# US 2026/0083397 A1 · Implant Communication

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- Number: US 2026/0083397 A1
- Document ID: US20260083397A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 18/894,285
- Filed: 2024-09-24
- Published: 2026-03-26
- Earliest claimed: 2024-09-24
- Assignees: Howmedica Osteonics Corp.
- Applicants: Howmedica Osteonics Corp.
- Inventors: Andrew Meyer; Carlos O. Alva; Chad Bean; Wael Hazin
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20260083397A1

## CPC

- A61B 5/4851: {Prosthesis assessment or monitoring}
- A61B 5/01: Measuring temperature of body parts {; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue} (clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20)
- A61B 5/4585: {Evaluating the knee}
- A61B 5/686: {Permanently implanted devices, e.g. pacemakers, other stimulators, biochips (A61B5/6861 takes precedence)}
- A61F 2/38: for elbows or knees
- A61F 2/389: {Tibial components (A61F2/3868 takes precedence)}
- A61B 2560/0209: adapted for power saving
- A61B 2560/0214: of power generation or supply
- A61B 2560/045: with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
- A61B 2560/0462: Apparatus with built-in sensors
- A61B 2562/0219: Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
- A61B 2562/0223: Magnetic field sensors
- A61B 2562/0247: Pressure sensors
- A61B 2562/0252: Load cells
- 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

Disclosed herein is an implant with sensors that can communicate with an external source under predetermined conditions. The implant can include at least one sensor configured to detect implant data, a power source, an activation switch in communication with the at least one sensor, the activation switch configured to receive an external input, and a communication module configured to wirelessly communicate with an external source. The implant data can be any of an implant condition or adjacent surgical site condition. The activation switch can be configured to initiate wireless communication between the communication module and the external source to transmit the implant data in response to receiving the external input.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An implant comprising:
at least one sensor configured to detect implant data, the implant data being any of an implant condition or adjacent surgical site condition;
a power source;
an activation switch in communication with the at least one sensor, the activation switch configured to receive an external input; and
a communication module configured to wirelessly communicate with an external source,
wherein the activation switch is configured to initiate wireless communication between the communication module and the external source to transmit the implant data in response to receiving the external input.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The implant of claim 1, wherein the activation switch is configured to initiate wireless communication between the communication module and the external source in response to receiving the external input when the external input corresponds to a predetermined value.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The implant of claim 1, wherein the activation switch is configured to initiate wireless communication between the communication module and the external source in response to receiving the external input when the external input corresponds to a predetermined pattern.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The implant of claim 1, wherein the external input is any of a vibration or acoustic input.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The implant of claim 4, wherein the vibration input is any of a vibration frequency, a vibration magnitude and a vibration duration.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The implant of claim 4, wherein the acoustic input is any of an acoustic frequency, an acoustic magnitude and an acoustic duration.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The implant of claim 1, wherein the external input is generated by the external source.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The implant of claim 1, wherein the external input is generated by an external device.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The implant of claim 8, wherein the external device is a smartphone.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The implant of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is any of a pH sensor, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a load sensor, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, an IMU and a Hall sensor operatively coupled to a controller of the implant.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The implant of claim 10, wherein the controller is a microcontroller in communication with the activation switch and the communication module.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The implant of claim 1, wherein the adjacent surgical site condition includes any of a temperature, pressure, and pH.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The implant of claim 1, wherein the implant is a joint implant.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The implant of claim 13, wherein the joint implant is a knee implant including a tibial component and a femoral component, the at least one sensor, the power source, the activation switch, and the communication module being disposed within the tibial component.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The implant of claim 1, wherein the power source is a battery.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The implant of claim 1, wherein the activation switch includes a filter configured to compare the external input with any of a predetermined value and a predetermined pattern.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The implant of claim 1, wherein the communication module is a receiver configured to wirelessly transmit the implant data to the external source.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The implant of claim 1, wherein the communication module is a transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit the implant data to the external source and receive external data from the external source.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The implant of claim 1, wherein the external source is any of a smartphone, computer, tablet, and a network.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The implant of claim 1, wherein the activation switch is configured to transition the implant from a low-power mode to a high-power mode when the external input corresponds to a predetermined value or predetermined pattern, the implant consuming greater energy from the power source in the high-power mode relative to the low-power mode.