US5441527A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Implantable bone growth stimulator and method of operation
Assignee: Amei Technologies Inc
•
Filing: 1994-01-24
•
Granted: 1995-08-15
•
Expires: 2014-01-24
Abstract
Abstract A method for the therapeutic stimulation of bone growth of a bone site is disclosed comprising the steps of implanting first and second electrodes into the tissue near the base site. The electrodes are coupled to a bone growth stimulator which generates an alternating current.
Inventors
- 👤 John H. Erickson
- 👤 John C. Tepper
- 👤 Ike C. Thacker
- 👤 Gregg Turi
- 👤 Anthony J. Varrichio
- 👤 Arthur A. Pilla
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 04:32
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61N; A61N1/00; A61N1/18; A61N1/32; A61N1/36; A61N1/3605; A61N1/02; A61N1/04; A61N1/05; A61N1/326; A61N1/372; A61N1/37211
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
An implantable growth stimulator having a status, the stimulator comprising: first and second plate electrodes for subcutaneous implantation at a predetermined distance from a tissue site; a thin elongate member of elastomer connecting and generally maintaining a predetermined distance between said first and second electrodes; a portion of each electrode being exposed to allow current flow therethrough; and a driver circuit having means for generating for a duration of time, an alternating current between said first and second electrodes thereby producing first and second monitorable voltages on said first and second electrodes, respectively, said alternating current operative to stimulate tissue growth at the tissue site.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
An implantable growth stimulator having a status, the stimulator comprising: first and second plate electrodes for subcutaneous implantation at a predetermined distance from a tissue site; a thin elongate member of elastomer connecting and generally maintaining a predetermined distance between said first and second electrodes; a portion of each electrode being exposed to allow current flow therethrough; and a driver circuit having means for generating for a duration of time, an alternating current between said first and second electrodes thereby producing first and second monitorable voltages on said first and second electrodes, respectively, said alternating current operative to stimulate tissue growth at the tissue site.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The stimulator of claim 1 wherein said driver circuit further comprises a switch circuit having means for generating an asymmetric alternating current.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The stimulator of claim 1 wherein said driver circuit further comprises a switch circuit having means for generating a symmetric alternating current.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
The stimulator of claim 1 further comprising: a receiver circuit having means for receiving signals transmitted external to the stimulator, the signals representative of a desired mode of operation of the stimulator; and a time base circuit having means for modifying the mode of operation of the stimulator responsive to the transmitted signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The stimulator of claim 4 wherein said time base circuit further comprises a divide-by circuit having means for modifying the duration of time the stimulator generates the alternating current.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The stimulator of claim 1 further comprising: a modem circuit having means for monitoring the status of the stimulator and for generating signals representative of the status of the stimulator; and a transmitter circuit having means for transmitting the signals to a receiver external to the stimulator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The stimulator of claim 6 further including a battery wherein said modem circuit comprises a battery status circuit having means for monitoring a voltage drop across said battery within the stimulator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The stimulator of claim 6 wherein said modem circuit further comprises a lead status circuit having means for monitoring one of the voltages.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The stimulator of claim 6 wherein said modem circuit monitors the duration that said driver circuit outputs the alternating current.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The stimulator of claim 1 wherein said thin elongate member further comprises silicon.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The stimulator of claim 1 wherein said thin elongate member further comprises urethane.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The stimulator of claim 1 wherein said thin elongate member further comprises silicon-urethane.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
170 words
An implantable growth stimulator comprising: first and second electrodes spaced apart a predetermined distance for being subcutaneously implanted a predetermined distance from a tissue site; a thin elongate member of elastomer for connecting and generally maintaining predetermined distance between said first and second electrodes; a driver circuit connected to said first and second electrodes having means for generating, for a duration of time, an alternating current between said first and second electrodes in order to stimulate tissue growth; a receiver circuit connected to said driver circuit having means for receiving external signals, the external signals representative of a desired mode of operation of the stimulator; a time base circuit connected to said driver circuit having means for modifying the mode of operation of the stimulator responsive to the external signals; and a modem circuit connected to said driver circuit having means for generating signals representative of a status of the stimulator; and a transmitter circuit connected to said modem circuit having means for transmitting the signals to an external receiver.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
170 words
