System and method for monitoring orthopaedic implant data |
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申请号 | US11530567 | 申请日 | 2006-09-11 | 公开(公告)号 | US08632464B2 | 公开(公告)日 | 2014-01-21 |
申请人 | Edward J. Caylor, III; | 发明人 | Edward J. Caylor, III; | ||||
摘要 | A system and method for monitoring implant sensor data includes an orthopaedic implant, a patient exercise machine, and an antenna coupled to the patient exercise machine. The orthopaedic implant includes a sensor and a transmitter configured to transmit implant sensor data. The antenna is selected from a group of antennas based on the data rate and/or carrier frequency used by the transmitter. A controller is coupled to the antenna and configured to display the implant data, or indicia thereof, on a display device such as a computer monitor. | ||||||
权利要求 | The invention claimed is: |
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说明书全文 | The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for transmitting, receiving, and/or monitoring orthopaedic implant sensor data. Orthopaedic implants are implanted into patients by orthopaedic surgeons to, for example, correct or otherwise alleviate bone and/or soft tissue loss, trauma damage, and/or deformation of the bone(s) of the patients. Some orthopaedic implants include one or more sensors for detecting or measuring various effects or forces acting on the orthopaedic implants and/or the surrounding environment. After initial implantation, it is often desirable by orthopaedic healthcare providers to periodically monitor the implant data generated by the implant sensors. Such data may, for example, predict or indicate orthopaedic implant wear or malfunction. To do so, the patient is typically required to perform a physical exercise while data from the implant sensor(s) is monitored. To allow the monitoring of the implant data, the patient is required to wear cumbersome electrical equipment near the site of the orthopaedic implant to provide power to electronics housed in the orthopaedic implant (e.g., the implant sensors) and/or to receive the data from the implant sensors. However, such cumbersome electrical equipment may alter the natural gait of the patient and thereby adversely affect the data obtained from the implant sensors. According to one aspect, a system for monitoring implant sensor data may include an orthopaedic implant. A sensor and a transmitter may be coupled to the orthopaedic implant. The sensor may be any type of sensor coupleable to the orthopaedic implant and capable of generating implant sensor data. For example, the sensor may be a pressure sensor, a load sensor, a temperature sensor, or a hall-effect sensor. The transmitter may be electrically coupled to the sensor. Additionally, the transmitter may be configured to wirelessly transmit the implant sensor data at a data rate of less than 100 kilobytes per second. The transmitter may transmit the implant sensor data using a predetermined carrier frequency of lower than 30,000 hertz. The system may also include a patient exercise machine such as, for example, a treadmill, a stairstepper machine, a stationary bicycle, an elliptical trainer, a rowing machine, and a ski machine. The system may additionally include a loop antenna. The loop antenna may be coupled to the patient exercise machine, to the floor of an examination room, or to a movable structure. The loop antenna may be configured to receive the implant sensor data. Further, the system may include a controller electrically coupled to the loop antenna. The controller may be configured to display the implant sensor data, or indicia thereof, on a display device such as a display screen of a computer. The controller may also be configured to record the implant sensor data. In some embodiments, the controller may be configured to transmit the implant sensor data to a database over a network and store the implant sensor data in the database. The system may also include a secondary coil and a primary coil. The secondary coil may be coupled to the orthopaedic implant and the primary coil may be electrically coupled to the controller. In such embodiments, the transmitter of the orthopaedic implant may be electrically coupled to the secondary coil and configured to transmit the implant sensor data in response to a power signal received from the secondary coil when the secondary coil is inductively coupled with the primary coil. In some embodiments, the transmitter may form a portion of a transceiver configured to receive programming data from the controller and transmit implant sensor data from one of a number of implant sensors selected based on the programming data. According to another aspect, a system for monitoring implant sensor data may include an orthopaedic implant. A sensor and a transmitter may be coupled to the orthopaedic implant. The sensor may be any type of sensor coupleable to the orthopaedic implant and capable of generating implant sensor data. For example, the sensor may be a pressure sensor, a load sensor, a temperature sensor, or a hall-effect sensor. The transmitter may be electrically coupled to the sensor. Additionally, the transmitter may be configured to wirelessly transmit the implant sensor data at a data rate in the range of 100 kilobytes per second to 1,000 kilobytes per second. The transmitter may transmit the implant sensor data using a predetermined carrier frequency in the range of 30 mega-hertz to 2,000 mega hertz. The system may also include a patient exercise machine such as, for example, a treadmill, a stairstepper machine, a stationary bicycle, an elliptical trainer, a rowing machine, and a ski machine. The system may additionally include a monopole antenna such as, for example, a quarter-wave monopole antenna, a half-wave monopole antenna, a five-eighths-wave monopole antenna, or the like. The monopole antenna may be coupled to the patient exercise machine, to the floor of an examination room, or to a movable structure. The monopole antenna may be configured to receive the implant sensor data. Further, the system may include a controller electrically coupled to the monopole antenna. The controller may be configured to display the implant sensor data, or indicia thereof, on a display device such as a display screen of a computer. The controller may also be configured to record the implant sensor data. In some embodiments, the controller may be configured to transmit the implant sensor data to a database over a network and store the implant sensor data in the database. The system may also include a secondary coil and a primary coil. The secondary coil may be coupled to the orthopaedic implant and the primary coil may be electrically coupled to the controller. In such embodiments, the transmitter of the orthopaedic implant may be electrically coupled to the secondary coil and configured to transmit the implant sensor data in response to a power signal received from the secondary coil when the secondary coil is inductively coupled with the primary coil. In some embodiments, the transmitter may form a portion of a transceiver configured to receive programming data from the controller and transmit implant sensor data from one of a number of implant sensors selected based on the programming data. According to yet another aspect, a system for monitoring implant sensor data may include an orthopaedic implant. A sensor and a transmitter may be coupled to the orthopaedic implant. The sensor may be any type of sensor coupleable to the orthopaedic implant and capable of generating implant sensor data. For example, the sensor may be a pressure sensor, a load sensor, a temperature sensor, or a hall-effect sensor. The transmitter may be electrically coupled to the sensor. Additionally, the transmitter may be configured to wirelessly transmit the implant sensor data at a data rate greater than 1,000 kilobytes per second. The transmitter may transmit the implant sensor data using a predetermined carrier frequency greater than 2 giga-hertz. In some embodiments, the transmitter may form a portion of a transceiver configured to receive programming data from the controller and transmit implant sensor data from one of a number of implant sensors selected based on the programming data. The system may also include a patient exercise machine such as, for example, a treadmill, a stairstepper machine, a stationary bicycle, an elliptical trainer, a rowing machine, and a ski machine. The system may additionally include a patch antenna. The patch antenna may be coupled to the patient exercise machine, to the floor of an examination room, or to a movable structure. The patch antenna may be configured to receive the implant sensor data. Further, the system may include a controller electrically coupled to the patch antenna. The controller may be configured to display the implant sensor data, or indicia thereof, on a display device such as a display screen of a computer. The controller may also be configured to record the implant sensor data. In some embodiments, the controller may be configured to transmit the implant sensor data to a database over a network and store the implant sensor data in the database. The system may also include a secondary coil and a primary coil. The secondary coil may be coupled to the orthopaedic implant and the primary coil may be electrically coupled to the controller. In such embodiments, the transmitter of the orthopaedic implant may be electrically coupled to the secondary coil and configured to transmit the implant sensor data in response to a power signal received from the secondary coil when the secondary coil is inductively coupled with the primary coil. In some embodiments, the transmitter may form a portion of a transceiver configured to receive programming data from the controller and transmit implant sensor data from one of a number of implant sensors selected based on the programming data. The detailed description particularly refers to the following figures, in which: While the concepts of the present disclosure are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific