Medical device for implanting in boney tissue and characterization of bone fractures

Abstract

A smart medical device includes a structure configured to be at least partially implanted in a body, and an electronics cartridge that is configured to be inserted into the structure after the structure is implanted in the body. The structure may be a cannulated screw for use in treating bone fractures. The medical device includes an impedance sensor for monitoring and reporting on the healing state of bone fractures. The sensor includes components of the electronics cartridge and electrodes that are either associated with the cannulated screw or with the insertable electronics cartridge.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.