Smart implants for periprosthetic joint infection

A medical implant comprising:

• an implant component configured to be implanted in a patient;
• an electrode array comprising sensor electrodes spaced apart on the implant component;
• an energy storage device within the implant component;
• a wireless communication interface within the implant component, configured to communicate with a wireless receiver that is separate from the medical implant;
• and
• implant circuitry within the implant component and operative to
• supply voltage to at least one of the sensor electrodes to measure electrical and/or chemical characteristics associated with when a biofilm is forming on the implant component, and
• communicate signaling indicating the electrical and/or chemical characteristics through the wireless communication interface,
• wherein the electrode array further comprises stimulation electrodes spaced apart on the implant component, and
• the implant circuitry is further operative to electrically stimulate at least one of the stimulation electrodes by current supplied by the energy storage device to be at a level which reduces the biofilm on at least part of the implant component while implanted in the patient, and
• wherein the implant circuitry is further operative to control the current supplied by the energy storage device to the stimulation electrodes to be a level sufficient to form hydrogen bubbles through reaction with patient fluid and dislodge the biofilm and/or to change potential hydrogen (PH) of the patient fluid to a level which reduces the biofilm.