# US 2021/0330256 A1 · Motion limiting apparatus for assessing status of spinal implants > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0330256 A1 - Document ID: US20210330256A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/855,432 - Filed: 2020-04-22 - Published: 2021-10-28 - Earliest claimed: 2020-04-22 - Assignees: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc. - Applicants: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc. - Inventors: Newton Metcalf; Arjun Siby Kurian; Nicholas Benson; Kevin T. Foley; Thomas A. Carls - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210330256A1 ## CPC - A61B 5/11: Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor or mobility of a limb {(A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721)} - A61B 5/4851: {Prosthesis assessment or monitoring} - A61B 5/4566: {Evaluating the spine (A61B5/4561 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/6812: {Orthopaedic devices} - A61B 5/6823: {Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip} - A61B 5/686: {Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips (A61B5/6861 takes precedence)} - A61F 2/4455: {for the fusion of spinal bodies, e.g. intervertebral fusion of adjacent spinal bodies, e.g. fusion cages (intervertebral discs A61F2/442)} - A61F 5/02: Orthopaedic corsets - A61F 5/026: {Back straightening devices with shoulder braces to force back the shoulder to obtain a correct curvature of the spine (for clavicle fractures A61F5/05808; restraining devices A61F5/37)} - A61B 2505/09: Rehabilitation or training - A61B 2562/0219: Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches - A61B 2562/0247: Pressure sensors - A61B 2562/0271: Thermal or temperature sensors - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - 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 system for assessing a status of a spinal implant includes a wearable apparatus having an electronics system and one or more spinal implants in communication with the wearable apparatus. The electronics system includes a first short-range receiver, a first short-range transmitter, and an inertial measurement unit. The wearable apparatus is configured to constrain one or more movements of a wearer when worn. The one or more spinal implants include one or more sensors configured to measure one or more characteristics of a fusion status of the spinal implant, a second short-range receiver, and a second short-range transmitter. The one or more spinal implants are configured to communicate one or more of the measured characteristics to the wearable apparatus via the second transmitter. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for assessing a status of a spinal implant, the system comprising: a wearable apparatus comprising an electronics system, wherein the electronics system comprises: a first short-range receiver, a first short-range transmitter, and an inertial measurement unit, wherein the wearable apparatus is configured to constrain one or more movements of a wearer when worn, and one or more spinal implants in communication with the wearable apparatus, wherein one or more of the spinal implants comprises: one or more sensors configured to measure one or more characteristics of a fusion status of the spinal implant, a second short-range receiver, and a second short-range transmitter, wherein the one or more spinal implants are configured to communicate one or more of the measured characteristics to the wearable apparatus via the second transmitter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the electronics system is embedded into the wearable apparatus. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the electronics system is configured to be removably secured to the wearable apparatus. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein the electronics system comprises a mobile electronic device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein: the inertial measurement unit is configured to measure data pertaining to one or more assessed motions of the wearer, the wearable apparatus is configured to transmit at least a portion of the measured characteristics and at least a portion of the data pertaining to one or more assessed motions of the wearer to an electronic device located remotely from the wearable apparatus. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the electronic device comprises one or more of the following: a client electronic device associated with a healthcare professional; a client electronic device associated with the wearer; or an electronic device associated with an assessment system. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the one or more assessed motions are part of a protocol. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors comprises a load sensing assembly configured to detect a strain experienced by an associated spinal implant. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors comprises a pressure sensor. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors comprises a second inertial measurement unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors comprises a temperature sensor. ### Claim 12 A system for assessing a status of a spinal implant, the system comprising: a wearable apparatus comprising an electronics system, wherein the electronics system comprises: a first short-range receiver, and a first short-range transmitter, wherein the wearable apparatus is configured to constrain one or more movements of a wearer when worn, and one or more spinal implants in communication with the wearable apparatus, wherein one or more of the spinal implants comprises: one or more sensors configured to measure one or more characteristics of a fusion status of the spinal implant, a second short-range receiver, and a second short-range transmitter, wherein the one or more spinal implants are configured to communicate one or more of the measured characteristics to the wearable apparatus via the second transmitter. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the electronics system is embedded into the wearable apparatus. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the electronics system is configured to be removably secured to the wearable apparatus. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the electronics system comprises a mobile electronic device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein: the wearable apparatus further comprises an inertial measurement unit that is configured to measure data pertaining to one or more assessed motions of the wearer, wherein the wearable apparatus is configured to transmit at least a portion of the measured characteristics and at least a portion of the data pertaining to one or more assessed motions of the wearer to an electronic device located remotely from the wearable apparatus. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the electronic device comprises one or more of the following: a client electronic device associated with a healthcare professional; a client electronic device associated with the wearer; or an electronic device associated with an assessment system. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the one or more assessed motions are part of a protocol. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more sensors comprises a load sensing assembly configured to detect a strain experienced by an associated spinal implant. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more sensors comprises a pressure sensor. ### Claim 21 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more sensors comprises an inertial measurement unit. ### Claim 22 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more sensors comprises a temperature sensor.