An implantable growth stimulator comprising: first and second electrodes spaced apart a predetermined distance for being subcutaneously implanted a predetermined distance from a tissue site; a thin elongate member of elastomer for connecting and generally maintaining predetermined distance between said first and second electrodes; a driver circuit connected to said first and second electrodes having means for generating, for a duration of time, an alternating current between said first and second electrodes in order to stimulate tissue growth; a receiver circuit connected to said driver circuit having means for receiving external signals, the external signals representative of a desired mode of operation of the stimulator; a time base circuit connected to said driver circuit having means for modifying the mode of operation of the stimulator responsive to the external signals; and a modem circuit connected to said driver circuit having means for generating signals representative of a status of the stimulator; and a transmitter circuit connected to said modem circuit having means for transmitting the signals to an external receiver.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The stimulator of claim 13 further including a battery wherein said modem circuit comprises a battery status circuit having means for monitoring a voltage drop across said battery within the stimulator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The stimulator of claim 13 wherein said modem circuit further comprises a lead status circuit having means for monitoring a voltage on one of said first and second electrodes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The stimulator of claim 13 wherein said modem circuit monitors the duration of time said driver circuit outputs the alternating current.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The stimulator of claim 16 further comprising a divider circuit and wherein the duration of time is controlled by a said divider circuit to be zero, four, eight or twenty-four hours per day.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The stimulator of claim 13 wherein said thin elongate member further comprises silicon.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The stimulator of claim 13 wherein said thin elongate member further comprises urethane.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The stimulator of claim 13 wherein said thin elongate member further comprises silicon-urethane.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
85 words
An implantable growth stimulator comprising: first and second plate electrodes for being subcutaneously implanted adjacent a tissue site; a portion of each electrode being exposed to allow current flow therethrough; a driver circuit connected to said electrodes having a switch circuit having means for generating an alternating current between said first and second electrodes, said alternating current operative to generate an electric field having a negative excursion at the tissue site between -0.3 and -3 mV/cm so as to promote healing at the tissue site.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
85 words
An implantable growth stimulator comprising: first and second plate electrodes for being subcutaneously implanted adjacent a tissue site; a portion of each electrode being exposed to allow current flow therethrough; a driver circuit connected to said electrodes having a switch circuit having means for generating an alternating current between said first and second electrodes, said alternating current operative to generate an electric field having a negative excursion at the tissue site between -0.3 and -3 mV/cm so as to promote healing at the tissue site.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for the therapeutic stimulation of a tissue site comprising the steps of: subcutaneously implanting a growth stimulator into a tissue near the tissue site, the stimulator having first and second electrodes disposed a predetermined distance from the tissue site; and generating an alternating current flowing through an exposed portion of the first and second electrodes operative to generate an electric field having a negative excursion at the tissue site between -0.3 and -3 mV/cm so as to promote healing at the tissue site.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
85 words
A method for the therapeutic stimulation of a tissue site comprising the steps of: subcutaneously implanting a growth stimulator into a tissue near the tissue site, the stimulator having first and second electrodes disposed a predetermined distance from the tissue site; and generating an alternating current flowing through an exposed portion of the first and second electrodes operative to generate an electric field having a negative excursion at the tissue site between -0.3 and -3 mV/cm so as to promote healing at the tissue site.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2067589A
Cited
US2298232A
Cited
US3055372A
Cited
US3745995A
Cited
US3783880A
Cited
US3890953A
Cited
US3702755A
Cited
US3842841A
Cited
US4026304A
Cited
US3874372A
Cited
US3918440A
Cited
US3915151A
Cited
US3892552A
Cited
US3881873A
Cited
US3914900A
Cited
US3946762A
Cited
US4216548A
Cited
US4105017A
Cited
US4232679A
Cited
US4232679B1
Cited
US4237895A
Cited
US4313438A
Cited
US4314554A
Cited
US4333469A
Cited
US4344250A
Cited
US4414979A
Cited
US4506674A
Cited
US4530360A
Cited
US4432361A
Cited
US4461300A
Cited
WO1983002901A1
Cited
US4459988A
Cited
US4514865A
Cited
US4598713A
Cited
US4549547A
Cited
US4467808A
Cited
US4506673A
Cited
US4550370A
Cited
US4611597A
Cited
US4556051A
Cited
US4535775A
Cited
US4519394A
Cited
US4561443A
Cited
US4793325A
Cited
US4654574A
Cited
US5058582A
Cited
US4549546A
Cited
US4889111A
Cited
US4613937A
Cited
US4561426A
Cited
US4651468A
Cited
US4619264A
Cited
US4602638A
Cited
US4600010A
Cited
US4683896A
Cited
US4665920A
Cited
US4785244A
Cited
US4679560A
Cited
US4665896A
Cited
US5000178A
Cited
US5014699A
Cited
US4781591A
Cited
SU1466730A1
Cited
EP0305791A2
Cited
US4905671A
Cited
US5038780A
Cited
USD320659S
Cited
US4993413A
Cited
US4974114A
Cited
US5030236A
Cited
US4944299A
Cited
US5154172A
Cited
US5088488A
Cited
US5056518A
Cited
US5103806A
Cited
US5191880A
Cited
EP0561068A2
Cited
USD353889S
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-08-14 | 1999-02-13 | 1999-08-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-08-14 | 2003-02-13 | 2003-08-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-08-14 | 2007-02-13 | 2007-08-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |