Rush University Medical Center

University of Texas System

Markus A Wimmer

Joshua J Jacobs

Achim Kunze

Shalini Prasad

Nadim James Hallab

Mathew T Mathew

Thorsten Schwenke

One aspect of the invention provides a method of determining metal ion levels in the patents due to corrosion and wear processes of the metallic implant in a human or veterinary patient. One embodiment provides a cost effective and patient driven early diagnostic method which has a potential application in orthopedics and dentistry. In one embodiment, the method includes the use of an electrochemical biosensor to detect metal ions or particles in a sample taken from a patient having a metallic implant.

Metal-ion electrochemical biosensor and use thereof

A plastic implant device for a mammal that contains a rare earth metal compound tracer and a method for detecting degradation such as wear of the implanted device are disclosed. The tracer can also be present with a separate antioxidant or the tracer compound can be can be the salt of a C-Cunsaturated carboxylic acid. The rare earth metal compound tracer is released when the prosthetic is worn down or otherwise degraded in the mammalian body in which it was implanted. The presence and amount of released tracer present in a body fluid or tissue sample measured and is proportional to the degree of degradation of the implant.

Plastic implant impregnated with a degradation protector

A servo-controlled impacting device for orthopedic implants includes one or more sensors, an impacting device, and a controller with an interface. The controller is configured to provide control signals to an impactor in response to feedback signals from at least one sensor proximate an orthopedic implant subject to a force applied by the impactor. The interface is coupled to the controller and is configured to enable parameters to be set related to the operation of the controller.

Servo-controlled impacting device for orthopedic implants

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Chicago, IL, United States of America

Markus A Wimmer