The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 11, 1998
Filed:
Jan. 16, 1996
James E Orsak, Memphis, TN (US);
Abraham B Salehi, Bartlett, TN (US);
Smith & Nephew, Inc., Memphis, TN (US);
Abstract
Apparatus for measuring bone strain to detect fracture consolidation includes a fixation device which is affixed to a patient's bone that has a fracture site to be healed and wherein the fixation device supports an elongated optical fiber. Light is transmitted through the optical fiber to an exit point. The light intensity within the optical fiber is measured, preferably at the exit point as the light travels through the optical fiber. Light intensity is measured to monitor strain in the fixation device as the fracture site heals. A physician then determines when the site has fully healed by observing changes in light intensity as the patient's bone rather than the fixation device carries more of the patient's normal body loading.