ACTIVE IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE ASSOCIATED WITH, OR INTEGRATED INTO, AN ORTHOPEDIC IMPLANT DEVICE
An active implantable medical device configured for chronic implant in a patient includes a housing. At least one of a radio frequency (RF) module configured to generate a therapeutic output signal in a form of a pulsed a RF signal, and deliver the signal to neural tissue of the patient, and a health information module configured to collect information directed to a mechanical integrity of an orthopedic implant device and an activity of the patient, is located within the housing. The housing is configured to be associated with an orthopedic implanted device through attachment to a piece of implant hardware, or engagement with a passageway through the orthopedic implanted device. Alternatively, an active implantable medical device is incorporated and integrated into a component of an orthopedic implanted device.
1 .- 4 . (canceled)
5 . An orthopedic implant device configured for chronic implant in a patient, the orthopedic implant device comprising:
a pair of first implant structures, each of the first implant structures configured to be associated with a boney structure;
a second implant structure configured to be secured to each first implant structure so as to span between the first implant structures and render the first implant structures immobile relative to each other to thereby provide orthopedic support to the patient, wherein at least one of the first implant structures and the second implant structure comprises one or more components of an active implantable medical device physically integrated therewith, the active implantable medical device configured to:
generate a therapeutic output signal in a form of a pulsed radio frequency (RF) signal, and
deliver the signal to neural tissue.
6 . The orthopedic implant device of claim 5 , wherein the second implant structure comprises a rod of a rod-and-screw spinal fixation device and the one or more components of the active implantable medical device are physically integrated with the rod.
7 . The orthopedic implant device of claim 6 , wherein the one or more components of the active implantable medical device physically integrated with the rod comprises at least one RF module part located at an end of the rod having a header configured to couple to an electrode-bearing lead of the active implantable medical device, which electrode-bearing lead is separable from and not physically integrated with the rod.
8 . The orthopedic implant device of claim 6 , wherein the one or more components of the active implantable medical device physically integrated with the rod comprises:
two RF module parts, one located at each end of the rod; and
one or more electrical conductors extending through the rod to electrically couple the two RF module parts.
9 . The orthopedic implant device of claim 6 , wherein the one or more components of the active implantable medical device physically integrated with the rod comprises:
an RF module housed within the rod; and
at least one header located at an end of the rod and electrically coupled to the RF module, the header configured to couple to an electrode-bearing lead of the active implantable medical device, which electrode-bearing lead is separable from and not physically integrated with the rod.
10 . The orthopedic implant device of claim 5 , wherein the first implant structure comprises a pedicle screw of a rod-and-screw spinal fixation device and the one or more components of the active implantable medical device are physically integrated with the pedicle screw.
11 . The orthopedic implant device of claim 10 , wherein the one or more components of the active implantable medical device physically integrated with the pedicle screw comprises:
one or more RF module components located in one or both of a threaded portion of the pedicle screw and a screw head of the pedicle screw; and
a header located at the screw head and configured to couple to an electrode-bearing lead of the active implantable medical device, which electrode-bearing lead is separable from and not physically integrated with the pedicle screw.
12 .- 18 . (canceled)
19 . The orthopedic implant device of claim 5 , wherein the one or more components of the active implantable medical device physically integrated with the at least one of the first implant structures and the second implant structure includes an RF module comprising an RF signal generator configured to generate the pulsed RF signal.
20 . The orthopedic implant device of claim 19 , wherein the RF module is further configured to electrically couple to one or more electrodes of the active implantable medical device implanted in, on, or adjacent a target area of nerves, and to deliver the pulsed RF signal to the one or more electrodes.
21 . The orthopedic implant device of claim 19 , wherein the RF module is further configured to electrically couple to an RF energy interface of the active implantable medical device implanted in the patient, and further comprises charging circuitry and an energy storage component configured to store energy received by the RF energy interface and to provide the stored energy to the RF signal generator to generate the pulsed RF signal.
22 . The orthopedic implant device of claim 19 , wherein the RF module further comprises a communication interface configured to communicate with a device external the patient over a wireless communication link.
23 . The orthopedic implant device of claim 7 , wherein the at least one RF module part comprises an RF signal generator configured to generate the pulsed RF signal.
24 . The orthopedic implant device of claim 7 , wherein the at least one RF module part is configured to electrically couple to an RF energy interface of the active implantable medical device implanted in the patient, and comprises charging circuitry and an energy storage component configured to store energy received by the RF energy interface and to provide the stored energy to the RF signal generator to generate the pulsed RF signal.
25 . The orthopedic implant device of claim 7 , wherein the at least one RF module part comprises a communication interface configured to communicate with a device external the patient over a wireless communication link.
26 . The orthopedic implant device of claim 9 , wherein the RF module comprises an RF signal generator configured to generate the pulsed RF signal.
27 . The orthopedic implant device of claim 26 , wherein the at least one header is configured to electrically couple one or more electrodes of the active implantable medical device implanted in, on, or adjacent a target area of nerves to the RF signal generator.
28 . The orthopedic implant device of claim 11 , wherein the one or more RF module components comprises an RF signal generator configured to generate the pulsed RF signal.
29 . The orthopedic implant device of claim 11 , wherein the header is further configured to electrically couple to an RF energy interface of the active implantable medical device implanted in the patient, and the one or more RF module components comprises charging circuitry and an energy storage component configured to store energy received by the RF energy interface and to provide the stored energy to the RF signal generator to generate the pulsed RF signal.
30 . The orthopedic implant device of claim 11 , wherein the one or more RF module components comprises a communication interface configured to communicate with a device external the patient over a wireless communication link.