# US 10,765,527 B2 · Artificial disk with sensors > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,765,527 B2 - Document ID: US10765527B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/148,579 - Filed: 2018-10-01 - Published: 2019-04-04 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-09-29 - Assignees: Axiomed, LLC - Applicants: Axiomed, LLC - Inventors: Kingsley Chin; Jeremy Crossgrove; Jake Lubinski - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10765527B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/442: {Intervertebral or spinal discs, e.g. resilient (non-disc-shaped intervertebral inflatable pockets A61F2/441; non-disc-shaped intervertebral fusion implants A61F2/4455)} - A61F 2/482: {Electrical means} - A61F 2002/30065: {thermoplastic, i.e. softening or fusing when heated, and hardening and becoming rigid again when cooled} - A61F 2002/30069: {elastomeric} - A61F 2002/30079: {magnetic} - A61F 2002/30462: {retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable} - A61F 2002/30546: {for adjusting elasticity, flexibility, spring rate or mechanical tension} - A61F 2002/30563: {having elastic means or damping means, different from springs, e.g. including an elastomeric core or shock absorbers} - A61F 2002/30668: {Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants} - A61F 2002/3067: {for data transfer} - A61F 2002/3068: {the pharmaceutical product being in a reservoir} - A61F 2002/4666: {for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension} - A61F 2002/4672: {for measuring temperature} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract A prosthetic disc can take the form of a sensing artificial disc that includes a resilient core and at least one sensor configured to sense one or more conditions within and/or experienced by the disc. The sensing artificial disc can serve as a replacement to a failed or injured disc between two vertebrae of a spine. The sensing artificial disc can include at least one element configured to change a condition or property of the resilient core in response to a condition sensed by the at least one sensor. A prosthetic disc can include therapeutic system configured to deliver medication to the body, which can include a reservoir of medication. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A prosthetic disc, comprising: a resilient core having a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one sidewall; at least one sensor disposed in or on the resilient core; a wireless transmitter configured to transmit a signal representative of a sensed condition; and at least one mechanism configured to control, influence, or alter conditions of the resilient core, wherein the at least one mechanism is configured to selectively control a stiffness of different regions of the resilient core. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The prosthetic disc of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is embedded in the resilient core. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The prosthetic disc of claim 1, comprising at least two sensors that are disposed in or on the at least one side wall of the resilient core. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The prosthetic disc of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one strain gauge. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The prosthetic disc of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one temperature sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The prosthetic disc of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is charged wirelessly. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The prosthetic disc of claim 1, wherein the signal representative of the sensed condition is wirelessly transmitted to an external device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The prosthetic disc of claim 1, wherein the at least one mechanism comprises at least one stiffening device that includes at least one heating element configured to raise a temperature of at least one region of the resilient core. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The prosthetic disc of claim 1, wherein the at least one mechanism comprises at least one stiffening device that includes a plurality of heating elements configured to raise a temperature of a plurality of the different regions of the resilient core. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The prosthetic disc of claim 1, wherein the at least one mechanism comprises at least one stiffening device that includes at least one piezo element. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The prosthetic disc of claim 1, wherein the at least one mechanism comprises at least one stiffening device that includes an adjustable band or strap. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The prosthetic disc of claim 1, wherein the stiffening device is adjustable using an electromagnet. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The prosthetic disc of claim 1, further comprising: a medication disposed within the resilient core, wherein the resilient core is configured to release the medication in response to at least one condition. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The disc of claim 13, wherein the resilient core includes a semipermeable material configured to release the medication external to the resilient core. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The prosthetic disc of claim 13, wherein the medication is maintained in at least one reservoir within the resilient core. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The prosthetic disc of claim 15, wherein the at least one reservoir is refillable. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The prosthetic disc of claim 15, further comprising: a medication sensor configured to sense a level of the medication in the reservoir, wherein the wireless transmitter is configured to transmit a signal indicating a level of the medication in the reservoir. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The prosthetic disc of claim 1, further comprising: at least one processor operatively coupled to the at least one sensor and the at least one sensor and the at least one mechanism. ### Claim 19 A prosthetic disc, comprising: a resilient core having a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one sidewall; at least one sensor disposed in or on the resilient core configured to measure both a magnitude of compression and a direction of compression of the disc; a wireless transmitter configured to transmit a signal representative of a sensed condition; at least one processor operatively coupled to the at least one sensor and the at least one sensor and the at least one mechanism; and at least one mechanism configured to control, influence, or alter conditions of the resilient core. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The prosthetic disc of claim 19, wherein the at least one sensor is a plurality of sensors that includes at least one sensor disposed proximate an outer edge of the resilient core.