Intelligent implants and associated antenna and data sampling methods

A tibial component of a knee prosthesis, the tibial component comprising:

• a tibial stem;
• and
• a tibial extension mechanically coupled to and partially extending from the tibial stem, the tibial stem extension comprising:
• a housing having a casing and a cover coupled to the casing,
• an electronics assembly within the housing, and
• an antenna within the housing and coupled to the electronics assembly, the antenna comprising a flat ribbon configured in a loop having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and opposed sides that extend between the first end and the second end, the opposed sides having major surfaces defined by a length and a height of the flat ribbon and minor edges defined by a thickness of the flat ribbon, the antenna oriented within the cover of the housing with major surfaces of the antenna generally parallel with an inner surface of the cover and the minor edges generally perpendicular to the major surfaces.

A tibial component of a knee prosthesis, the tibial component comprising:

• a tibial stem having a receptacle;
• and
• an implantable reporting processor partially within the receptacle and partially extending from the tibial stem, the implantable reporting processor comprising:
• a battery within the receptacle,
• an electronics assembly coupled to the battery and within the receptacle,
• an antenna coupled to the electronics assembly and outside the receptacle, the antenna comprising a flat ribbon configured in a loop having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and opposed sides that extend between the first end and the second end, the opposed sides having major surfaces defined by a length and a height of the flat ribbon and minor edges defined by a thickness of the flat ribbon, and
• a cover outside the receptacle and enclosing the antenna, wherein the antenna is oriented within the cover with major surfaces of the antenna generally parallel with an inner surface of the cover and the minor edges generally perpendicular to the major surfaces.