Shoulder Implant Center of Rotation Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring the health of the shoulder joint, particularly the rotator cuff and related soft tissues, are inadequate for early detection of degeneration, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment, as minor changes are difficult to identify and repeated clinical visits are impractical for patients.
Innovation Solution
A sensing system with an implantable sensor device, such as an inertial measurement unit (IMU), that generates positional data and wirelessly transmits it to a transmitter device for analysis, allowing for periodic calculation and tracking of the center of rotation location of the shoulder joint, enabling remote monitoring and early detection of degeneration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If current monitoring methods are used, then clinical visits can be performed, but early detection of rotator cuff degeneration is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The implantable sensor device is installed during the initial shoulder replacement surgery to continuously monitor joint health parameters. This preliminary action enables early detection of rotator cuff degeneration before significant damage occurs, allowing proactive medical intervention and avoiding delayed diagnosis that would occur with routine clinical visits alone.
Solution Approach 2:
An implantable sensor device acts as an intermediary between the biological joint tissues and the external monitoring system. The sensor continuously measures parameters such as center of rotation location and transmits data wirelessly to external devices, enabling precise detection of degeneration without requiring repeated clinical visits or manual examinations.
2Reliability
If repeated clinical visits are performed, then monitoring can be conducted, but patient convenience is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The implantable sensor device performs self-service monitoring by continuously measuring joint health parameters and automatically transmitting data to external devices. This eliminates the need for patients to schedule and attend repeated clinical visits, significantly improving convenience while maintaining reliable monitoring capability through continuous data collection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of repeated clinical visits with an electronic monitoring system. The implantable sensor and wireless transmission system substitute for manual examinations and clinic appointments, allowing patients to be monitored remotely without physical presence in clinical settings.
3Measurement precision
If implantable sensor devices are used, then continuous monitoring is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The implantable sensor device is designed with multi-functionality to justify its complexity. It simultaneously performs multiple functions including measuring center of rotation location, tracking joint movement, wirelessly transmitting data, and powering itself through energy harvesting from body movements. This universal design consolidates multiple monitoring capabilities into a single device, reducing overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A sensing system for tracking a center of rotation of a joint can include a computer system including processing circuitry configured to perform operations including: retrieve a first data set collected by a sensor device configured to be implanted into a patient in a fixed location on or within a first bone of the joint, the sensor device configured to collect data associated with movement of the first bone of the joint at a first time, retrieve a second data set collected by the sensor device at a second time subsequent to the first time; analyze the first and the second data sets to calculate first and second center of rotation locations; and compare the first and second center of rotation locations to track migration in the center of rotation of the joint over time.