US5378228A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for joint fluid decompression and filtration with particulate debris collection
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1991-12-16
•
Granted: 1995-01-03
•
Expires: 2011-12-16
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and methods involving the use of a prosthetic low pressure reservoir for joint fluid and removal of particulate debris from arthritic joints or joints containing artificial, man-made prostheses. The apparatus filters the fluid and traps any particles therein, thus removing them from the periprosthetic space. A communication is created between a space continuous with the articular surfaces of a joint and a separate extraarticular space. The apparatus connects the space continuous with the articular surfaces of the joint to a fluid reservoir located in the extraarticular space. The reservoir contains means for fluid filtration and particle trapping. The extraarticular location of the reservoir is at a lower pressure than the intraarticular space. Increases in intraarticular joint fluid pressure during normal joint activities will cause fluid and particulate debris to preferentially flow into the low pressure reservoir. In this manner, intraarticular fluid pressures are reduced, joint fluid is filtered, and the particulate and/or solute species are collected in the device while joint fluid either diffuses into the extraarticular space or is recycled back into the joint. The device may be implanted at the same time as or any time after a joint is replaced by a prosthesis. This device may also be incorporated as a fixed feature of an implant/bearing combination.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas P. Schmalzried
- 👤 Murali Jasty
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 16:03
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/30; A61F2/30721; A61F2/30742; A61M; A61M27/00; A61M27/002; A61F2/32; A61F2002/30001; A61F2002/30667; A61F2002/30673; A61F2002/30682; A61F2002/30686; A61F2/36; A61F2/3609; A61F2002/3625; A61F2002/3631; A61M1/00; A61M1/71; A61M1/79
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
An apparatus for fluid decompression and solid and solute species collection from mammalian joints, comprising: inflow means in communication with said joint for receiving fluid and solid and solute species from said joint; a low pressure reservoir in communication with said inflow means for receiving said fluid and said solid and solute species; filter means internal to the reservoir for separating said solid and solute species from said fluid; said filter means including a semipermeable membrane and a core filtration means spaced from said membrane; outflow means in communication with said reservoir for releasing said fluid from said reservoir, wherein said apparatus is biocompatible and implantable in a mammalian joint.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
110 words
An apparatus for fluid decompression and solid and solute species collection from mammalian joints, comprising: inflow means in communication with said joint for receiving fluid and solid and solute species from said joint; a low pressure reservoir in communication with said inflow means for receiving said fluid and said solid and solute species; filter means internal to the reservoir for separating said solid and solute species from said fluid; said filter means including a semipermeable membrane and a core filtration means spaced from said membrane; outflow means in communication with said reservoir for releasing said fluid from said reservoir, wherein said apparatus is biocompatible and implantable in a mammalian joint.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising collecting means for collecting said solid and solute species separated from said fluid by said filter means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising trapping means for containing said solid and solute species collected by said collecting means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the inflow means comprises an opening of said reservoir into said joint to allow ingress of fluid and solid and solute species into the reservoir.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the inflow means further comprises an inflow conduit connecting the inflow means and the reservoir.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the reservoir comprises an incompressible outer shell and an inner semipermeable membrane-liner, and the pressure in the reservoir is lower or equal to the fluid pressure in the joint.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the reservoir further comprises at least one inflow valve to allow the fluid and the solid and solute species to enter the inner shell and the filter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the reservoir further comprises at least one outflow valve to allow release of the fluid after filtering.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said trapping means comprises a particle trap to allow the fluid to flow out of the reservoir but contain the solid and solute species within the reservoir.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the outflow means comprises an outflow conduit to return the fluid to the joint.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the outflow conduit comprises a valve which opens to the joint when pressure inside the joint is low, the valve being otherwise closed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said inflow conduit comprises a flexible tube.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said apparatus or one or more parts thereof can be incorporated into a prosthetic joint component.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
59 words
A method for synovial fluid decompression and solid and solute species collection from mammalian joints, comprising: receiving synovial fluid and solid and solute species from said joint into a low pressure reservoir; separating said received fluid from said received solid and solute species; and releasing said fluid from said reservoir, while said reservoir retains said solid and solute species.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
59 words
A method for synovial fluid decompression and solid and solute species collection from mammalian joints, comprising: receiving synovial fluid and solid and solute species from said joint into a low pressure reservoir; separating said received fluid from said received solid and solute species; and releasing said fluid from said reservoir, while said reservoir retains said solid and solute species.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 14, further comprising collecting said separated solid and solute species.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 15, further comprising containing said collected solid and solute species.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 16, further comprising returning the fluid released from said reservoir to the joint.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
112 words
An apparatus to collect and filter fluid and solid and solute species from mammalian joints, comprising: inflow means in communication with said joint for receiving fluid and associated solid and solute species from said joint; a reservoir in communication with said inflow means for receiving said fluid and associated solid and solute species, said reservoir providing a low pressure sink; outflow means in communication with said reservoir for releasing said fluid from said reservoir; and filter means adapted to separate solid and solute species from said fluid, said filter means including a semipermeable membrane and filtration means spaced from said membrane; wherein said apparatus is biocompatible and implantable in a mammalian joint.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
112 words