exemplary embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit the concepts of the present disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Referring to The transmitter 20 may be embodied as or include any type of transmitter circuitry capable of transmitting the implant sensor data at a predetermined data rate or within a predetermined data rate range using a predetermined carrier frequency or range of frequencies. It should be appreciated that depending on the type and number of sensors used, the parameter of interest, the type and format of the implant sensor data, and the sampling rate employed, the transmitter 20 may be configured to transmit the implant data at any one or more of a number of different data rates and using any one or more of a number of different carrier frequencies. The patient exercise machine 14 may be embodied as any type of exercise machine on which the patient may exercise. For example, the patient exercise machine 14 may be embodied as a treadmill, a stairstepper machine, a stationary bicycle, an elliptical trainer, a rowing machine, a ski machine, or the like. In the illustrative embodiment of Although described above as being coupled to the patient exercise machine, in other embodiments, the primary coil 22 may be portable rather than coupled to the patient exercise machine 14. For example, in some embodiments, the primary coil 22 is configured to be held by a healthcare provider and in the vicinity of the implant 12 while the patient is exercising on the patient exercise machine 14. In such embodiments, the primary coil 22 may embodied as, for example, a toroidal primary coil configured to receive a limb of the patient or a “c”-shaped primary coil configured to be held by a healthcare provider as described in detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/172,316 entitled “APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR TRANSCUTANEOUSLY TRANSFERRING ENERGY,” which was filed on Jun. 30, 2005 by Jason T. Sherman, the entirety of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. In another embodiment, the primary coil 22 includes two patches couplable to the skin of the patient in the vicinity of the orthopaedic implant 12. The patches each include a Helmholtz-like coil and are powered such that the Helmholtz coils produce an isotropic magnetic field, which is received by the secondary coil of the implant 12. The antenna 24 may be embodied as a loop antenna, a monopole antenna, or a patch antenna depending upon the data rate and/or carrier frequency utilized by the transmitter 20 and/or sensor 18. That is, as described in more detail below in regard to The antenna 24 is communicatively coupled to the controller 16 via communication links 26. Similarly, the primary coil 22 is communicatively coupled to the controller 16 via communication links 28. The communications links 24, 26 may be embodied as any type of communication links capable of facilitating electrical communication between the antenna 24 and the controller 16 and between the primary coil 22 and the controller 16, respectively. For example, the communication link 24, 26 may be embodied as or otherwise include any number of wires, cables, printed circuit board traces, vias, and/or the like. The controller 16 includes a processor 30 and a memory device 32. The processor 30 may be embodied as any type of processor including, for example, discrete processing circuitry (e.g., a collection of logic devices), general purpose integrated circuit(s), and/or application specific integrated circuit(s) (i.e., ASICs). The memory device 32 may be embodied as any type of memory device and may include one or more memory types, such as, random access memory (i.e., RAM) and/or read-only memory (i.e., ROM). In addition, the controller 16 may include other devices and circuitry typically found in a computer for performing the functions described herein such as, for example, a hard drive, input/output circuitry, and the like. The controller 16 is communicatively coupled with a display device 34 via a communication link 36. Although illustrated in The controller 16 is also communicatively coupled to a patient database 40 via a network 42. The patient database 40 may be embodied as any type of database capable of storing patient-related data. Although illustrated in The network 42 may be embodied as any type of network capable of facilitating communication between the controller 16 and the patient database 40. For example, the network 42 may be a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), or form a portion of a publicly-accessible, global network such as the Internet. In addition, the network 42 may be a wired network, a wireless network, or a combination thereof. In one particular embodiment, the network 42 is embodied as or forms a portion of a hospital network and, as such, may include additional computers, routers, communication links, and/or the like. The controller 16 is communicatively coupled to the network 42 via a number of communication links 44. Similarly, the