DEVICES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USING AND MONITORING SPINAL IMPLANTS

1 . A method of monitoring patient recovery after spinal fusion, the method comprising:

providing a spinal cage comprising: a body configured to be implanted in an intervertebral space of a spine, the body comprising opening at a first end of the body and a cavity that extends through the body from the opening towards a second end of the body; at least one sensor within the cavity, the at least one sensor configured to generate data; a processor within the cavity and electrically coupled to the at least one sensor and configured to collect the data generated by the at least one sensor; and an antenna;

generating, by the at least one sensor, data indicative of one or more of a fixation state of the spinal cage in the intervertebral space, a fusion state of the spinal cage, and an integrity state of the spinal cage; and

transmitting, by the antenna, the data to a remote location.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is a position sensor that generates data that represents a position of the spinal cage.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is a vibration sensor that generates data that represents a vibration of the spinal cage.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is a contact sensor that generates data that represents a contact between the spinal cage and tissue, a vertebra, or an implant structure.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is a pressure sensor that generates data that represents a force on the spinal cage.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is an accelerometer that generates data that represents a movement of the spinal cage.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the movement corresponds to at least one of rotation of the spinal cage and acceleration of the spinal cage.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a strain gauge that generates data that represents a strain on the spinal cage.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

periodically receiving the data generated by the at least one sensor; and

processing the data as a function of time to determine a change in one or more of the following: a position of the spinal cage, a vibration of the spinal cage, a contact between the spinal cage and tissue, a vertebra, or an implant structure, a force on the spinal cage, a movement of the spinal cage, and a strain on the spinal cage.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein a change in the position of the spinal cage over time is indicative of a change in the fixation state of the spinal cage in the intervertebral space.

11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein a change in the vibration of the spinal cage over time is indicative of a change in the fixation state of the spinal cage in the intervertebral space, or a change in the fusion state of the spinal cage.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein a change in the contact between the spinal cage and tissue, a vertebra, or an implant structure over time is indicative of a change in the fixation state of the spinal cage in the intervertebral space, or a change in the fusion state of the spinal cage.

13 . The method of claim 19 , wherein a change in the force on the spinal cage over time is indicative of a change in the fixation state of the spinal cage in the intervertebral space, or a change in the integrity state of the spinal cage in the intervertebral space.

14 . The method of claim 19 , wherein a change in the movement of the spinal cage over time is indicative of a change in the fixation state of the spinal cage in the intervertebral space, or a change in the fusion state of the spinal cage.

15 . The method of claim 19 , wherein a change in the strain on the spinal cage over time is indicative of a change in the fixation state of the spinal cage in the intervertebral space, or a change in the fusion state of the spinal cage.