An apparatus to collect and filter fluid and solid and solute species from mammalian joints, comprising: inflow means in communication with said joint for receiving fluid and associated solid and solute species from said joint; a reservoir in communication with said inflow means for receiving said fluid and associated solid and solute species, said reservoir providing a low pressure sink; outflow means in communication with said reservoir for releasing said fluid from said reservoir; and filter means adapted to separate solid and solute species from said fluid, said filter means including a semipermeable membrane and filtration means spaced from said membrane; wherein said apparatus is biocompatible and implantable in a mammalian joint.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising collecting means adapted to collect solid and solute species separated from said fluid by said filter means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus according to claim 19 further comprising trapping means adapted to contain solid and solute species collected by said collecting means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the trapping means comprises means for separating specific solid and solute species from said fluid.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the means for separating specific solid and solute species from said fluid comprises mechanical means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the means for separating specific solid and solute species from said fluid comprises osmotic means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus according to claim 21 wherein the means for separating specific solid and solute species from said fluid comprises chemical means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus according to claim 21 further comprising means for releasing the fluid into locations outside of said reservoir, including the location where the fluid was received.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus according to claim 25 further comprising means for providing directional fluid flow.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus according to claim 26 further comprising means for increasing the resistance to fluid flow through said apparatus.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
189 words
An apparatus to collect and filter fluid and solid and solute species from mammalian joints, comprising: inflow means in communication with said joint for receiving fluid and associated solid and solute species from said joint; a reservoir in communication with said inflow means for receiving said fluid and associated solid and solute species, said reservoir providing a low pressure sink; outflow means in communication with said reservoir for releasing said fluid from said reservoir; filter means adapted to separate solid and solute species from said fluid, wherein said apparatus is implantable; collecting means adapted to collect solid and solute species separated from said fluid by said filter means; trapping means adapted to contain solid and solute species collected by said collecting means, wherein said trapping means includes means for separating specific solid and solute species from said fluid; means for releasing the fluid into locations outside of said reservoir, including the location where the fluid was received; means for providing directional fluid flow; means for increasing the resistance to fluid flow through said apparatus; and means for periodically flushing fluid and associated solid and solute species through the apparatus.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
189 words
An apparatus to collect and filter fluid and solid and solute species from mammalian joints, comprising: inflow means in communication with said joint for receiving fluid and associated solid and solute species from said joint; a reservoir in communication with said inflow means for receiving said fluid and associated solid and solute species, said reservoir providing a low pressure sink; outflow means in communication with said reservoir for releasing said fluid from said reservoir; filter means adapted to separate solid and solute species from said fluid, wherein said apparatus is implantable; collecting means adapted to collect solid and solute species separated from said fluid by said filter means; trapping means adapted to contain solid and solute species collected by said collecting means, wherein said trapping means includes means for separating specific solid and solute species from said fluid; means for releasing the fluid into locations outside of said reservoir, including the location where the fluid was received; means for providing directional fluid flow; means for increasing the resistance to fluid flow through said apparatus; and means for periodically flushing fluid and associated solid and solute species through the apparatus.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
155 words
An apparatus to collect and filter fluid and solid and solute species from mammalian joints, comprising: inflow means in communication with said joint for receiving fluid and associated solid and solute species from said joint; a reservoir in communication with said inflow means for receiving said fluid and associated solid and solute species, said reservoir providing a low pressure sink; outflow means in communication with said reservoir for releasing said fluid from said reservoir; filter means adapted to separate solid and solute species from said fluid, wherein said apparatus is implantable; collecting means adapted to collect solid and solute species separated from said fluid by said filter means; and trapping means adapted to contain solid and solute species collected by said collecting means, wherein said trapping means includes means for separating specific solid and solute species from said fluid; wherein the means for separating specific solid and solute species from said fluid comprises magnetic means.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
155 words
An apparatus to collect and filter fluid and solid and solute species from mammalian joints, comprising: inflow means in communication with said joint for receiving fluid and associated solid and solute species from said joint; a reservoir in communication with said inflow means for receiving said fluid and associated solid and solute species, said reservoir providing a low pressure sink; outflow means in communication with said reservoir for releasing said fluid from said reservoir; filter means adapted to separate solid and solute species from said fluid, wherein said apparatus is implantable; collecting means adapted to collect solid and solute species separated from said fluid by said filter means; and trapping means adapted to contain solid and solute species collected by said collecting means, wherein said trapping means includes means for separating specific solid and solute species from said fluid; wherein the means for separating specific solid and solute species from said fluid comprises magnetic means.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
154 words
An apparatus to collect and filter fluid and solid and solute species from mammalian joints, comprising: inflow means in communication with said joint for receiving fluid and associated solid and solute species from said joint; a reservoir in communication with said inflow means for receiving said fluid and associated solid and solute species, said reservoir providing a low pressure sink; outflow means in communication with said reservoir for releasing said fluid from said reservoir; filter means adapted to separate solid and solute species from said fluid, wherein said apparatus is implantable; collecting means adapted to collect solid and solute species separated from said fluid by said filter means; and trapping means adapted to contain solid and solute species collected by said collecting means, wherein said trapping means includes means for separating solid and solute species from said fluid; wherein the means for separating specific solid and solute species from said fluid comprises ionic means.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
154 words
An apparatus to collect and filter fluid and solid and solute species from mammalian joints, comprising: inflow means in communication with said joint for receiving fluid and associated solid and solute species from said joint; a reservoir in communication with said inflow means for receiving said fluid and associated solid and solute species, said reservoir providing a low pressure sink; outflow means in communication with said reservoir for releasing said fluid from said reservoir; filter means adapted to separate solid and solute species from said fluid, wherein said apparatus is implantable; collecting means adapted to collect solid and solute species separated from said fluid by said filter means; and trapping means adapted to contain solid and solute species collected by said collecting means, wherein said trapping means includes means for separating solid and solute species from said fluid; wherein the means for separating specific solid and solute species from said fluid comprises ionic means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-01-02 | 1998-07-04 | 1999-01-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-01-02 | 2002-07-04 | 2003-01-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-01-02 | 2006-07-04 | 2007-01-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |