Apparatus and method for assessing loads on adjacent bones

An apparatus for providing an in vivo assessment of loads on adjacent vertebrae to be fused together, the adjacent vertebrae being separated by an intervertebral space created by the removal of an intervertebral disc, said apparatus comprising:

• a bone graft for insertion into the intervertebral space;
• at least one sensor associated with said bone graft, said at least one sensor for generating an output signal in response to and indicative of a load being applied to said bone graft through the adjacent pair of vertebrae;
• and
• at least one telemetric device operatively coupled with said at least one sensor, said at least one telemetric device being operable to receive said output signal from said at least one sensor and to transmit an EMF signal dependent upon said output signal.

An apparatus for providing an in vivo assessment of loads on adjacent bones to be fused together, said apparatus comprising:

• a bone graft for insertion between the adjacent bones;
• a pressure sensor associated with said bone graft, said pressure sensor for generating a first output signal in response to and indicative of a load being applied to said bone graft through the adjacent bones;
• and
• a load cell associated with said bone graft, said load cell for generating a second output signal in response to and indicative of the load being applied to said bone graft through the adjacent bones.

An apparatus for providing an in vivo assessment of loads on adjacent bones to be fused together, said apparatus comprising:

• a graft for insertion between the adjacent bones;
• at least one sensor associated with said graft, said at least one sensor for generating a first output signal in response to and indicative of a load being applied to said graft;
• an implant connected with the adjacent bones for helping to stabilize the adjacent bones while the adjacent bones are fusing together;
• and
• at least one strain gauge mounted on said implant, said at least one strain gauge for generating a second output signal in response to and indicative of the load being applied to said implant.

A method for in vivo assessing the loads on adjacent vertebrae to be fused together, said method comprising the steps of:

• harvesting a bone graft;
• removing an intervertebral disc between the adjacent vertebrae;
• instrumenting the bone graft with at least one sensor for sensing a load on the bone graft and for generating an output signal indicative of a sensed load;
• operatively coupling at least one telemetric device with the at least one sensor to receive the output signal and to transmit an EMF signal dependent upon the output signal;
• implanting the bone graft between the adjacent vertebrae;
• and
• monitoring the EMF signal from the least one telemetric device.

A method for in vivo assessing the loads on adjacent bones to be fused together, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a prosthetic implant for insertion between the adjacent bones to help the adjacent bones to fuse together;
• instrumenting the implant with at least one sensor for sensing a load on the implant and for generating an output signal indicative of a sensed load;
• operatively coupling at least one telemetric device with the at least one sensor to receive the output signal and to transmit an EMF signal dependent upon the output signal;
• implanting the implant between the adjacent bones;
• and
• monitoring the EMF signal from the least one telemetric device.

A method for in vivo assessing the loads on adjacent bones to be fused together, said method comprising the steps of:

• harvesting a bone graft;
• providing a body for insertion between the adjacent bones, the body comprising the harvested bone graft;
• instrumenting the body with at least one sensor for sensing a load on the body and for generating an output signal indicative of a sensed load;
• operatively coupling at least one telemetric device with the at least one sensor to receive the output signal and to transmit an EMF signal dependent upon the output signal;
• implanting the body between the adjacent bones;
• and
• monitoring the EMF signal from the least one telemetric device.

An apparatus for providing an in vivo assessment of loads on adjacent bones, said apparatus comprising:

• a body comprising a bone graft for insertion between the adjacent bones;
• at least one sensor associated with said body, said at least one sensor for generating an output signal in response to and indicative of a load being applied to said body through the adjacent bones;
• and
• at least one telemetric device operatively coupled with said at least one sensor, said at least one telemetric device being operable to receive said output signal from said at least one sensor and to transmit an EMF signal dependent upon said output signal.

An apparatus for providing an in vivo assessment of loads on adjacent bones, said apparatus comprising:

• a body for insertion between the adjacent bones;
• at least one sensor associated with said body, said at least one sensor for generating an output signal in response to and indicative of a load being applied to said body through the adjacent bones;
• at least one telemetric device operatively coupled with said at least one sensor, said at least one telemetric device being operable to receive said output signal from said at least one sensor and to transmit an EMF signal dependent upon said output signal;
• and
• an implant connected with the adjacent bones for helping to stabilize the adjacent bones while the adjacent bones fuse together.