Automated growing rod device

摘要

A remotely controllable growing rod device comprises a housing containing on-board electronics and at least one drive assembly operable to move associated extension elements relative to each other. Each extension element terminates in an anchor element configured to be anchored to a part of the spine, such as the pedicle of a vertebral body. The on-board electronics includes a microprocessor, a power supply, such as an inductive power supply, and a receiver/transmitter. The microprocessor is configured to receive remotely transmitted movement data through the receiver and is further configured for feedback controlled actuation of the drive assembly for relative movement the associated extension elements to achieve a desired physiological condition of the patient's spine.

主权项

1. A growing rod device for implantation in a patient comprising:
a pair of elongated extension elements, each extension element including an anchor element at an anchor end thereof configured to be anchored to a portion of a patient's spinal anatomy and each including an opposite end opposite said anchor end, a drive assembly coupled to said opposite end of each of said extension elements, said drive assembly configured and operable to move said anchor end of said extension elements relative to each other; and on-board electronics associated with said drive assembly and including;
an on-board microprocessor connected to said drive assembly and operable to activate said drive assembly to move said one or both of said extension elements;a power supply providing power to said on-board microprocessor and said drive assembly;a receiver for receiving remotely transmitted data, said receiver coupled to said on-board microprocessor to provide said data to said on-board microprocessor, said data including movement data for extending or retracting said extension element relative to said housing; andat least one sensor for providing data to said microprocessor indicative of the position and/or force experienced by the patient's spinal anatomy engaged to said anchor elements, said at least one sensor is configured to determine the Cobb angle of the patient's spine,wherein said microprocessor is configured to automatically control the amount and direction of relative movement of said extension elements as a function of the sensor data to achieve a predetermined Cobb angle.