System and method for determining patient follow-up subsequent to an orthopaedic procedure
A method of determining patient follow-up subsequent to an orthopaedic procedure includes determining the number of cycles of use of an orthopaedic joint of the patient. If a predetermined threshold is exceeded, communication with an orthopaedic care provider is initiated. A patient monitoring system is also disclosed.
The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for use in conjunction with orthopaedic procedures.
BACKGROUNDCurrently, patient follow-up subsequent to an orthopaedic procedure is a function of the time that has elapsed since the procedure. Indeed, follow-up meetings with the orthopaedic care provider (e.g., the surgeon) are typically scheduled for dates in the future which reflect the passage of a given amount of time since the procedure.
SUMMARYAccording to one aspect of the disclosure, a method of determining patient follow-up subsequent to an orthopaedic procedure includes determining the number of cycles of use of an orthopaedic joint of the patient. If a predetermined threshold is exceeded, communication with an orthopaedic care provider is initiated.
The number of cycles of use of the patient's joint may be determined by (i) determining number of steps taken by the patient, (ii) determining the activity level of the patient, (iii) determining the number of times a predetermined joint flexion angle is achieved, or (iv) determining the number of loading cycles of the joint.
The communication with the orthopaedic care provider (e.g., a surgeon) is initiated by notifying the patient and/or the orthopaedic care provider. Such communication may be initiated by a phone call, electronic mail message, or other web-based communication. Such a communication may be an automated, device-initiated communication.
The orthopaedic joint of the patient may be a prosthetic joint. The orthopaedic joint of the patient may have at least one natural orthopaedic component.
A patient monitoring system includes a joint use measurement device configured to determine the cycles of use of an orthopaedic joint of a patient.
The joint use measurement device is operable to generate a message if a predetermined threshold is attained.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:
The present disclosure relates to a method for determining patient follow-up after an orthopaedic procedure, such as a joint replacement procedure, based on the actual use of the patient's joint. As will be described herein in greater detail, the number of cycles of use of the patient's joint may be determined, for example, by (i) determining number of steps taken by the patient, (ii) determining the activity level of the patient, (iii) determining the number of times a predetermined joint flexion angle is achieved, or (iv) determining the number of loading cycles of the joint. Determination of these parameters may be achieved in a number of different manners. When it is determined that the patient has achieved a level of use in which follow-up is desired, a communication with the orthopaedic care provider (e.g., a surgeon, hospital, nurse, primary care provider, or other individual involved in the care of the patient) is initiated by notifying the patient and/or the orthopaedic care provider. As will be described herein in greater detail, such communication may be achieved in a variety of different manners.
Referring now to
The actual use of the knee endoprosthesis system 14 may be characterized as cycles of use of the system. The cycles of use of the system 14 may be measured in a variety of methods such as, for example, (i) by determining number of steps taken by the patient, (ii) by determining the activity level of the patient, (iii) by determining the number of times a predetermined joint flexion angle is achieved by the system 14, or (iv) by determining the number of loading cycles of the system 14.
In the exemplary embodiment shown in
Referring now to
As shown in
The processor 36 and memory device 38 cooperate to determine when follow-up subsequent to an orthopaedic procedure is warranted based on cycles of use of the knee endoprosthesis system 14. In particular, the memory device 38 has stored therein a plurality of instructions in the form of a software routine which performs such a function. The memory device 38 may be Random Access Memory (hereinafter sometimes RAM), Read Only Memory (hereinafter sometimes ROM), flash or erasable memory such as Erasable Programmable ROM (hereinafter sometimes EPROM) and Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (hereinafter sometimes EEPROM), and/or other memory devices. Due to the adaptable nature of programming languages, there are many embodiments of a software routine stored in the memory device 38 for performing such a function.
