Implant Detachment Detection

Abstract

Disclosed herein are joint implants and methods for tracking joint implant performance. A joint implant according to the present disclosure can include a first implant coupled to a first bone of a joint; a second implant coupled to a second bone of the joint; an insert coupled to the first and second implants; an acoustic exciter configured to emit a vibration signal; a sensor to measure the vibration signal of the first implant, the second implant, and the insert; and a processor operatively coupled to the sensor, the processor configured to output a vibration signature to an external source.

1 . An implant system comprising:
 a first implant coupled to a first bone of a joint;   a second implant coupled to a second bone of the joint;   an acoustic exciter configured to vibrate at least the first or second bones;   a transducer to detect a vibration signal of the first implant and the second implant; and   a processor operatively coupled to the transducer, the processor configured to output a vibration signature from the vibration signal to an external source.   
     
     
         2 . The implant system of  claim 1 , wherein the first implant is a femoral component of a knee implant and the second implant is a tibial component of a knee implant. 
     
     
         3 . The implant system of  claim 2 , further including an insert located between the femoral component and the tibial component. 
     
     
         4 . The implant system of  claim 1 , wherein the acoustic exciter is an ultrasound exciter. 
     
     
         5 . The implant system of  claim 4 , wherein the transducer includes first and second transducers, each of the first and second transducers disposed in the tibial insert adjacent a condyle. 
     
     
         6 . The implant system of  claim 5 , wherein the processor is disposed in the tibial insert. 
     
     
         7 . The implant system of  claim 6 , wherein the processor is configured to wirelessly communicate the vibration signature with the external source. 
     
     
         8 . The implant system of  claim 7 , wherein the wireless communication is a Bluetooth communication. 
     
     
         9 . The implant system of  claim 1 , further comprising an analog to digital converter, the converter configured to convert the vibration signal to the vibration signature. 
     
     
         10 . The implant system of  claim 1 , wherein the vibration signature includes at least one of a response, peak, amplitude, and magnitude of the vibration signal. 
     
     
         11 . The implant system of  claim 10 , wherein a change in the vibration signature over time indicates implant loosening. 
     
     
         12 . The implant system of  claim 11 , wherein a change in the vibration signature over time indicates implant subsidence. 
     
     
         13 . The implant system of  claim 1 , wherein the external source is any of a computer, tablet, and smartphone. 
     
     
         14 . The implant system of  claim 1 , further comprising a guidance system configured to position the acoustic exciter. 
     
     
         15 . The implant system of  claim 14 , wherein the guidance system includes an inertial measurement unit. 
     
     
         16 . The implant system of  claim 15 , wherein the inertial measurement unit is located in the first or second implant. 
     
     
         17 . A method for monitoring implant movement, the method comprising:
 coupling a first implant to a first bone of a joint;   coupling a second implant to a second bone of the joint;   sensing a vibration signal emitted through the joint with a sensor positioned in the any of the first or second implants; and   outputting a vibration signature from a processor to an external source, the vibration signature being derived from the vibration signal.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the coupling steps include coupling the first implant to a femur and coupling the second implant to a tibia. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising a step of vibrating at least one of the first or second bones using an acoustic exciter. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the outputting step includes outputting the vibration signal at least first time and a second time, the first time being different from the second time. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising creating an alert when a change in vibration signature is detected. 
     
     
         22 . A method of monitoring implant position over time comprising:
 coupling a first implant to a first bone of a joint;   coupling a second implant to a second bone of the joint, the second implant including an insert contacting the first implant;   measuring a reference movement value at a first time;   measuring a secondary movement value at a second time; and   comparing the reference movement value to the secondary movement value.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising measuring transducer data from a transducer embedded in the insert at the first time and at the second time to obtain a first sensor data and a second sensor data respectively. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the transducer data includes vibration data. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising creating an alert when a change between a first and second transducer data exceeds a predetermined value.