patient database 40 is communicatively coupled to the network 42 via any number of communication links 46. The communication links 44, 46 may be any type of communication links capable of facilitating communication between the controller 16 and the patient database 40. For example, the communication links 44, 46 may be embodied as any number of wires, cables such as fiber optic cables, or the like. Additionally, any one or more of the communication links 44, 46 may be embodied as wired or wireless communication links. In embodiments wherein the communication links 44, 46 are wireless communication links, the controller 16 and/or the patient database 40 may include a wireless transmitter and/or receiver to facilitate wireless communication with the network 42. In operation, the system 10 is usable by a healthcare provider such as an orthopaedic surgeon, doctor, or nurse to monitor implant sensor data received from the orthopaedic implant 12. To do so, the controller 16 is configured to provide a power signal to the primary coil 22 via the communication link 28. The primary coil 22 is located in a position near the orthopaedic implant 12, which is implanted in the patient, while the patient is operating the patient exercise machine 14. The primary coil 22 may be so positioned by an orthopaedic healthcare provider or, in some embodiments, may be coupled to the patient exercise machine 14 in an appropriate location. Regardless, the primary coil 22 is positioned in such a location that an electromagnetic field 48 generated by the primary coil 22 is capable of inductively coupling the primary coil 22 and a secondary coil located in or coupled to the orthopaedic implant 12. Once so inductively coupled, the transmitter 20 is configured to transmit implant sensor data received from the sensor 18 to the antenna 24 via a wireless communication link 50. As discussed above, the transmitter 20 may be configured to transmit the implant sensor data at a data rate or range of data rates and/or at a carrier frequency or range of frequencies based on, for example, the type and number of implant sensors used, the parameter of interest, the type and format of the implant sensor data, and the sampling rate employed. The controller 16 receives the implant data via the antenna 24 and communication link 26. The controller 16 may be configured to display the implant sensor data, indicia thereof, or other data determined based on the implant sensor data on the display device 34. For example, the controller 16 may be configured to display a graph or chart determined based on the implant data on the display device 34. To do so, the controller 16 may be configured to store the implant data in the memory device 32. Alternatively or additionally, the controller 16 may be configured to transmit the implant data to the patient database via the network 42 for storage therein. Referring now to Similar to the transmitter 20 discussed above in regard to Additionally, the transmitter circuit 60 may be configured to transmit the implant sensor data using a predetermined carrier frequency or range of frequencies. For example, in one embodiment, the transmitter circuit 60 is configured to transmit the implant sensor data using a frequency or range of frequencies in or below the Very Low Frequency (VLF) band (e.g., using a frequency below 30,000 hertz). Alternatively, in another embodiment, the transmitter circuit 60 is configured to transmit the implant sensor data using a frequency or range of frequencies in the Very High Frequency (VHF) or the lower Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band (e.g., using a frequency in the range of 30 mega-hertz to 2,000 mega-hertz). Still further, in another embodiment, the transmitter circuit 60 is configured to transmit the implant sensor data using a frequency or range of frequencies in the higher Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band (e.g., using a frequency greater than 2 giga-hertz). In some embodiments, the transmitter circuitry 60 may include additional circuitry such as processing circuitry or the like. However, in other embodiments, the transmitter circuit 60 may be embodied as a simple inductor-capacitor (LC) circuit or a crystal oscillator circuit and associated circuitry. The transmitter circuit 60 receives power via the power coil 64. The power coil 64 is configured to be inductively coupled to the primary coil 22 when the primary coil 22 receives a power signal from the controller 16. The power coil 64 may include any number of individual coils. For example, the power coil 64 may include a single coil that is inductively coupled to the external primary coil 22 by positioning the primary coil 22 near the skin of the patient such that the power coil 64 lies within the alternating current (AC) electromagnetic field 48 generated by the primary coil 22. In other embodiments, the power coil 64 includes more than a single coil to thereby improve the inductive coupling of the power coil 64 and the primary coil 22. That is, because the amount of inductive