An implantable device includes at least one solid structure having an external surface and a volume beneath the surface. One or more of a first conductor or set of conductors is disposed externally and/or internally on or within the structure and an array of elongate electrically conductive elements are disposed radially outwardly within the volume. A breach is detected when a conductive fluid intrudes into the volume through the surface.

A mold adapted to be introduced into a joint of a human patient for resurfacing at least one carrying contacting surface of said joint is provided. The mold is adapted to receive material for resurfacing at least one carrying contacting surface of said joint. The mold is further adapted to be resorbed by the human body or melt after having served its purpose. Further, a method of treating hip joint osteoarthritis in a human patient by providing an artificial hip joint surface using a mold is provided. The method comprises the steps of: said mold being placed inside of said hip joint, said mold being injected with a fluid adapted to harden, said fluid hardening inside of said hip joint, said mold being resorbed by the human body, and said hardened fluid serving as artificial hip joint surface.

A tunable implant, system, and method enables a tunable implant to be adjusted within a patient. The tunable implant includes a securing mechanism to secure the implant in the patient, a actuation portion that enables the implant to move and an adjustment portion that permits adjustment of the implant after the implant has been positioned within the patient. The method of adjusting the tunable implant includes analyzing the operation of the implant, determining if any adjustments are necessary and adjusting the implant to improve implant performance. The implant system includes both the tunable implant and a telemetric system that is operable to telemetrically receive data from the tunable implant where the data is used to determine if adjustment of the tunable implant is necessary. The system also includes an instrument assembly that is used for performing spinal surgery where the instrument assembly includes a mounting platform and a jig.

Knee replacement prosthesis are provided, comprising a plurality of sensors and at least one of a femoral component, a patellar prosthesis and a tibial component.

A multi-piece implantable joint prosthesis includes an adapter to which at least two pieces are coupled, where the adapter has a coupler for coupling to a first piece and a different coupler for coupling to a second piece, where at least one piece, e.g., the first piece, may contain an electronic component such as a sensor that detects and measures movement of the prosthesis when the prosthesis is implanted in a patient, and can thus monitor the kinematic movement of the patient in real life situations, where the electronic component may also include a memory to store the data obtained by the sensor, and a communication interface to transmit the data to an external location where it may be analyzed, and a power source to provide power to the sensor, memory and communication interface.

A system for assisting in a surgical process, comprising: (a) a surgical device taken from a group consisting of a surgical tool and a surgical implant; (b) a positional sensor carried by the surgical device, the positional sensor including a wireless transmitter and associated circuitry for transmitting sensor data from the transmitter; and (c) a computer system including a wireless receiver and signal conditioning circuitry and hardware for converting sensor data received by the wireless receiver into at least one of (i) audio feedback of positional information for the surgical device and (ii) visual feedback of positional information for the surgical device.

A method of providing RF energy to a wireless transponder device includes outputting primary RF energy in a form wherein the primary RF energy comprises a plurality of RF bursts, with each consecutive pair of the RF bursts being separated by an associated time interval, and outputting secondary continuous wave RF energy in between each of the RF bursts of the primary RF energy during at least a portion of each of the associated time intervals. Also, a reader device implementing this method.

The present invention relates to an implantable apparatus for obtaining urinary control and emptying of the urinary bladder. The apparatus operates with a powered member (100) operating from the outside of the urinary bladder assisted by a support structure to discharge urine from the urinary bladder. A control device (200) controls the operation of the powered member. The control device further comprises a source of energy for operating the powered member and other energy consuming parts of the apparatus and a control assembly.

A orthopaedic implant comprises an acetabular cup and a wireless communication device. The wireless communication device is coupled to a rim surface of the acetabular cup. In one embodiment, a recess is defined in the rim surface and the wireless communication device is positioned therein. In another embodiment, the wireless communication device is positioned in an annular ring formed of a biocompatible material. The annular ring is coupled to the rim surface of the acetabular cup. The wireless communication device may be, for example, a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag or device.

A medical device for implantation in a hip joint of a human patient, the natural hip joint having a ball shaped caput femur as the proximal part of the femoral bone with a convex hip joint surface towards the center of the hip joint and a bowl shaped acetabulum as part of the pelvic bone with a concave hip joint surface towards the center of the hip joint. The medical device comprising; an artificial caput femur, comprising a convex surface towards the center of the hip joint. The artificial convex caput femur is adapted to, when implanted: be fixated to the pelvic bone of the human patient, and be in movable connection with an artificial acetabulum surface fixated to the femoral bone of the patient, thereby forming a ball and socket joint. The medical device further comprises a fixation element comprising a fixation surface adapted to be in contact with the surface of the acetabulum and adapted to fixate the artificial convex caput femur to at least the acetabulum of the pelvic bone.