Abstract: A prosthetic component suitable for trialing or long-term implantation is provided. The prosthetic component includes at least one sensor for measuring a parameter of the muscular-skeletal system or a biological parameter is disclosed. The prosthetic component comprises a conductive material. Electronic circuitry and sensors are housed within the prosthetic component. Data from the prosthetic component can be transmitted to a remote system. The prosthetic component can comprise steel, titanium, cobalt, an alloy, or other conductive material. At least a portion of the conductive material comprising the prosthetic component is coupled to ground to shield the sensor from parasitic coupling that can affect measurement accuracy. The prosthetic component can have an opening in the shield to allow sensing or transmission of data.

Abstract: A method for determining orthopedic alignment is provided. The method includes monitoring a first and second sequence of signals transmitted from the first device to a second device, estimating a location of the first device from sensory measurements of the signals at respective sensors on the second device, calculating a set of phase differences, weighting a difference of an expected location and estimated location of the first device with the set of phase differences to produce a relative displacement, and reporting a position of an orthopedic instrument coupled to the first device based on the relative displacement.

Abstract: A spine measurement system comprises a spinal instrument, alignment circuitry, insert instrument, and a remote system. The insert instrument comprises a handle, a shaft, and a module. The insert instrument can be used to retain, direct, and place a prosthetic component in a spinal region. The module includes an electronic assembly for receiving, processing, and sending data from the insert instrument. The module includes alignment circuitry for providing trajectory, alignment, and position information on the placement of the prosthetic component. A GUI of remote system can display a workflow and report the trajectory, alignment, and position information of insert instrument during different steps of the workflow. The system allows accurate placement of a prosthetic component in a previously probed region.

Abstract: At least one embodiment is directed to an insert for measuring a parameter of the muscular-skeletal system. The insert can be temporary or permanent. In one embodiment, the insert is prosthetic component for a single compartment of the knee. The insert comprises a support structure and a support structure respectively having an articular surface and a load bearing surface. The height of the insert is less than 10 millimeters. At least one internal cavity is formed when support structures are coupled together for housing electronic circuitry, sensors, and the power source. The cavity can be sterilized through a port. A membrane is between the port and the cavity. A sterilization gas permeates the membrane for sterilizing cavity. The membrane reduces the ingress of solids and liquids to the cavity.

Abstract: At least one embodiment is directed to an insert for measuring a parameter of the muscular-skeletal system. The insert can be temporary or permanent. In one embodiment, the insert is prosthetic component for a single compartment of the knee. The insert comprises a support structure and a support structure respectively having an articular surface and a load bearing surface. The height of the insert can be less than 10 millimeters. At least one internal cavity is formed when support structures are coupled together for housing electronic circuitry, sensors, and the power source. The insert includes a flexible articular surface. Flexible articular surface transfers loading to sensors internal to the insert.

Abstract: A spine measurement system includes a plurality of sensored heads, a spinal instrument, and a remote system. The spinal instrument comprises a handle, a shaft, sensored heads, and a module. The sensored heads includes one or more sensors that couple to module and each has a different height. The module includes an electronic assembly for receiving, processing, and sending quantitative data from sensors in sensored heads. The module can be coupled to and removed from handle. Similarly, sensored heads can be coupled to and removed from shaft. A sensored head can be inserted between vertebra and report vertebral conditions such as force, pressure, orientation and edge loading. A GUI of remote system can display a workflow and report load and position of load during the workflow.

Abstract: At least one embodiment is directed to an insert for measuring a parameter of the muscular-skeletal system. The insert can be temporary or permanent. In one embodiment, the insert is prosthetic component for a single compartment of the knee. The insert comprises a support structure and a support structure respectively having an articular surface and a load bearing surface. The height of the insert is less than 10 millimeters. At least one internal cavity is formed when support structures are coupled together for housing electronic circuitry, sensors, and the power source. The sensors are supported by support structure on pad regions. A planar interconnect couples the sensors to electronic circuitry. The planar interconnect includes a tab that couples to a connector coupled to a printed circuit board.

