Smart, sensor-bearing implants can help doctors track healing and patient progress after they have left hospital. And, unlike external braces, the twin utilities of a smart implant – structural support and monitoring – are not affected by variable patient compliance. Smart implants can thus be a key tool for delivering treatment with less pressure on our healthcare systems.
Realising this clinical vision requires solutions to a host of engineering challenges. In the case of a strain-sensing intramedullary nail, TTP provided integrated engineering solutions for implant electronics, reliable through-tissue communication, and life-time implantation following bone healing – with the mechanical strength equivalent to the existing intramedullary nail.
We considered both analogue and digital implant electronics, and the digital design was selected for superior suitability for a medical product. We further developed a robust, error-checking communications protocol to ensure that accurate strain data was read out from the nail, reflecting fracture healing.
Most importantly, smart implants need to be suitable for lifetime implantation. To eliminate batteries, and the associated risk of leaks, we developed a novel reader device that, when held to the patient, inductively powered the implant and simultaneously acted as the antenna for communications.
Completing the smart implant, the whole payload consisting of strain sensor, electronics and coils for radio signal generation was hermetically sealed in biocompatible titanium and embedded within the implant without creating structural weaknesses in the nail – ready for in vivo studies.
About TTP’s Biosensing Consulting Team
Specialising in the development of wearable and implantable biosensors, TTP’s Biosensor product design and development consultants deploys multidisciplinary teams, combining expert capabilities to deliver tailored solutions that meet the most demanding project requirements.
Whether navigating uncharted territories, supporting your next innovation or accelerating time to market, we solve complex challenges with engineering and scientific rigour, finding and retiring risks early to deliver high-impact, human-centred results. When your internal bandwidth is constrained, TTP is ready to deliver.
If you want to learn more about how we can help you, please get in touch.
TTP's Biosensing team is part of our broader Medical Device Consulting business unit, consisting of 300+ engineers, scientists, and human factors specialists. For nearly four decades we've partnered with clients to develop impactful solutions, helping them achieve commercial success. See our approach to medical device design and development.