coupling of the power coil 64 and the primary coil 22 is dependent upon the alignment of the power coil 64 and the electromagnetic field generated by the primary coil 22, a secondary coil having multiple coils at different orientations decreases the likelihood of poor inductive coupling with the external power source. For example, in one embodiment, the power coil 64 is embodied as three separate coils positioned orthogonally with respect to each other. As discussed above in regard to Similar to the implant sensor 18 described above in regard to In some embodiments, the orthopaedic implant 12 also includes a memory device 67. In such embodiments, the memory device 67 is communicatively coupled to the transmitter circuitry 60 via a number of communication links 73, which may be embodied as any type of communication links capable of facilitating communication between the transmitter circuitry 60 and the memory device 67 such as, for example, wires, cables, printed circuit board (PCB) traces, fiber optic cables, or the like. The memory device 67 may be embodied as any type of memory device and may include one or more memory types, such as, random access memory (i.e., RAM) and/or read-only memory (i.e., ROM). In such embodiments, the transmitter circuitry 60, or other processing circuit, may be configured to store implant sensor data received from the implant sensor(s) 66 in the memory device 67. The stored implant sensor data may be subsequently retrieved from the memory device 67 and transmitted via the transmitter circuitry 60 as discussed above. Referring now to The transmitter circuit 80 is substantially similar to the transmitter 60 described above in regard to Additionally, the transmitter circuit 80 may be configured to transmit the implant sensor data using a predetermined carrier frequency or range of frequencies. For example, in one embodiment, the transmitter circuit 80 is configured to transmit the implant sensor data using a frequency or range of frequencies in or below the Very Low Frequency (VLF) band (e.g., using a frequency below 30,000 hertz). Alternatively, in another embodiment, the transmitter circuit 80 is configured to transmit the implant sensor data using a frequency or range of frequencies in the Very High Frequency (VHF) or the lower Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band (e.g., using a frequency in the range of 30 mega-hertz to 2,000 mega-hertz). Still further, in another embodiment, the transmitter circuit 80 is configured to transmit the implant sensor data using a frequency or range of frequencies in the higher Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band (e.g., using a frequency greater than 2 giga-hertz). In some embodiments, the transmitter circuitry 80 may include additional circuitry such as processing circuitry or the like. However, in other embodiments, the transmitter circuit 80 may be embodied as a simple inductor-capacitor (LC) circuit or a crystal oscillator circuit and associated circuitry. Similar to the implant sensor 66 described above in regard to In the embodiment illustrated in As discussed above in regard to As discussed above in regard to The processor may be embodied as any type of processor including, for example, discrete processing circuitry (e.g., a collection of logic devices), general purpose integrated circuit(s), and/or application specific integrated circuit(s) (i.e., ASICs). The memory device 418 is similar to the memory devices 67, 87 described above in regard to In use, the processor 406 is configured to be responsive to a control signal received from the transmitter circuitry 414 to control the switching circuit 400. The processor 406 may control the switching circuit 400 to thereby couple any one or more of the sensors 402 to the processor 406 such that the processor 406 receives the implant sensor data from the coupled sensors 402. In this way, the orthopaedic implant 12 may be programmed to transmit data from all of the sensors 402 or from a selective number of the sensors 402. As such, an orthopaedic healthcare provider is able to monitor the implant sensor data from any one or more of the sensors 402 as described in more detail below in regard to Although the embodiments of the orthopaedic implant 12 described above in regard to Referring now to As illustrated in It should be appreciated that the treadmill 100 is configured for communication with an orthopaedic implant 12 using a relatively low data rate and carrier frequency. That is, in embodiments of the system 10 wherein the sensor 18, 66, 86 is configured to generate the implant sensor data at a data rate of less than 100 kilobytes per second and/or the transmitter 20, 60, 80, 414 is configured to transmit the implant sensor data using a carrier frequency lower than 30,000 hertz, the antenna 24 of the patient exercise machine 14 is embodied as a loop antenna (e.g., loop antenna 102). Because a relatively lower carrier frequency (e.g., below 30,000 hertz) is used, the implant data signal transmitted by the transmitter 20, 60, 80, 