Magnetic joint implant
The application is directed to devices and methods where one or more magnetic or magnetizable implants provides therapeutic benefits to a patient. The implant may be useful for expanding the range of motion of joints or dynamically providing different responses to changing conditions in the body where the implant is placed. An electromagnet is placed on or in a bone on one side of a joint, and another electromagnet or magnetically active material is placed on or in a bone on the opposing side of the joint. The electromagnet may be continuously energized to relieve pressure in the joint space, or may be energized in response to forces applied to the joint.
1. An apparatus for first and second bones of a joint in a body, the apparatus comprising:
at least one electromagnet configured to be implanted in the body or in the first bone of the joint and generate a magnetic field from in the body;
a control unit electrically coupled to said at least one electromagnet and configured to energize said at least one electromagnet;
a sensor electrically coupled to the control unit; and
an implant configured to be implanted in the body on or in the second bone of the joint and at least attracted to or repelled by said electromagnet, wherein the implant has a surface configured to promote tissue ingrowth,
wherein said control unit includes at least one of an analog to digital converter, a drive circuit, and a manually operated control,
wherein said control unit is configured to automatically adjust separation or proximity of the first and second bones of the joint by dynamically controlling at least one of an intensity and a polarity of said at least one electromagnet from a first activated setting to a second activated setting, based on a signal received from said sensor,
wherein the dynamic control of at least one of the intensity and the polarity of the at least one electromagnet assists movement of the joint from at least one first position to at least one second position, and
wherein the signal received from the sensor dynamically controls at least one of the intensity and the polarity of the at least one electromagnet from the first activated setting to the second activated setting in order to improve the power management of the at least one electromagnet.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said sensor is configured to monitor a parameter of the body, the parameter including at least one of a resting state, orientation, temperature, compression, blood pressure, pulse rate, fluid viscosity, oxygen level, acid level, and personal control.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said sensor is configured to monitor a parameter of the joint, the parameter including at least one of a pressure, angular displacement, rotational displacement, orientation, movement, temperature, fluid viscosity, oxygen level, and pH level.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the joint is at least one of a finger, wrist, elbow, shoulder, spine, hip, knee, ankle and toe.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said implant is an electromagnet energizable by said control unit.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said sensor is configured to be positionable externally or internally with respect to the body.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said sensor is configured to respond to a change in voltage due to a change in proximity of said electromagnet and said implant.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a magnetic field generated by the at least one electromagnet is dynamically adjustable based on pressure exerted on the first bone of the joint.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the magnetic field is dynamically adjusted by varying voltage or duty cycle of voltage applied to the at least one electromagnet.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the applied voltage decreases with a decrease in pressure exerted on the first bone of the joint.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the joint includes collagen, wherein said control unit is configured to automatically adjust separation or proximity of the first bone and collagen of the joint by adjusting at least one of an intensity and a polarity of said at least one electromagnet.
12. An apparatus for first and second bones of a joint in a body, the apparatus comprising:
an electromagnet configured to be implanted in the body or in the first bone of the joint and generate a magnetic field in the body;
a control unit electrically coupled to said electromagnet and configured to energize said electromagnet;
an implant element configured to be implanted in the body on or in the second bone of the joint and at least attracted to or repelled by said electromagnet to adjust separation or proximity of the first and second bones of the joint, wherein the implant element has a surface configured to promote tissue ingrowth; and
a force detecting device electrically coupled to said control unit, said force detecting device configured to measure at least one physiological parameter of the joint,
wherein said control unit includes at least one of an analog to digital converter, a drive circuit, and a manually operated control,
wherein said force detecting device provides an output to said control unit to dynamically control at least one of an intensity and a polarity of said electromagnet from a first activated setting to a second activated setting to adjust separation or proximity of the first and second bones of the joint, based on a change in loading or position of the joint,
wherein the dynamic control of at least one of the intensity and the polarity of the electromagnet assists movement of the joint from at least one first position to at least one second position, and
wherein the signal received from the force detecting device dynamically controls at least one of the intensity and the polarity of the electromagnet from the first activated setting to the second activated setting in order to improve the power management of the electromagnet.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the joint includes collagen, wherein said control unit is configured to adjust separation or proximity of the first bone and collagen of the joint based on an output received from said force detecting device to adjust at least one of an intensity and a polarity of said electromagnet.
14. An apparatus for first and second bones of a joint in a body, the apparatus comprising:
a first electromagnet configured to be implanted in the body or in the first bone of the joint and generate a first magnetic field from in the body;
a second electromagnet configured to be implanted in the body on or in the second bone of the joint and generate a second magnetic field from the body;
a control unit electrically coupled to said first and second electromagnets and configured to energize said first and second electromagnets; and
a sensor electrically coupled to said control unit,
wherein said control unit includes at least one of an analog to digital converter, a drive circuit, and a manually operated control,
wherein said control unit is configured to change the first or second magnetic field to dynamically control at least one of an intensity and a polarity of at least one of said first and second electromagnets from a first activated setting to a second activated setting to adjust separation or proximity of the first and second bones of the joint, based on a measured change in loading or position of the joint,
wherein the dynamic control of at least one of the intensity and the polarity of at least one of the first and second electromagnets assists movement of the joint from at least one first position to at least one second position, based on a measured change in loading or position of the joint,
wherein the signal received from the force detecting device dynamically controls at least one of the intensity and the polarity of at least one of the first and second electromagnets from the first activated setting to the second activated setting in order to improve the power management of at least one of the first and second electromagnet, based on a measured change in loading or position of the joint,
and wherein at least one of the first electromagnet and the second electromagnet has a surface configured to promote tissue ingrowth.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein at least the first or second bone includes collagen.
16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein at least the first or second bone includes an implant.