The electronic body monitor 32 also includes a message generating device 42. The message generating device 42 is operable to generate visual and/or audible messages for presentation to the patient. For example, when the electronic body monitor 32 determines that the patient has exceeded a predetermined threshold relating to the number of steps taken by the patient (or activity level) since the patient's procedure (or last meeting with the surgeon), an audible and/or visual alert may be generated by the message generating device 42. The message generating device 42 may be embodied as any type of such device including, for example, an LCD or LED display and/or a tone/sound generator.
Referring now to
The stored count information can be transmitted to a device external to the patient's body by use of the transmitter and antenna of the associated electronics 56. As shown schematically in
One such implantable system, along with the associated external components, is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/887,766, entitled “In Vivo Joint Implant Cycle Counter” which is assigned to the assignee of the present application, and which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The data interpretation device 60 may have integrated therein, or be coupled to, a message generating device 62. The message generating device 62 is operable to generate visual and/or audible messages for presentation to the patient. For example, when it is determined from the output of the implanted electronics 56 that the number of occasions in which the knee endoprosthesis system 14 has attained a predetermined flexion angle has exceeded a predetermined threshold, an audible and/or visual alert may be generated by the message generating device 62. The message generating device 62 may be embodied as any type of such device including, for example, a PC display monitor, an LCD or LED display, and/or a tone/sound generator.
In lieu of the arrangement of
In another example, the cycles of use of the patient's joint may be determined by measuring the wear of certain components of the knee endoprosthesis system 14. For instance, a sensor arrangement may be utilized in which the joint space between the femoral component 28 and the tibial component 22 is measured/monitored. It should be appreciated that such a distance may shorten (i.e., reduce) over cycles of the knee endoprosthesis system as a result of wear of the tibial bearing 20. As such, the cycles of use of the system 14 could be determined by measuring and tracking the joint space between the femoral component 28 and the tibial component 22. Such data could be stored, transmitted, and received in a similar manner to as described above in regard to the arrangement of
Referring now to
The communications device 70 may be operated to query the joint use measurement device 10 and then commence an automated, device-initiated communication with the orthopaedic care provider (e.g., the surgeon's office) if a follow-up visit is warranted based on the number of cycles of use of the knee endoprosthesis system 14. For example, the communications device 70 may initiate a telephone call, electronic mail communication, or other web-based communication with an electronic device or system 72 operated by the surgeon's office.
It should be appreciated that the communications device 70 may be configured to accommodate any one or more of the different exemplary embodiments of the joint use measurement device 10. For example, in the case of the electronic body monitor 32 of
Similarly, the communications device 70 may be configured to communicate with data interpretation device 60 of the arrangement of
In the case of when the joint use measurement device 10 is embodied as a mechanical device (i.e., non-electrical) such as, for example, certain types of pedometers, data from the mechanical device may be input into the communications device 70. In such a case, the communications device 70 may be configured to process such manually entered data, and then, if appropriate, initiate communication with the surgeon in any one or more of the manners described above.
Although the concepts of the present disclosure have herein been described in regard to a knee prosthesis, it should be appreciated that the concepts described herein could also be applied to other joint endoprosthesis such as endoprosthesis systems for use in the hip, shoulder, wrist, elbow, ankle, along with endoprosthesis systems for use with the digits of the extremities. It should be understood that other configurations of a joint use measurement device (including its sensors) may be utilized to accommodate a given application in a desired joint location.
Moreover, although the concepts of the present disclosure have herein been exemplary described in regard to an endoprosthesis for use in a total joint replacement, it should be appreciated that the concepts described herein could also be applied to other arrangements. For example, the concepts of the present disclosure could be applied subsequent to a procedure in which the resultant joint includes one or more natural components. Moreover, the concepts of the present disclosure could be applied subsequent to an orthopaedic procedure at anatomical locations other than a joint.
While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific exemplary embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and has herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
There are a plurality of advantages of the present disclosure arising from the various features of the apparatus and methods described herein. It will be noted that alternative embodiments of the apparatus and methods of the present disclosure may not include all of the features described yet still benefit from at least some of the advantages of such features. Those of ordinary skill in the art may readily devise their own implementations of an apparatus and method that incorporate one or more of the features of the present disclosure and fall within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.
