Post-operative pain inhibitor for joint replacement and method thereof

Abstract

A post-operative pain inhibitor system comprises a controller and leads. Neuro-stimulator circuitry may be included within the patient controller or within one or more prosthetic components for generating a signal. In one example, a hip implant includes a prosthetic component having at least one electrode where the at least one electrode is configured to deliver energy pulses. Topical leads, percutaneous leads, subcutaneous leads, intraosseous leads, or leads can be placed in proximity to the operative field corresponding to the prosthetic component installation. The lead or electrodes can be coupled to neuro-stimulation circuitry to stimulate peripheral nerve fibers to affect body generated action potentials. A transmitter or power source can be housed in a prosthetic hip component. Controller can modify the pulse width, pulse shape, pulse repetition rate, and pulse amplitude of the signal thereby allowing the patient to adapt the signal to minimize their perceived pain.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A post-operative pain inhibitor system configured for post-operative treatment of an implanted joint system comprising:
 a joint comprising one or more prosthetic components where the joint is configured to couple to the muscular-skeletal system;   a first electrode coupled to at least one of the one or more prosthetic components where the first electrode is configured to deliver energy pulses to stimulate peripheral nerve fibers to block or inhibit a pain signal;   a transmitter coupled to the first electrode;   a power source coupled to the transmitter.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further including a second electrode coupled to at least one of the one or more prosthetic components where the second electrode is configured to receive energy pulses from the first electrode. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  where the second electrode is a conductive material of one of the one or more prosthetic components. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2  where a lead couples the second electrode to the at least one of the one or more prosthetic components. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  further including a lead coupling the first electrode to one of the one or more prosthetic components. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  where the lead of the first electrode includes a transmitter. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5  where the lead includes a power source. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  where the power source is configured to be charged remotely through inductive coupling. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 5  where the lead is configured to support coupling the first electrode to nerve fibers above the implanted joint system. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 5  where the lead is configured to support coupling the first electrode to nerve fibers below the implanted joint system. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  where the transmitter or power source are housed in one or more of the prosthetic components. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  where the first electrode is a conductive material of one of the one or more prosthetic components. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  further including a controller operatively coupled to the first electrode where the controller is configured to control a duration, periodicity, magnitude, or waveform shape of the energy pulses. 
     
     
         14 . A post-operative pain inhibitor system configured for post-operative treatment of an implanted knee joint system comprising:
 the knee joint system comprising:
 a femoral prosthetic component; 
 an insert; 
 a tibial prosthetic component; 
 a first electrode coupled to at least one of the one of the femoral prosthetic component, insert, or tibial prosthetic component where the first electrode is configured to deliver energy pulses to stimulate peripheral nerve fibers to block or inhibit a pain signal; 
 a transmitter coupled to the first electrode; 
 a power source coupled to the transmitter. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  further including a second electrode coupled to one of the femoral prosthetic component, insert, or tibial prosthetic component where the second electrode is configured to receive energy pulses from the first electrode. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  where the second electrode is a conductive material of one of the femoral prosthetic component, insert, or tibial prosthetic component. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15  where a lead couples the second electrode to one of the femoral prosthetic component, insert, or tibial prosthetic component. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14  further including a lead coupling the first electrode to one of the femoral prosthetic component, insert, or tibial prosthetic component. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  where the lead of the first electrode includes a transmitter. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18  where the lead includes a power source. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20  where the power source is configured to be charged remotely through inductive coupling. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 18  where the lead is configured to support coupling the first electrode to nerve fibers above the knee joint system. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 18  where the lead is configured to support coupling the first electrode to nerve fibers below the knee joint system. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 14  where the transmitter or power source are housed in at least one of the femoral prosthetic component, insert, or tibial prosthetic component. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 14  where the first electrode is a conductive material of one of the femoral prosthetic component, insert, or tibial prosthetic component. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 14  further including a controller operatively coupled to the first electrode where the controller is configured to control a duration, periodicity, magnitude, or waveform shape of the energy pulses. 
     
     
         27 . A post-operative pain inhibitor system configured for post-operative treatment of an implanted hip joint system comprising:
 the hip joint system comprising a femoral prosthetic component;
 a first electrode coupled to the femoral prosthetic component where the first electrode is configured to deliver energy pulses to stimulate peripheral nerve fibers to block or inhibit a pain signal; 
 a transmitter coupled to the first electrode; 
 a power source coupled to the transmitter. 
   
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27  further including a second electrode coupled to the femoral prosthetic component where the second electrode is configured to receive energy pulses from the first electrode. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 28  where the second electrode is a conductive material of the femoral prosthetic component. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 28  where a lead couples the second electrode to one of the femoral prosthetic component. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 27  further including a lead coupling the first electrode to the femoral prosthetic component. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31  where the lead of the first electrode includes a transmitter. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 31  where the lead includes a power source. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33  where the power source is configured to be charged remotely through inductive coupling. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 31  where the lead is configured to support coupling the first electrode to nerve fibers in proximity to the hip joint system. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 27  where the transmitter or power source are housed in the femoral prosthetic component. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 27  where the first electrode is a conductive material of the femoral prosthetic component. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 27  further including a controller operatively coupled to the first electrode where the controller is configured to control a duration, periodicity, magnitude, or waveform shape of the energy pulses.