US PATENT 10,492,688 B2
SYSTEMS FOR AND METHODS OF DIAGNOSING AND TREATING A SACROILIAC JOINT DISORDER
A method of treating a sacroiliac joint including: approaching the sacroiliac joint with an implant including a sensor supported by a body; delivering the implant either a) non-transversely into the sacroiliac joint, b) transversely across the sacroiliac joint, or c) up to the sacroiliac joint without insertion therein, the sensor providing a signal that indicates a present condition of the sacroiliac joint; receiving an input from a sensory indicator based on the signal from the sensor, the sensory indicator being in communication with the sensor, and wherein the input from the sensory indicator provides data associated with the signal; and, treating an ailment of the sacroiliac joint based at least in part on the input.
CLAIMS
What is claimed is:
1. A method of treating a sacroiliac joint of a patient, the sacroiliac joint defined between a sacrum, and an ilium, the method comprising:
a) approaching the sacroiliac joint with an implant comprising a sensor supported by a body;
b) delivering the implant non-transversely into the sacroiliac joint, the sensor configured to provide a signal that indicates a present condition of the sacroiliac joint;
c) subsequent to step b), applying a force to at least one of the sacrum and the ilium intraoperatively, thereby causing the sensor to provide the signal;
d) receiving an input from a sensory indicator based on the signal from the sensor, the sensory indicator being in communication with the sensor, and wherein the input from the sensory indicator provides data associated with the signal; and,
e) treating an ailment of the sacroiliac joint based at least in part on the input.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing a portion of the sacroiliac joint or surrounding bone for receiving the sensor.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a piezoelectric sensor.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal comprises first data indicating movement at the sacroiliac joint.
5. The method of claim 4, further comprising comparing the first data with a symptom of the patient.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein the movement is a result of at least one of the patient bending, twisting, elongating, distracting, and compressing near the sacroiliac joint.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensory indicator comprises a display device configured to display the data associated with the signal.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the data comprises quantitative information including at least one of angular data, displacement data, and holding time data.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein the data comprises: a log of points in time that correspond with a patient symptom; and measurements of certain types of movements associated with the patient symptom.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensory indicator comprises a mobile phone configured to receive the signal or data associated with the signal.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a paddle shaped configuration.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein treating the ailment of the sacroiliac joint comprises implanting a joint implant into the sacroiliac joint.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein applying the force to the at least one of the sacrum and the ilium intraoperatively comprises manipulating moving a first member positioned in the sacrum relative to a second member positioned in the ilium.
14. A method of treating a sacroiliac joint of a patient, the sacroiliac joint defined between a sacrum, and an ilium, the method comprising:
a) approaching the sacroiliac joint with an implant comprising a sensor supported by a body;
b) delivering the implant transversely into the sacroiliac joint, the sensor providing a signal that indicates a present condition of the sacroiliac joint;
c) receiving an input from a sensory indicator based on the signal from the sensor, the sensory indicator being in communication with the sensor, and wherein the input from the sensory indicator provides data associated with the signal; and,
d) treating an ailment of the sacroiliac joint based at least in part on the input.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising creating a passageway through the ilium and sacrum to receive the implant prior to delivering the implant transversely across the sacroiliac joint.
16. A method of treating a sacroiliac joint of a patient, the sacroiliac joint defined between a sacrum, and an ilium, the method comprising:
a) approaching the sacroiliac joint with an implant comprising a sensor supported by a body;
b) positioning the implant into the sacrum and the ilium so as to span across a posterior border of the sacroiliac joint without insertion therein, the sensor providing a signal that indicates a present condition of a body part positioned adjacently thereof;
c) receiving an input from a sensory indicator based on the signal from the sensor, the sensory indicator being in communication with the sensor, and wherein the input from the sensory indicator provides data associated with the signal; and,
d) treating an ailment of the sacroiliac joint based at least in part on the input.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising positioning the implant such that the implant bridges the sacroiliac joint and is positioned partially on the ilium and partially on the sacrum.
18. The method of claim 16, further comprising positioning the implant on the ligaments surrounding the sacroiliac joint.
19. A method of treating a sacroiliac joint of a patient, the sacroiliac joint comprising a sacrum, and an ilium, the method comprising:
a) receiving a signal from a sensor supported on an implant that is positioned in the sacroiliac joint, the signal corresponding to a force applied to the sensor intraoperatively following implantation of the implant;
b) processing the signal into a plurality of parameters related to a present condition of the sacroiliac joint; and,
c) displaying the plurality of parameters on a display screen of a display device, the plurality of parameters related to treating an ailment of the sacroiliac joint.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the plurality of parameters comprise at least one of angles, displacements, or holding times.
21. A method of treating a sacroiliac joint of a patient, the sacroiliac joint defined between a sacrum, and an ilium, the method comprising:
a) receiving a signal from a sensor supported on an implant that is positioned adjacent and not within the sacroiliac joint, the signal corresponding to a force applied to the sensor;
b) processing the signal into at least one parameter related to a present condition of the sacroiliac joint; and,
c) transmitting the at least one parameter to a sensory indicator in communication with the sensor, the sensory indicator configured to provide sensory feedback to a user corresponding to the at least one parameter.
22. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least one parameter comprises at least one of angles, displacements, or holding times.
23. The method of claim 21, wherein the sensory indicator comprises a display screen of a display device, the at least one parameter being displayed on the display screen of the display device.
24. A method for delivering a treatment implant into a sacroiliac joint of a patient, the sacroiliac joint defined between a sacrum and an ilium, the method comprising the steps of:
delivering a diagnostic implant into the sacroiliac joint, the diagnostic implant comprising a body supporting a sensor; receiving one or more inputs from a sensory indicator based on signals from the sensor, the signals indicating a condition of the sacroiliac joint, the sensory indicator being in communication with the sensor, the one or more inputs providing data associated with the signal;
receiving feedback from the patient regarding an occurrence of one or more symptoms at the sacroiliac joint; and
if the one or more symptoms provided by the patient corresponds in time with the one or more inputs received from the sensory indicator, then delivering the treatment implant into the sacroiliac joint of the patient.
25. The method of claim 24, wherein the sensory indicator comprises a display screen of a display device.
26. The method of claim 24, wherein the treatment implant is delivered into a treatment location within the sacroiliac joint, and wherein the treatment location is different than a diagnostic location where the diagnostic implant was delivered.
27. The method of claim 24, wherein the one or more inputs relates to at least one of angles, displacements, or holding times.
28. The method of claim 24, further comprising removing the diagnostic implant from the sacroiliac joint.