Prosthetic component for monitoring synovial fluid and method
An orthopedic system to monitor a parameter related to the muscular-skeletal system is disclosed. The orthopedic system includes electronic circuitry, a sensor, and a remote system to monitor and measure. The sensor is configured to measure color or turbidity. The electronic circuitry is coupled to and interfaces with the sensor. The electronic circuit includes a transmitter to transmit measurement data from the sensor to the remote system. The orthopedic system is configured to monitor color or turbidity of a fluid in proximity to the muscular-skeletal system. The orthopedic system can transmit a signal when a predetermined color is detected or when the turbidity of the fluid exceeds a predetermined value. Alternatively, the remote system includes a processor and software configured to analyze the measurement data from the sensor and transmit a signal when a predetermined color is detected or when the turbidity of the fluid exceeds a predetermined value.
1. An orthopedic system comprising:
a sensor configured to measure color or turbidity;
electronic circuitry coupled to the sensor where the electronic circuitry includes a transmitter and where the orthopedic system is configured to monitor color or turbidity in proximity to the muscular-skeletal system; and
a remote system configured to receive measurement data from the sensor.
2. The orthopedic system of claim 1 where the system is configured to monitor a fluid and where the electronic circuitry is configured to transmit a signal when the color or turbidity indicates a presence of an infection.
3. The orthopedic system of claim 1 where the remote system is configured to receive color or turbidity measurement data and where the remote system includes a processor configured to process the measurement data.
4. The orthopedic system of claim 3 where the remote system is configured to initiate a response when a predetermined color is detected or when the turbidity is a predetermined value.
5. The orthopedic system of claim 1 where the orthopedic system monitors a rate of change of color or turbidity.
6. The orthopedic system of claim 1 where the orthopedic system is configured to illuminate a region of interest.
7. The orthopedic system of claim 6 further including at least one light emitting diode configured to illuminate the region of interest and at least one photo-detector configured to monitor color or turbidity.
8. The orthopedic system of claim 1 further including a housing where the electronic circuitry is in the housing and where the housing is configured to couple to the muscular-skeletal system.
9. The orthopedic system of claim 8 where the housing is a prosthetic component.
10. The orthopedic system of claim 1 where a housing of the sensor is configured to couple to the muscular-skeletal system.
11. An orthopedic system comprising:
a sensor configured to measure color and turbidity;
electronic circuitry coupled to the sensor where the electronic circuitry includes a transmitter and where the orthopedic system is configured to measure color and turbidity in proximity to the muscular-skeletal system; and
a remote system configured to receive measurement data from the sensor.
12. The orthopedic system of claim 11 where the electronic circuitry is configured to transmit a signal indicating when a predetermined color is detected or when turbidity is a predetermined value.
13. The orthopedic system of claim 11 where the remote system is configured to receive color or turbidity measurement data, where the remote system includes a processor configured to process the color or turbidity measurement data, and where the remote system is configured to transmit a signal when a predetermined color is detected or when turbidity is a predetermined value.
14. The orthopedic system of claim 11 where the orthopedic system is configured to measure a rate of change of color or turbidity.
15. The orthopedic system of claim 11 where the orthopedic system is configured to illuminate a region of interest.
16. The orthopedic system of claim 15 further including at least one light emitting diode configured to illuminate the region of interest and at least one photo-detector configured to monitor color or turbidity of the region of interest.
17. The orthopedic system of claim 11 further including a housing where the electronic circuitry is in the housing and where the housing is configured to couple to the muscular-skeletal system.
18. The orthopedic system of claim 17 where the housing is a prosthetic component.
19. The orthopedic system of claim 11 where the sensor is in a housing and where the sensor is configured to couple to the muscular-skeletal system.
20. An orthopedic system comprising:
an optical sensor configured to monitor color and turbidity;
electronic circuitry coupled to the optical sensor where the electronic circuitry includes a transmitter and where the orthopedic system is configured to measure color and turbidity in proximity to the muscular-skeletal system;
a light emitting diode configured to illuminate a region of interest; and
a remote system configured to receive measurement data from the optical sensor.