ANTI-MICROBIAL IRRADIATION FOR PERCUTANEOUS OSSEOINTEGRATED PROSTHESES (POPs)

Abstract

An osseointegrated fixture of a percutaneous osseointegrated prosthesis (POPs) anchors directly into a bone of a residual limb within an amputation stump. By anchoring directly into the bone, the POPs provides improved mobility, comfort, and function for an amputee, but an interface between an opening in the skin and the osseointegrated fixture, which allows the anchoring directly into the bone, is prone to infection by microbes. An anti-microbial device can be attached to and/or embedded within an extracorporeal portion of the osseointegrated fixture to irradiate at least a portion on the interface with at least one wavelength of light selected for its antimicrobial effects.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a percutaneous osseointegrated prosthesis (POPs) configured to create an interface between an osseointegrated fixture of the POPs and an amputation stump; and   an anti-microbial device attachable to an extracorporeal portion of the osseointegrated fixture and configured to irradiate at least a portion of the interface with at least one wavelength of light corresponding to red light, infrared light, or near infrared light.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-microbial device comprises one or more light sources configured to emit the at least one wavelength of light to irradiate the at least the portion of the interface. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-microbial device is configured in a shape of a ring or a cap. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-microbial device is configured to attach to the extracorporeal portion of the osseointegrated fixture by a screw-on mechanism or a clip-on mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a cooling system to reduce a temperature of the at least the portion of the interface irradiated with the at least one wavelength of light. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the cooling system is integrated within the anti-microbial device. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-microbial device is removable from the extracorporeal portion of the osseointegrated fixture. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the anti-microbial device is embedded within the extracorporeal portion of the osseointegrated fixture to irradiate the at least the portion of the interface with at least one wavelength of light. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the extracorporeal portion of the osseointegrated fixture is covered by a filler material. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the filler material comprises an optically clear polymer. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein an external surface of at least a portion of the extracorporeal portion of the osseointegrated fixture is coated with at least one material with wave guiding properties. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one material with wave guiding properties is coated by a different material to allow light emission only in regions of the extracorporeal portion of the osseointegrated fixture susceptible to microbial infection. 
     
     
         13 . An anti-microbial device attachable to an extracorporeal portion of an osseointegrated fixture and configured to irradiate at least a portion of an interface between an osseointegrated fixture of a percutaneous osseointegrated prosthesis (POPs) and an amputation stump with at least one wavelength of light corresponding to red light, infrared light, or near infrared light, comprising one or more light sources configured to emit the at least one wavelength of light to irradiate the at least the portion of the interface. 
     
     
         14 . The anti-microbial device of  claim 13  configured to attach to the extracorporeal portion of the osseointegrated fixture by a screw-on mechanism or a clip-on mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . The anti-microbial device of  claim 13  configured to be integrated within the osseointegrated fixture. 
     
     
         16 . The anti-microbial device of  claim 13  embedded within the extracorporeal portion of the osseointegrated fixture to irradiate the at least the portion of the interface with at least one wavelength of light. 
     
     
         17 . A percutaneous osseointegrated prosthesis (POPs) fixture with an extracorporeal portion having an exterior surface at least partially coated with at least one material having wave guiding properties to guide at least one wavelength of light, corresponding to red light, infrared light, or near infrared light, applied to one region of the POPs fixture along the POPs fixture and to emit the at least one wavelength of light from another region of the POPs fixture, wherein the other region of the POPs fixture is susceptible to microbial infection. 
     
     
         18 . The POPs fixture of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one material having wave guiding properties is at least partially coated with another material to achieve a certain light conduction pattern along the POPs fixture. 
     
     
         19 . The POPs fixture of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one material having wave guiding properties is biologically inert and stable in a warm and/or wet environment. 
     
     
         20 . The POPs fixture of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one material having wave guiding properties is stable under conditions of mechanical loading.