Smith + Nephew

Consort Medical Limited

Mark David Wickham

Sied William Janna

Gene Edward Austin

Darren Wilson

Robert L Morgan

Peter A Brady

An instrumented orthopaedic implant, such as an intramedullary (IM) nail, is disclosed. The implant has the capacity to provide an accurate measurement of the applied mechanical load across the implant. The implant includes sensors and associated electronic components located in recesses on the outer surface of the implant. The implant houses the sensing apparatus, the interface circuitry, the data transmitter, and the power receiver. The hermetically sealed housing is adapted for implantation in the body of a patient. The implant is used with a controller which communicates with it by telemetry, and there is an acting unit connected to the electronic components which is adapted to carry out a function based upon a condition detected by the sensors.

Telemetric orthopaedic implant

A metering valve () is provided for a pressurised container () containing a pharmaceutical formulation. The valve has a stem () with a central flange () and a hollow open end () with a side port (). The stem slides in a body () having larger and smaller diameter portions, and being closed off by a seal () against which the flange () rests in an inoperative position. A second seal is located around the stem on the opposite side of the flange and trapped by a spring () which urges the stem into its inoperative position. When the stem is depressed, the inner seal () forms a sliding seal with the smaller diameter portion of the body to define a metering chamber () filled with the pharmaceutical. Continued depression opens the side hole () to allow the contents of the metering chamber to be dispensed.

Metering valves for dispensers

Growing community of inventors

Rampton, United Kingdom

Mark David Wickham