System for implanting, activating, and operating an implantable battery

Abstract

Apparatus, systems, and methods for the treatment of bone, cartilage and other types of hard tissue. The treatments, which are suitable for extended treatment, include the treatment and prevention of pathologies through the controllable use of silver, iron, zinc, or magnesium ions. These pathologies may include a pathology which is at least partially induced or aggravated by an infectious disease, for example a bacterial disease. In this case the electrically released ions are silver ions, which are known to have antibacterial properties.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 714,563, filed Mar. 1, 2010, which is a continuation-in-part of: (a) PCT Patent Application No. PCT / IL2008 / 001157, filed Aug. 28, 2008, which claims priority to Israel Patent Application No. 185637, filed Aug. 30, 2007; and (b) PCT Patent Application No. PCT / IL2010 / 000150, filed Feb. 22, 2010, which claims priority to Israel Patent Application No. 197357, filed Mar. 2, 2009; all of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention is related to the field of medicine and medical devices. Specifically the invention relates to the field of treatment of bone, cartilage and hard tissue, including the treatment and prevention of pathologies thereof.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]In spite of very advanced diagnostic and treatment options, bone infection called Osteomyelitis remains one of the most serious co...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]According to at least some embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a system featuring two electrodes made of two different metals having a potential difference between them which are implanted in the body, to enable ions of the active electrode to be released to the body in a continuous current and in a local centered fashion. In one embodiment the active electrode is made of metallic silver and is implanted in the bone. After implantation of the electrodes and current induction a very low continuous current of silver ions is maintained in the bone for an extended period of time. Without wishing to be limited by a single hypothesis, the silver implant device is estimated to confer a clinical benefit in cases of bone infections (Osteomyelitis), by reducing the infection in the bone area, in the vicinity of the implanted active electrode. According to other embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a treatment method and apparatus for manually installing the two electrodes and initiating the current flow.

[0015]According to still other embodiments of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus that may optionally be used to manually, semi-automatically, or fully automatically install the electrodes of an implantable battery stably in the body of a patient by a minimal invasive procedure.

Problems solved by technology

On one hand it affects dramatically the quality of life of a patient and may risk his life.

On the other hand it is a very expensive disease for the patient and society because of the involved costs of diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, lost of productivity and in many cases incomplete cure.

COM is a major medical problem in most countries, mainly associated with violent trauma and orthopedic surgery.

In the opinion of authorized clinicians, the term cure cannot be applied to COM, because the bone infection may occur years after apparently successful treatment of the disease.

The main drawbacks of the currently used treatments, i.e. surgical debridement, locally applied antibiotics, or electrically liberated external silver ions, are their short term effect and restricted local influence.

On the other hand, the prolonged systemic antibiotic treatment which is used in most cases is also not completely efficient, as it is not localized enough.

Frequently, after the end of the treatment, infection reappears.

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