Disclosed herein are joint implants and methods for tracking joint implant performance. A joint implant includes a first implant coupled to a first bone of a joint and a second implant coupled to a second bone of the joint. The second implant includes at least one of a first sensor configured to measure a first type of data, and a processor operatively coupled to the at least one of the first sensor. The process outputs the first type of data to a network to be compared with data received from other joint implants. One of the joint or the implant is determined to be in a first state based on a comparison of the first type of data to a set of predetermined values formed based on the data received from the other joint implants. The predetermined values are adapted to change with the addition of new data.

Disclosed herein is a joint implant including a first implant coupled to a first bone of a joint, and a second implant coupled to a second bone of the joint and contacting the first implant. The second implant can include a plurality of sensors configured to measure data and a processor operatively coupled to the plurality of sensors and adapted to receive the data from the sensors. The processor can be configured to communicate with a neural network and a channel detector adapted to exclude a first portion of the data received from the processor and output a second portion of the data.

Disclosed herein is a joint replacement system and a method of performing surgery. The joint replacement system may include a first implant having a marker, a second implant having a reader to detect the marker, and a processor in communication with the second implant. The processor may include different algorithms based on the first and second implants. The method may comprise the steps of receiving first information related to a first implant, receiving second information related to a second implant, selecting an algorithm based on the first and second information; and receiving data from the first and second implants utilizing the algorithm.

Disclosed herein are joint implants with sensors and methods for manufacturing joint implants with sensors. A knee joint implant according to the present disclosure may include a femoral implant, a tibial implant and a tibial insert disposed therebetween. The tibial implant may include a medial side with a medial central region defined around a medial center, a lateral side with a lateral central region defined around a lateral center and a central region disposed between the medial central region and the lateral central region. At least one sensor and a battery may be disposed within the tibial insert. The medial central region and the lateral central region may be defined by solid volumes extending from a proximal surface to a distal surface of the tibial insert.

Disclosed herein are implants with sensors and methods for powering implants with sensors. A joint implant according to the present disclosure can include a first implant and a second implant in contact with the first implant. The first implant can be coupled to a first bone of a joint. The first implant can include an energy generator coupled to a transducer. The second implant can include at least one sensor, a battery coupled to the at least one sensor, and a receiver coupled to the battery. The receiver can be disposed within the second implant adjacent the transducer. Energy from the energy generator can be transmitted from the transducer of the first implant to the receiver of the second implant.

Disclosed herein are joint implants and methods for intra-operatively detecting joint implant gap. A method for detecting a joint implant gap may include coupling a first implant to a first bone of a joint, coupling a second implant to a second bone of the joint, measuring an amplitude of a magnetic flux density using a magnetic sensor to determine a gap between the first and second implants. The first implant may include at least one magnetic marker. The second implant may be configured to contact the first implant. The second implant may include at least one magnetic sensor to detect the magnetic flux density of the magnetic marker. The gap between the first and second implant may be intra-operatively determined using the measured amplitude of the magnetic flux density.

Disclosed herein are joint implants and methods for tracking joint implant performance. A joint implant according to the present disclosure can include a first implant on a first bone and a second implant on a second bone of a joint. The first implant can include medial and lateral markers. The second implant can include a medial marker reader to identify the medial markers and a lateral marker reader to identify the lateral markers to provide positional data of the first implant with respect to the second implant. The second implant can include a medial load sensor to measure medial load data and a lateral load sensor to measure lateral load data. A processor coupled to the medial marker reader, the lateral marker reader, the medial load sensor, and the lateral load sensor can transmit the positional data, the medial and lateral load data to an external source.

In one aspect, a system and method for aligning hip replacement prostheses comprises an acetabular liner having an inner concave surface and an outer convex surface. The acetabular liner includes at least two magnetic sensors arranged in a spatially distributed manner. The system and method also include a prosthetic femoral component comprising a femoral head component. The femoral head component and the acetabular liner component are shaped such that a ball and socket joint is formed when the femoral head component comes into contact with the inner concave surface of the acetabular liner. While the ball-and-socket joint is formed, and in at least some orientations of the femoral head component relative to the acetabular liner component, a contact point on an external surface of the femoral head component contacts the inner concave surface. The femoral head component includes at least one permanent magnet.

A medical implant includes a sensor that detects electromagnetic waves; and a data transmission unit that can wirelessly transmit data supplied by the sensor to a receiving unit.

This invention relates to diagnostic medical instruments and procedures, and more particularly to implantable devices and methods for monitoring physiological parameters. A device for providing in vivo diagnostics of infections in orthopedic implants having at least one signal processing device operatively coupled with sensors. The signal processing device is operable to receive the output signal from the sensors and transmit a signal corresponding with the output signal. The invention also relates to a method using the device of the invention for detecting infection associated with implants in a human or animal subject.