microprocessor, transmission of implant data from the measurement transducer corresponding to the condition within the patient to an external controller;   receiving instructions from the external controller regarding a future operation of the device, wherein the instructions are based on an evaluation of the transmitted implant data;   controlling the treatment transducer, the measurement transducer, and the energy propagating transducer in accord with the received instructions; and   wherein the received instructions reprogram the microprocessor relating to the control of the delivery of the drug by the treatment transducer and delivery of the energy by the energy propagating transducer.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the instructions are prepared automatically. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the transmission of the implant data comprises transmission to an ambulatory patient communications hub and the patient communications hub exchanges information with the external controller.