Miniature implanted orthopedic sensors

An implantable integrated circuit for use with implantation in an implantable orthopedic prostheses, comprising:

• a substantially spherical shaped substrate;
• at least one transducer disposed on said substrate for interacting with the implantable orthopedic prostheses in which the implantable IC is implanted, said transducer operating in accordance with associated operating parameters;
• and
• communications circuitry associated with said substrate for allowing external interface to said at least one transducer for receiving information therefrom.

A method for measuring strain in an orthopedic application within a human body, comprising the steps of:

• providing a substantially spherical semiconductor substrate having a sensor and integrated circuitry formed thereon, the integrated circuitry including circuitry connected to the sensor and including communication circuitry for communicating external to the body;
• implanting the substantially spherical substrate in an orthopedic medium in the body in such a manner that it can interact with the orthopedic medium through the associated sensor;
• measuring strain in the orthopedic medium;
• converting the strain measured by the sensor to electrical data;
• and
• communicating with the integrated circuitry from external to the body for controlling the operation of the integrated circuitry and extracting the electrical strain data.