Abstract: At least one embodiment is directed to an insert for measuring a parameter of the muscular-skeletal system. The insert can be temporary or permanent. In one embodiment, the insert is prosthetic component for a single compartment of the knee. The insert comprises a support structure and a support structure respectively having an articular surface and a load-bearing surface. At least one of the support structures comprises polycarbonate. The polycarbonate allows short-range transmission of measurement data. The height of the insert is less than 10 millimeters. At least one internal cavity is formed when support structures are coupled together for housing electronic circuitry, sensors, and the power source. The internal cavity is isolated from the external environment and can be hermetically sealed.

Abstract: A system for enabling a medical device. The system includes a cradle having a magnet for generating a magnetic field. The cradle supports and aligns the medical device in a predetermined orientation. Medical device placed in the cradle exposes a magnetic sensitive switch to the magnetic field of the magnet that produces a change in state of the magnetic sensitive switch. Medical device further includes a switch, indicator, logic circuitry, delay circuit, and detect circuit for coupling a power source to electronic circuitry. In a first mode of operation the medical device can be turned on and then turned off. In a second mode of operation the medical device cannot be turned off after being turned on.

Abstract: A spinal instrument includes sensors for measuring a parameter of the muscular-skeletal system. The spinal instrument includes a sensored head region that can be inserted into a spinal region. The spinal instrument comprises a housing, a housing, an electronic assembly, and a flexible interconnect. Housing includes a handle portion, a shaft portion, and a support structure. Similarly, housing includes a handle portion, a shaft portion, and a support structure. Furthermore, housing has a cavity and a lengthwise passage respectively for receiving electronic assembly and flexible interconnect. A sensored head region of spinal instrument includes an assembly stack for measuring load magnitude and position of load on the support structure and the support structure. The flexible interconnect couples the electronic assembly to the sensors.

Abstract: A load balance and alignment system is provided to assess load forces on the vertebra in conjunction with overall spinal alignment. The system includes a spine instrument having an electronic assembly and a sensorized head. The sensorized head can be inserted between vertebra and report vertebral conditions such as force, pressure, orientation and edge loading. A GUI is therewith provided to show where the spine instrument is positioned relative to vertebral bodies as the instrument is placed in the inter-vertebral space. The system can report optimal prosthetic size and placement in view of the sensed load and location parameters including optional orientation, rotation and insertion angle along a determined insert trajectory.

Abstract: At least one embodiment is directed to an insert for measuring a parameter of the muscular-skeletal system. The insert can be temporary or permanent. In one embodiment, the insert is prosthetic component for a single compartment of the knee. The insert comprises a support structure and a support structure respectively having an articular surface and a load bearing surface. The height of the insert is less than 10 millimeters. At least one internal cavity is formed when support structures are coupled together for housing electronic circuitry, sensors, and the power source. The internal cavity is isolated from the external environment and can be hermetically sealed. The exterior surfaces of the support structure and the support structure are sterilized.

Abstract: At least one embodiment is directed to an insert sensing device for measuring a parameter of the muscular-skeletal system. The insert sensing device can be temporary or permanent. The insert sensing device is a self-contained encapsulated measurement device. The insert sensing device comprises a support structure having an articular surface for allowing articulation of the muscular-skeletal system and a support structure having a load bearing surface. The structures attach together to form a housing that includes one or more sensors, a power source, electronic circuitry, and communication circuitry. Shims can be attached to the load-bearing surface to adjust the height of insert sensing device. The structures are substantially dimensionally equal to a passive final insert. The sensors are placed between a pad region and a load plate.

Abstract: At least one embodiment is directed to an insert for measuring a parameter of the muscular-skeletal system. The insert can be temporary or permanent. In one embodiment, the insert is prosthetic component for a single compartment of the knee. The insert comprises a support structure and a support structure respectively having an articular surface and a load bearing surface. The height of the insert is less than 10 millimeters. At least one internal cavity is formed when support structures are coupled together for housing electronic circuitry, sensors, and the power source. The cavity is sterilized through a port. A membrane is between the port and the cavity. A sterilization gas permeates the membrane for sterilizing cavity. The membrane prevents ingress of solids and liquids to the cavity.

