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.

Disclosed herein are joint implants and methods for tracking joint implant performance. A method for monitoring a joint implant performance may include coupling a first implant to a first bone of a joint, the first implant including at least one magnetic marker. Coupling a second implant to a second bone of the joint, the second implant including at least one magnetic sensor to detect a position of the magnetic marker. Performing a first joint stress test to measure a baseline joint stability value, the baseline joint stability value being generated by the at least one magnetic sensor. Performing a second joint stress test to measure a second joint stability value, the second joint stability value being generated by the at least one magnetic sensor. Determining joint stability of the joint by comparing the baseline joint stability value to the second joint stability value.

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 first implant can be a femoral implant coupled to a femur. The second implant can be a patellar implant coupled to a patella. Sensor data from the patellar implant can indicate movement between the femoral implant and the patellar implant and identify patella condition such as a patellar rotation, patellar tilt and patellar tendonitis.

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.

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for providing peripheral services for an implant with sensors. A method according to the present disclosure may creating a patient account on a patient monitoring platform, determining sensor information to be measured from one or more sensors disposed on an implant coupled to a patient using the patient account, determining a duration during which sensor information is collected and transferred from the one or more sensors to the patient monitoring platform, analyzing sensor information received from the one or more sensors on the patient account via an external device, and communicating corrective steps from the external device to the patient or the implant via the patient account.

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 coupled to a first bone of a joint; a second implant coupled to a second bone of the joint; an insert coupled to the first and second implants; an acoustic exciter configured to emit a vibration signal; a sensor to measure the vibration signal of the first implant, the second implant, and the insert; and a processor operatively coupled to the sensor, the processor configured to output a vibration signature to an external source.

Disclosed herein are joint implants and methods for tracking joint implant performance. Braces and trackers for assessing pre- or post-surgical kinematic movement of a joint are also disclosed. The implants, braces and trackers can be utilized together or separately. Trackers having magnets can be implanted in select areas of the joint and sensors included in the braces can cooperate with the trackers to provide joint movement information to both the patient and the surgeon. Braces that do not require cooperation with implanted trackers are also disclosed, as are their uses.

Disclosed herein are methods for determining kinematic information of a joint. A method according to one embodiment may comprise the steps of receiving data obtained from a sensor of an implanted joint implant, analyzing the data with a trained estimation model to simultaneously determine kinematic information of the joint in six degrees of freedom, and outputting the kinematic information. In another embodiment, a method may comprise the steps of applying data obtained from a Hall sensor of an implanted joint implant to a trained estimation model to simultaneously determine kinematic information of the joint in six degrees of freedom; and outputting the kinematic information.

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for providing secure authentication and connection between an implant and a remote monitoring platform for tracking implant performance. A joint implant according to the present disclosure can include a first implant coupled to a first bone of a joint, a second implant coupled to a second bone of the joint, a first communication module, and a memory to store authentication information. The first communication module can be configured to wirelessly transfer the authentication information to a communication module of an external device when the external device is placed adjacent the joint implant. The first communication module can be an NFC communication module configured to transfer the authentication information to the communication module of the external device via NFC.