An orthopedic prosthesis for stimulating bone growth may include a substrate having at least one bone-facing surface and at least one internal surface, at least one piezoelectric nanostructure coupled to the at least one bone-facing surface of the substrate, at least one charge storing material placed within the orthopedic prosthesis proximate the at least one internal surface, and an interconnect in electrical communication with the at least one piezoelectric nanostructure and the charge storing material. The at least one piezoelectric nanostructure may be configured to generate an electric charge in response to at least one mechanical force applied to the at least one piezoelectric nanostructure and the interconnect may be configured to transfer the electric charge to the at least one charge storing material to promote bone in-growth within the orthopedic prosthesis and/or on the at least one bone-facing surface.

This system comprises: at least one vibrational sensor which is operable to produce data each time an impact application device applies an impact from a user to the prosthetic component during assembly between the prosthetic component and with the support member, the produced data representing acoustic vibrations generated in the air and/or material vibrations generated in the impact application device, an analysis unit which is configured both to calculate a frequency characterization of the vibrations for each impact applied by the impact application device to the prosthetic component, from the corresponding data produced by the at least one vibrational sensor, and to compare the frequency characterizations that are respectively calculated for successive impacts so as to provide at each of the successive impacts either a first indication when the assembly between the prosthetic component and the support member is not fully seated or a second indication when the assembly between the prosthetic component and the support member is fully seated, and a user interface which provides feedback to the user based on the first and second indications.

A scaffold comprised of a plurality of PLLA layers, which may include stem cells, for regenerating bone or tissue. The PLLA layers are separated by a plurality of hydrogel layers. The PLLA layers comprise a nanofiber mesh having a piezoelectric constant to apply an electrical charge to the bone or tissue upon application of ultrasound energy.

Intervertebral disc prostheses and methods of use. An intervertebral disc prosthesis for installation in a spinal column may include a first intervertebral plate, a second intervertebral plate, and a removable insert core. The first intervertebral plate may engage one or both of the inferior vertebral endplate and the inferior ring apophysis of a superior vertebral body. The second intervertebral plate may engage one or both of the superior vertebral endplate and the superior ring apophysis of an inferior vertebral body. The removable insert core is located between and engages the intervertebral plates. A projection projects from one of the intervertebral plates toward the other intervertebral plate. The removable insert core at least partially surrounds the projection when installed. The removable insert core is removable from between the intervertebral plates and from around the projection while the intervertebral plates and projection remain installed.

A scaffold comprised of a plurality of PLLA layers, which may include stem cells, for regenerating bone or tissue. The PLLA layers are separated by a plurality of hydrogel layers. The PLLA layers comprise a nanofiber mesh having a piezoelectric constant to apply an electrical charge to the bone or tissue upon application of ultrasound energy.

There is a need for methods that can produce piezoelectric composites having suitable physical characteristics and also optimized electrical stimulatory proper-ties. The present application provides piezo-electric composites, including tissue-stimu-lating composites, as well as methods of making such composites, that meet these needs. In embodiments, methods of making a spinal implant are provided. The methods suitably comprise preparing a thermoset, thermoplastic or thermoset/thermoplastic, or copolymer polymerizable matrix, dispersing a plurality of piezoelectric particles in the polymerizable matrix to generate dispersion, shaping the dispersion, inducing an electric polarization in the piezoelectric particles in the shaped dispersion, wherein at least 40% of the piezoelectric particles form chains.

A spinal implant capable of generating an electric output includes a first endplate, a second endplate, and a piezoelectric component disposed between the first and second endplates. The spinal implant may further include an intermediate body and a second piezoelectric component disposed between the intermediate body and the second endplate. The inner surfaces of the endplates and/or the intermediate body may be non-planar, such as having an undulating shape. The electric output is produced when the endplates of the spinal implant undergo a force, including a compressive force and/or a shear force.

The invention relates to a composite body, wherein at least one functional component is integrated into a shaped product, and to a method for producing the same. The shaped product can especially be an implant, a prosthesis, an industrial component or a multifunctionally useful sensor platform for the monitoring of materials, components and/or structural systems.

A system for determining conditions within or near an implant apparatus in region of a subject includes an implant apparatus configured to be piezoresistive, the implant apparatus positioned in a region of a subject having a surface, and an electrical impedance tomography system. The electrical impedance tomography system includes a plurality of electrodes disposed on the surface of the region of the subject, each of the plurality of electrodes configured to apply a current to the region of the subject and to receive measurement signals from the region of the subject in response to an applied current. The electrical impedance tomography system further includes a current source coupled to the plurality of electrodes and configured to provide a current to at least one of the plurality of electrodes and a controller coupled to the plurality of electrodes and the current source, the controller configured to control the current source to provide a current to at least one of the plurality of electrodes, to receive the measurement signals from at least one of the plurality of electrodes, and to determine at least one electrical property associated with the implant apparatus based on the measurement signals. The electrical impedance tomography system also includes a display coupled to the controller and configured to display the at least one electrical property.

Various embodiments of implant systems and related apparatus, and methods of operating the same are described herein. In various embodiments, an intermedullary implant for interfacing with a bone structure includes a web structure, including a space truss, configured to interface with human bone tissue. The space truss includes two or more planar truss units having a plurality of struts joined at nodes. Implants are optimized for the expected stress applied at the bone structure site.