414 may be less attenuated due to passage of the signal through skin of the patient. The use of a lower carrier frequency may also reduce the amount of heat generated. In addition, because a relatively lower data rate (e.g., less than 100 kilobytes per second) is used in the illustrative embodiment, a relatively lower carrier frequency (e.g., less than 30,000 hertz) may be used because of the small bandwidth required to transmit the lower amount of data. As such, it should be appreciated that the reception of the system 10 may be improved by use of a loop antenna when a relatively low data rate (e.g., less than 100 kilobytes per second) and/or a relatively low carrier frequency (e.g., less than 30,000 hertz) are used due to the improved sensitivity of a loop antenna to low frequency and low power signals. Again, it should be appreciated that although the embodiment of Referring now to It should be appreciated that the stationary bike 200 is configured for communication with an orthopaedic implant 12 using a relatively medium data rate and carrier frequency. That is, in embodiments of the system 10 wherein the sensor 18, 66, 86 is configured to generate the implant sensor data at a data rate in the range of 100 kilobytes per second to 1,000 kilobytes per second and/or the transmitter 20, 60, 80, 414 is configured to transmit the implant sensor data using a carrier frequency in the range of 30 mega-hertz to 2,000 mega-hertz, the antenna 24 of the patient exercise machine 14 is embodied as a monopole antenna (e.g., monopole antenna 202 and/or 206). Because a relatively medium carrier frequency (e.g., in the range of 30 to 2,000 mega-hertz) is used, a larger bandwidth (relative to the embodiment illustrated and described above in regard to Again, it should be appreciated that although the embodiment of Referring now to It should be appreciated that the stairstepper machine 300 is configured for communication with an orthopaedic implant 12 using a relatively high data rate and carrier frequency. That is, in embodiments of the system 10 wherein the sensor 18, 66, 86 is configured to generate the implant sensor data at a data rate greater than 1,000 kilobytes per second and/or the transmitter 20, 60, 80, 414 is configured to transmit the implant sensor data using a carrier frequency greater than 2 giga-hertz, the antenna 24 of the patient exercise machine 14 is embodied as a patch antenna (e.g., patch antenna 302). Because a relatively high carrier frequency (e.g., greater than 2 giga-hertz) is used, a larger bandwidth (relative to the embodiment illustrated and described above in regard to Again, it should be appreciated that although the embodiment of In operation, the orthopaedic implant 12 (e.g., the electronics coupled to or included in the implant 12) may be configured to execute an algorithm 500 for transmitting sensor data. As illustrated in Subsequently, in process step 506, the implant sensor data is transmitted by the transmitter circuitry 20, 60, 80, 414 to the antenna 24 (e.g., the loop antenna 102, the monopole antenna 202, or the patch antenna 304 depending on the particular embodiment) using the antenna 62 or the power/antenna coil 84. To do so, the transmitter circuitry 20, 60, 80, 414 may be configured to transmit the implant sensor data at a predetermined data rate or within a predetermined data rate range using a predetermined carrier frequency or range of frequencies. For example, as discussed in detail above in regard to Once the implant sensor data from the implant sensor(s) 18, 66, 86, 402 has been transmitted, the algorithm 500 loops back to process step 502 in which the transmitter circuitry 20, 60, 80, 414 determines if another power signal has been received or is still being received from the power coil 64, 84, 410. In this way, the transmitter circuitry 20, 60, 80, 414 is configured to periodically transmit the implant sensor data while power coil 64, 84, 410 is indicatively coupled to the primary coil 22. That is, for example, while the patient is operating the patient exercise machine 14, the orthopaedic implant 12 (i.e., the transmitter circuitry 20, 60, 80, 414) will transmit implant sensor data to the antenna 24, which is received by the controller 16 via the communication links 26. Referring back to process step 502, in some embodiments, the algorithm 500 also advances to process step 508 and 514 once a power signal has been received. In such embodiments, the process steps 504, 508, 514 may be executed in a sequential order or contemporaneously with each other once a power signal is received. In process step 508, the orthopaedic implant 12 determines if any stored implant sensor data should be transmitted to the antenna 24 (e.g., the loop antenna 102, the monopole antenna 202, or the patch antenna 304 depending on the particular embodiment). To do so, the transmitter circuitry 20, 60, 80, 414 and/or processor 406, depending on the embodiment, may be programmed or otherwise configured to transmit or not transmit the stored implant sensor data. Additionally