LOAD-BEARING SKIN AND BONE INTEGRATED PYLON WITH HERMETICALLY SEALED NEURAL INTERFACE

Abstract

The present invention incorporates a neural interface with a skin and bone integrated device with hermetic seal to prevent infection migration through the interface. The neural interface consists of plurality of wires that conduct the signals between the inside body nerve system and the outside robotic/prosthetic mechanisms and controls. Each wire is electrically insulated through the channel of a single, double or multi bore insulator rod. The wires are extended outside on both ends of the rod forming leads for further connection with corresponding wires conducting signals to and from outside and inside body. The rod assembly is inserted inside a channel of a solid tubular load bearing titanium frame. The outside of the ceramic rod is hermetically brazed to the inside of the frame at both ends. The solid tubular frame is surrounded by a porous titanium portion of the pylon ensuring the integration with the skin.

Claims

1. A load bearing skin and bone integrated pylon with hermetically sealed neural interface comprises: a load-bearing solid tubular frame elongated in the direction of implantation, and adapted to carry body weight, forces, and moments associated with locomotion, wherein an inner portion of the solid tubular frame is adapted to be positioned inside a bone of a limb's residuum and an outer portion of the solid tubular frame is adapted to be positioned outside the limb's residuum to receive a prosthesis, and a middle portion of the solid tubular frame between the inner portion and the outer portion is adopted to be positioned at a skin layer of the limb's residuum, the middle portion further comprising a porous permeable body comprising compacted and sintered particles filling in regions around the solid tubular frame wherein, in the middle portion, the porosity of the volume fraction of the compacted and sintered particles is within a range of about 30% to about 50%, wherein the compacted and sintered particles have a particle size within the range of about 20 to about 500 microns and a pore size between the compacted and sintered particles is in a range of about 20 to about 350 microns; a single, double or multi bore insulator insert positioned inside the solid tubular frame, and having approximately the same length as said solid tubular frame, wherein a hermetic seal is formed between the insert and the solid tubular frame on both ends; and a plurality of electrically conductive wires each threaded through individual bore of the insert, wherein the electrically conductive wires are extended outside the ceramic insert forming leads for further connections, wherein a hermetic seal is formed between each conductive wire and a corresponding bore of the insert.

2. A load-bearing skin and bone integrated pylon with hermetically sealed neural interface of claim 1, wherein a load-bearing solid tubular frame is made with biocompatible material.

3. A load-bearing skin and bone integrated pylon with hermetically sealed neural interface of claim 1, wherein a load-bearing solid tubular frame is made with pure or alloyed titanium.

4. A load-bearing skin and bone integrated pylon with hermetically sealed neural interface of claim 1, wherein a load-bearing solid tubular frame has a circular transversal shape.

5. A load-bearing skin and bone integrated pylon with hermetically sealed neural interface of claim 1, wherein a load-bearing solid tubular frame has an oval transversal shape.

6. A load-bearing skin and bone integrated pylon with hermetically sealed neural interface of claim 1, wherein compacted and sintered particles are made with biocompatible material.

7. A load-bearing skin and bone integrated pylon with hermetically sealed neural interface of claim 1, wherein compacted and sintered particles are made with pure or alloyed titanium.

8. A load-bearing skin and bone integrated pylon with hermetically sealed neural interface of claim 1, wherein a single, double or multi bore insulator insert is made with the biocompatible ceramic material.

9. A load-bearing skin and bone integrated pylon with hermetically sealed neural interface of claim 1, wherein a single, double or multi bore insulator insert is made with the alumina.

10. A load-bearing skin and bone integrated pylon with hermetically sealed neural interface of claim 1, wherein a hermetic seal is formed by brazing.

11. A load-bearing skin and bone integrated pylon with hermetically sealed neural interface of claim 1, wherein a hermetic seal is formed by epoxy.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming particular embodiments of the instant invention, various embodiments of the invention can be more readily understood and appreciated from the following descriptions of various embodiments of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal cross section of the pylon solid frame;

[0028] FIG. 2 is transversal cross section of the pylon solid frame;

[0029] FIG. 3 shows a disc or cylinder assembly of ceramic insert;

[0030] FIG. 4 shows a side view of the load bearing skin and bone integrated pylon with hermetically sealed neural interface;

[0031] FIG. 5 is a bottom view of a pylon shown in FIG. 4; and

[0032] FIG. 6 is a top view of a pylon shown in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0033] Certain exemplary embodiments will now be described to provide an overall understanding of the principles of the structure, function, manufacture, and use of the device and methods disclosed herein. One or more examples of these embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art will understand that the devices and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting exemplary embodiments and that the scope of the present invention is defined solely by the claims. The features illustrated or described in connection with one exemplary embodiment may be combined with the features of other embodiments. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure. Further, in the present disclosure, like-numbered components of the embodiments generally have similar features, and thus within a particular embodiment each feature of each like-numbered component is not necessarily fully elaborated upon. Additionally, to the extent that linear or circular dimensions are used in the description of the disclosed systems, devices, and methods, such dimensions are not intended to limit the types of shapes that can be used in conjunction with such systems, devices, and methods. A person skilled in the art will recognize that an equivalent to such linear and circular dimensions can easily be determined for any geometric shape. Further, to the extent that directional terms like top, bottom, up, or down are used, they are not intended to limit the systems, devices, and methods disclosed herein. A person skilled in the art will recognize that these terms are merely relative to the system and device being discussed and are not universal.

[0034] The overview of the hermetically sealed neural interface is illustrated in FIG. 1. The ceramic single, double or multi bore insert 2a or 2b (shown in FIG. 3) is placed inside the tubular solid pylon frame 1. The length of the ceramic insert 2a or 2b equals the length of the pylon frame 1. The conducting wires 3 are threaded through the bores of the ceramic insert 2a or 2b. Areas 4 are the braze joints between ceramic insert 2a or 2b and pylon frame 1 at both ends of pylon frame 1. Areas 5 are the braze joints between the ceramic insert 2a or 2b and the wires 3 at both ends of pylon frame 1. Connecting wires 6 (from outside robotic motion mechanisms and controls) and wires 7 (from inside body nerve system) are not the part of the present invention and are shown for reference only. The circular shape of the pylon solid frame 1 and of the ceramic insert 2a or 2b are illustrated by a transversal cross section of the pylon solid frame 1 in FIG. 2. The tubular pylon frame 1 may also have an oval shape. FIG. 3 illustrates the more flexible option 2b as a stock of ceramic discs or cylinders with threaded through wires 3.

[0035] The side view of the complete pylon is shown in FIG. 4. It illustrates the configuration of solid frame 1 and porous portion 8. Corresponding bottom and top views of the pylon shown in FIG. 4 are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 respectively.

[0036] While there is shown and described herein certain specific structures embodying various embodiments of the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.