Depuy Synthes Products, Inc.

Synthes Usa, LLC

Synthes Gmbh

Geoffrey Flexner

Robert Frigg

Ross Hamel

Stefan Schwer

Stuart Weikel

James M Green

Chad Morgan

Harry Thomas Hall, Iv

Charles E Geltz

Harry Thomas Hall

Charles E Gelts

Stuart Weikei

Harry T Hall

Harry T Iv Hall

The present invention is directed to a system and method for performing tissue, preferably bone tissue manipulation. The system and method may include implanting markers on opposite sides of a bone, fractured bone or tissue to facilitate bone or tissue manipulation, preferably in-situ closed fracture reduction. The markers are preferably configured to be detected by one or more devices, such as, for example, a detection device so that the detection device can determine the relative relationship of the markers. The markers may also be capable of transmitting and receiving signals. An image may be captured of the bone or tissue and the attached markers. From the captured image, the orientation of each marker relative to the bone fragment may be determined. Next, the captured image may be manipulated in a virtual or simulated environment until a desired restored orientation has been achieved. The orientation of the markers in the desired restored orientation may then be determined. The desired relationship between markers may then be programmed into, for example, the detection device. Next, actual physical reduction and/or manipulation of the bone may begin. During the manipulation procedure, the orientation of the markers may be continuously monitored and when the markers substantially align with the virtual or simulated orientation of the markers in the desired restored orientation, an indicator signal is transmitted.

Simulated bone or tissue manipulation

A tissue manipulation system includes Programmable Markers configured to be implanted on opposite sides of one or more portions of tissue within a patient's body, Markers communicating with one another to enable a determination of their relative positions and External Device receiving and transmitting signals to Markers containing information as to Marker's positions. Device is configured to: capture an image of the tissue portions with Markers; manipulate the image of the tissue portions in a virtual environment or a simulated environment to a desired restored orientation; determine desired positions Markers will have when the tissue portions are in the desired restored orientation; program implanted Markers with the desired orientations. Device generates an indicator signal upon Markers being manipulated into the desired orientations; and manipulate the tissue portions after Markers have been programmed, until an indicator signal is generated indicating that the desired restored orientation has been substantially achieved.

A monitoring system includes: (1) an implant having at least one sensor and configured for at least partial insertion into a patient, a first one of sensors being in contact with a perimeter of a hole in a body portion of the implant for accepting a fastener; (2) a microchip associated with the implant and the sensor, the microchip configured to receive at least a first signal from the sensor; (3) a transmitter associated with the microchip for transmitting a second signal, representative of the first signal; (4) a receiver located outside of the patient, the receiver configured receive the transmitted second signal; and (5) a display device associated with the receiver, the display device configured to provide an audible or visual representation of the second signal to a user.

Orthopaedic implant with sensors

The present invention relates to an orthopaedic implant, such as a bone plate, for the fixation of bone where the implant also has at least one microchip and at least one sensor connected to the microchip. The sensor or sensors are configured to receive physical stimulus from a portion of the implant or the patient's tissue such as temperature, pressure, and strain. The information received from the sensor or sensors is gathered by the microchip and transmitted to a receiver, such as a personal computer, outside the patient. This information enables doctors to diagnose the useful life of the implant, the load sharing of the bone plate, and possible complications typically associated with orthopaedic implants such as infection, fracture non-union, and fatigue. The implant may also have one or more electrodes located on its surface which emit an electric current to stimulate healing of the broken or fractured bone.

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Chester Springs, PA, United States of America

Geoffrey Flexner