or alternatively, the transmitter circuitry 20, 60, 80, 414 and/or processor 406 may be configured to access or otherwise retrieve data from the associated memory 67, 87, 418 and determine if the stored implant sensor data should be transmitted based on such data (e.g., based on the value of the retrieved data). In this way, the orthopaedic implant 12 may be programmed to transmit stored data or not to transmit stored data depending on the particular application and/or implementation of the system 10 and/or the orthopaedic implant 12. If the transmitter circuitry 20, 60, 80, 414 and/or processor 406 determines that any stored implant sensor data should not be transmitted in process step 508, the algorithm 500 loops back to process step 502 in which the transmitter circuitry 20, 60, 80, 414 and/or processor 406 determines if another power signal has been received or is still being received from the power coil 64, 84, 410. If, however, the transmitter circuitry 20, 60, 80, 414 and/or processor 406 determines that the implant sensor data stored in the memory device 67, 87, 418 should also be transmitted, the algorithm 500 advances to process step 510. In process step 510, the implant sensor data stored in the memory device 67, 87, 418 is retrieved. The retrieved implant sensor data is subsequently transmitted to the antenna 24 in process step 512. Once the retrieved implant sensor data has been transmitted to the antenna 24, the algorithm 500 loops back to process step 502 wherein the transmitter circuitry 20, 60, 80, 414 determines if another power signal has been received or is still being received from the power coil 64, 84, 410. Referring back to process step 514, the orthopaedic implant 12 also determines if any programming data is available in some embodiments. In such embodiments, the transmitter circuitry 60, 80, 414 is embodied as or otherwise includes a transceiver configured to transmit and receive data from the antenna 24. If the transmitter circuitry 20, 60, 80, 414 and/or processor 406 determines that programming data is not available in process step 514, the algorithm 500 loops back to process step 502 in which the transmitter circuitry 20, 60, 80, 414 determines if another power signal has been received or is still being received from the power coil 64, 84, 410. If, however, the transmitter circuitry 20, 60, 80, 414 and/or processor 406 determines that the programming data is available, the algorithm 500 advances to process step 516. In process step 516, the orthopaedic implant 12 receives programming data from the controller 16 via the antenna 24. Subsequently, in process step 518, the transmitter circuitry 20, 60, 80, 414 and/or processor 406 is configured to update one or more programs or programming data used by the electronic circuitry of the orthopaedic implant 12. For example, in embodiments wherein the orthopaedic implant 12 is embodied as the implant 12 illustrated in and described above in regard to Referring now to Once the power signal has been transmitted to the power coil 22, the controller 16 determines if any implant sensor data is available (i.e., if any implant sensor data is being transmitted) in process step 604. If not, the algorithm 600 loops back to the process step 602 wherein the controller 16 continuously, periodically, or selectively transmits the power signal to the primary coil 22. However, if implant sensor data is being transmitted by the orthopaedic implant 12, the algorithm 600 advances to process step 606. In process step 606, the implant sensor data is received from the orthopaedic implant 12. That is, the implant sensor data is received by the antenna 24 (e.g., the loop antenna 102, the monopole antenna 202, or the patch antenna 302) of the patient exercise machine 14 and transmitted to the controller 16 via the communication links 26. Once the implant sensor data has been received in process step 606, the implant sensor data is displayed to the healthcare provider on the display device 34. To do so, the controller 16 is configured to transmit the implant sensor data to the display device 34 via the communication links 36. Additionally or alternatively, the controller 16 may be configured to calculate or determine other data based on the implant sensor data. For example, in some embodiments, the controller 16 may be configured to determine a graph or chart based on the implant sensor data received from the orthopaedic implant sensor 12 and display the graph or chart to the healthcare provider on the display device 34. Once the implant sensor has been displayed to the healthcare provider in process step 608, the controller 16 determines if the healthcare provider desires to record the implant sensor data in process step 610. The healthcare provider may require that the implant sensor data be recorded by supplying the appropriate commands to the controller 16 via, for example, a keyboard, mouse, or other input device. Alternatively, the controller 16 may be configured to always record the implant sensor data. Regardless, if the controller 