Abstract: A spine alignment system is provided to assess load forces on the vertebra in conjunction with overall spinal alignment. The system includes a spine instrument having an electronic assembly and a sensorized head. The sensorized head can be inserted between vertebra and report vertebral conditions such as force, pressure, orientation and edge loading. A GUI is therewith provided to show where the spine instrument is positioned relative to vertebral bodies as the instrument is placed in the inter-vetebral space. The system can distract vertebrae to a first height and measure the load applied by the spine region. The GUI can indicate that the load is outside a predetermined range. The spine region can be distracted to a second height where the load is measured within the predetermined load range.

Abstract: A spine measurement system includes at least one spinal instrument and a remote system. The spinal instrument comprises a handle, a shaft, an accelerometer, a sensored head, and an electronic assembly. The sensored head includes one or more sensors that are operatively coupled to the electronic assembly. The sensored head can be inserted between vertebra and report vertebral conditions such as force, pressure, orientation and edge loading. A GUI of remote system can report position via the accelerometer to show spinal instrument relative to vertebral bodies as the instrument is placed in the inter-vertebral space. The system can report optimal prosthetic size and placement in view of the sensed load and location parameters including optional orientation, rotation and insertion angle along a determined insert trajectory.

Abstract: At least one embodiment is directed to an insert sensing device for measuring a parameter of the muscular-skeletal system. The insert sensing device can be temporary or permanent. The insert sensing device is a self-contained encapsulated measurement device. The insert sensing device comprises a support structure having an articular surface for allowing articulation of the muscular-skeletal system and a support structure having a load bearing surface. The structures attach together to form a housing that includes one or more sensors, a power source, electronic circuitry, and communication circuitry. The electronic circuitry, power source, and communication circuitry are placed in a cavity of the insert sensing device that is unloaded or lightly loaded by the muscular-skeletal system. Shims can be attached to the load-bearing surface to adjust the height of insert sensing device.

Abstract: A measurement tool for measuring a parameter of the muscular-skeletal system is disclosed. The measurement tool includes a sensored head that comprises a first support structure, a second support structure, and a plurality of sensors for measuring load and position of load. The housing for the measurement tool includes a first housing component and a second housing component. The first housing component comprises a handle portion, a shaft portion, and a first support structure. Similarly, the second housing component comprises a handle portion, a shaft portion, and a second support structure. The sensored head includes an interconnect, a sensor guide, sensors, and a load plate. The interconnect and the sensor guide are aligned and retained in the first support structure by a sidewall.

Abstract: At least one embodiment is directed to an insert sensing device for measuring a parameter of the muscular-skeletal system. The insert sensing device can be temporary or permanent. The insert sensing device is a self-contained encapsulated measurement device. The insert sensing device comprises a support structure having an articular surface for allowing articulation of the muscular-skeletal system and a support structure having a load bearing surface. The structures attach together to form a housing that includes one or more sensors, a power source, electronic circuitry, and communication circuitry. Shims can be attached to the load-bearing surface to adjust the height of insert sensing device. The structures are substantially dimensionally equal to a passive final insert. The sensors are placed between a pad region and a load plate.

Abstract: A prosthetic component suitable for long-term implantation is provided. The prosthetic component includes electronic circuitry and sensors to measure a parameter of the muscular-skeletal system. The prosthetic component comprises a first structure having at least one support surface, a second structure having at least one feature configured to couple to bone, and at least one sensor. The electronic circuitry and sensors are hermetically sealed within the prosthetic component. The prosthetic component includes at least on transmissive region. The transmissive region can be located in a region that has exposure to a region outside the joint. The transmissive region can comprise glass. One or more sensors can be used to monitor synovial fluid in proximity to the joint to determine joint health. The transmissive region can be used to support communication between the electronic circuitry and remote system.