Invention:
This invention consists of an inexpensive implant to adhere to the bone. This device is capable of sensing bone strain, reporting loads passing through bone for extended periods of time. The implant can be used to monitor bone growth for bone segment repair for long bones or to monitor changes in bone characteristics of patients with osteoporosis. This technology has the potential to give physicians the ability to predict when a patient with osteoporosis has an impending fracture, and thus the ability to intervene and prevent further damage.
Background:
Osteoporosis, also known as a silence disease goes undetected and undiagnosed in more than 50% of cases. Due to its asymptomatic nature, osteoporosis is rarely detected in its earlier stage (Osteopenia) unless patients subject themselves to preventive screening, only until a fracture occurs will osteoporosis be diagnosed and begin to be treated. Though different tests such as Bone Mineral Density Testing provides an effective diagnostic of osteoporosis, monitoring of bone progress, deformation, or healing thereof, is largely unattended. The biggest task or need in the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis is in improving screening methods and monitoring bone deformation as the disease progresses.
Applications:
- Osteoporosis treatment
- Osteoporosis diagnostics
- Orthopedic screening & imaging
Advantages:
- Miniature size promotes more precise readings and measurements of bone activity
- Cost effective: production of chip is inexpensive