Claims
1. A method of determining patient follow-up subsequent to an orthopaedic procedure, the method comprising the steps of:
- determining the number of cycles of use of an orthopaedic joint of a patient, and
- initiating communication with an orthopaedic care provider in response to the determining step.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step comprises determining the number of cycles of use of the orthopaedic joint and generating an output signal in response thereto, further comprising the step of:
- generating a message to the patient in response to generation of the output signal.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of generating the message comprises generating an audible message.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of generating the message comprises generating a visual message.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step comprises determining the number of steps taken by the patient.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the number of steps taken by the patient comprises monitoring output from a pedometer.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step comprises determining the activity level of the patient.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein determining the activity level of the patient comprises monitoring output from a sensor external to the body of the patient.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step comprises determining the number of occasions that a predetermined flexion angle is obtained by the orthopaedic joint of the patient.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step comprises determining the number of loading cycles of the orthopaedic joint of the patient.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step comprises monitoring output from a sensor implanted into the body of the patient.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step comprises monitoring output from a sensor external to the body of the patient.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein:
- the orthopaedic joint of the patient comprises a prosthetic orthopaedic joint comprising a sensor, and
- the determining step comprises monitoring output from the sensor.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein the orthopaedic joint of the patient comprises at least one natural joint component.
15. The method of claim 1, wherein the orthopaedic joint of the patient comprises at least one prosthetic joint component.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein the initiating step comprises generating an automated, device-initiated electronic communication.
17. The method of claim 1, wherein:
- the determining step comprises determining the number of cycles of use of the orthopaedic joint and generating an output signal in response thereto, and
- the initiating step comprises generating an automated, device-initiated electronic communication with an electronic device of the orthopaedic care provider in response to generation of the output signal.
18. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step comprises determining the distance between a first component and a second component of the orthopaedic joint of the patient.
19. A patient monitoring system, comprising:
- a sensor,
- a processor in communication with the sensor, and
- a memory device electrically coupled to the processor, the memory device having stored therein a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
- monitor output from the sensor to determine the number of cycles of use of the orthopaedic joint of a patient, and
- generate a message to the patient indicative of a need to initiate communication with an orthopaedic care provider if the number of cycles of use of the orthopaedic joint exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
20. The patient monitoring system of claim 19, wherein the sensor is implantable into the body of the patient.
21. The patient monitoring system of claim 19, wherein the sensor is configured to be externally worn by the patient.
22. The patient monitoring system of claim 19, wherein the sensor is secured to a prosthetic joint component.
23. A method of determining patient follow-up subsequent to an orthopaedic procedure, the method comprising the steps of:
- electronically querying a joint use measurement device to determine the number of cycles of use of an orthopaedic joint of a patient, and
- generating an electronic output signal if the number of cycles of use of the orthopaedic joint of the patient exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
24. The method of claim 23, wherein the generating step comprises generating a phone message which is sent to an orthopaedic care provider.
25. The method of claim 23, wherein the generating step comprises generating an electronic mail message which is sent to an orthopaedic care provider.
26. The method of claim 23, wherein:
- the joint use measurement device comprises a sensor implanted into the body of the patient, and
- the electronically querying step comprises determining output from the sensor.
27. The method of claim 23, wherein
- the joint use measurement device is configured to be externally worn by the patient,
- the joint use measurement device comprises a sensor, and the electronically querying step comprises determining output from the sensor.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 29, 2004
Publication Date: Jun 29, 2006
Inventors: Mark DiSilvestro (Fort Wayne, IN), Terry Dietz (Columbia City, IN), Robert Hastings (Warsaw, IN)
Application Number: 11/024,888
International Classification: A61B 5/103 (20060101);