Implantable Device Having Heating System
OwnerRoger D. Dragsdorfinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Devices that are implantable within a patient's body, and more specifically, to implantable joints (e.g. hip joint, knee joint, shoulder joint, etc.) having a heating system. For example, a device implantable within a patient's body may include a first member configured to be coupled to a first bone and a second member configured to be coupled to a second bone, the first and second members being operatively coupled to form a moveable joint. A heating system may be configured to controllably heat at least a portion of the at least one of the first and second members. The heating system may include a controller operable to cause a heating element to apply heat based on one or more external conditions (e.g. temperature, humidity, etc.).
Claims22
1-20. (canceled)
A device implantable within a patient's body, comprising:
- a structural member configured to be coupled to a bone;
- and
- a heating system operatively coupled to the structural member and configured to controllably heat at least a portion of the structural member, wherein the heating system includes a controller operable to receive one or more input signals indicative of one or more external conditions, the controller causing a heating element to apply heat based on the one or more external conditions.
A system, comprising:
- an implantable device configured to be implanted within a patient's body, the implantable device including:
- a structural member configured to be coupled to a bone;
- and
- a heating system operatively coupled to the structural member and configured to controllably heat at least a portion of the structural member, the heating system including:
- a main module that includes a power supply operatively coupled to a controller;
- and
- at least one heating element operatively coupled to the main module and to the structural member, the at least one heating element being configured to receive power from the power supply to heat at least a portion of the structural member,
- wherein the main module further includes a temperature sensor operatively coupled to the controller and configured to sense a temperature proximate the at least one heating element, the controller being configured to cause the at least one heating element to apply heat when a lower temperature limit is sensed and to discontinue heating when an upper temperature limit is sensed.
A device implantable within a patient's body, comprising:
- a structural member configured to be coupled to a bone;
- and
- a heating system heating system operatively coupled to the structural member and configured to controllably heat at least a portion of the structural member, wherein the heating system includes a receiver configured to wirelessly receive a heating power, and a receiver circuit operatively coupled to the receiver and to a heating element, the receiver circuit being configured to provide the heating power to the heating element to heat the at least a portion of the at least one of the structural member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.