Porous implant system and treatment method
OwnerStephen K. Bubbinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A porous implant system includes a gradient source adapted for transferring a gradient to an interface connected to an implant at a patient situs. The gradient source is controlled by a programmable controller. The implant is bonded to the patient by tissue ingrowth, which is facilitated by the gradient formed across the porous portion of the implant. A treatment method and includes the steps of providing a porous implant, connecting same to a gradient source through an interface, forming a gradient across the implant and controlling the operation of the gradient source according to a predetermined and preprogrammed treatment protocol.
Claims20
A porous implant gradient system for a hard or soft tissue situs, which comprises:
- an implant comprising a porous material adapted to receive tissue ingrowth at the patient situs;
- a gradient source adapted for creating a gradient across at least a portion of the implant;
- a gradient transfer connected to the gradient source and adapted for transferring the gradient;
- and
- an interface connected to the gradient transfer and to the implant, the interface being adapted to apply the gradient to the portion of the implant across which same is created.
A method of treating a patient, which comprises the steps of:
- diagnosing the patient's condition and prescribing a treatment protocol therefor;
- providing an implant with a porous material portion chosen for compatibility with the patient situs;
- installing said implant at the situs;
- providing a gradient source adapted for creating a gradient across said implant;
- connecting the gradient source to the implant;
- transferring the gradient from the gradient source to the implant;
- and
- facilitating tissue ingrowth into said implant porous material by said gradient.
A method of treating a patient condition involving first and second tissue portions located at a situs within the patient's body, which method comprises the steps of:
- diagnosing the patient's condition;
- prescribing a treatment protocol;
- providing a programmable controller;
- programming the controller pursuant to the treatment protocol;
- providing a monitor;
- connecting the monitor to the controller and displaying data concerning the treatment status on the monitor;
- providing an implant with a composite construction consisting of a porous material portion and a polymeric portion bonded thereto, the latter having a relatively low coefficient of friction;
- providing a gradient source;
- connecting the gradient source to the controller and controlling the operation of the gradient source with the controller;
- providing an interface and connecting same to said gradient source and said implant;
- providing a sense or and connecting same to one of said patient at said patient situs or said gradient source, into said controller;
- sensing a patient condition or status of said treatment with said sensor, relaying same to said controller and displaying data concerning same on said monitor;
- applying said gradient to said porous portion of said implant;
- drawing issue date from said the implant through said interface and collecting same;
- and
- providing an input source;
- infusing said implant with input material from said input source through said interface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.