16 has determined that the implant sensor data is to be recorded, the algorithm 600 advances to process step 612. In process step 612, the implant sensor data received from the orthopaedic implant sensor 12 is temporarily stored in the memory device 32 or other storage location (e.g., hard drive, floppy disk, portable memory device, etc.) of the controller 16. The implant sensor data may be recorded for use in many different applications such as, for example, for calculating or determining other data such as a graph or chart of implant data received over a predetermined period of time or as temporary storage. Once the implant sensor data has been recorded in process step 612 or if the controller 16 determined that the implant sensor data should not be recorded in process step 610, the algorithm 600 advances to process step 614. In process step 614, the controller 16 determines if the healthcare provider desires to store the implant sensor data. As described above, the healthcare provider may require that the implant sensor data be stored by supplying the appropriate commands to the controller 16 via, for example, a keyboard, mouse, or other input device. Alternatively, the controller 16 may be configured to always store the implant sensor data. Regardless, if the controller 16 has determined that the implant sensor data is to be stored, the algorithm 600 advances to process step 618. In process step 618, the controller 16 transmits the implant sensor data received from the orthopaedic implant sensor 12 to the patient database 40 via the communication links 44, the network 42, and the communication links 46. The implant sensor data may be stored in the patient database 40 for later use such as for examination by an orthopaedic surgeon or other healthcare provider. In addition, because the patient database 40 forms a portion of a hospital network in some embodiments, the implant sensor data may be accessible from other locations (e.g., an orthopaedic surgery room) in the hospital once stored in the database 40. Once the implant sensor data has been stored in process step 618 or if the controller 16 has determined that the implant sensor data should not be stored in process step 614, the algorithm 600 loops back to process step 602 in which the controller 16 is configured to transmit the power signal to the primary coil 22. Referring back to process step 602, the controller 16 is also configured to determine if the orthopaedic healthcare provider desires to program the orthopaedic implant in a process step 620 in some embodiments. If not, the algorithm 600 loops back to the process step 602 wherein the controller 16 continuously, periodically, or selectively transmits the power signal to the primary coil 22. However, if controller 16 determines that the orthopaedic healthcare provider desires to program the orthopaedic implant 12 in process step 620, the algorithm 600 proceeds to process step 622. In process step 622, the orthopaedic healthcare provider supplies the programming data to the controller 16. The orthopaedic healthcare provider may supply the programming data via manually typing in the data or otherwise operating the controller 16 such that the programming data is transmitted to the orthopaedic implant 12 via the antenna 24. Once the orthopaedic healthcare provider has entered or otherwise supplied the programming data via the controller 16, the programming data is transmitted to the orthopaedic implant 12 via the antenna 24 in process step 624. As discussed above, the programming data may cause the orthopaedic implant 12 to transmit implant sensor data generated by one or more implant sensors 402 selected by the orthopaedic healthcare provider. In this way, the orthopaedic healthcare provider may individually monitor each of the orthopaedic implant sensors 402 while the patient is exercising on the patient excise machine 14. While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such an illustration and description is to be considered as exemplary and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only illustrative embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the disclosure are desired to be protected. For example, although specific data rate values and ranges and specific frequency values and ranges have been disclosed in various embodiments, it should be appreciated that data rates and/or frequencies near such values may be in used in other embodiments. There are a plurality of advantages of the present disclosure arising from the various features of the systems and methods described herein. It will be noted that alternative embodiments of the systems and methods of the present disclosure may not include all of the features described yet still benefit from at least some of the advantages of such features. Those of ordinary skill in the art may readily devise their own implementations of the systems and methods that incorporate one or more of the features of the present invention and fall within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims. |