“Smart Knee Implants: An Overview of Current Technologies and Future Possibilities”

Abstract

Background This article focuses on clinical implementation of smart knee implants for total knee replacement and the future development of smart implant technology. With the number of total knee replacements undertaken growing worldwide, smart implants incorporating embedded sensor technology offer opportunity to improve post-operative recovery, reducing implant failure rates, and increasing overall patient satisfaction. Methods A literature review on smart implants, historical prototypes, current clinically available smart implants, and the future potential for conventional implant instrumentation with embedded sensors and electronics was undertaken. Results The overview of current and future technology describes use cases for various diagnostic and therapeutic treatment solutions. Conclusion Smart knee implants are at an early development stage, with the first generation of smart implants being available to patients and with more novel technologies under development.

Intraoperative sensor technology quantifies inter-prosthesis pressure for predicting lower limb alignment after Oxford unicompartmental knee arthroplasty

“…Sensor technology has been reported to balance the medial-lateral space and the flexion-extension space in TKA, allowing for more precise surgery ( Chow et al, 2018 ; van der Linde et al, 2018 ). The potential benefit of sensors is the ability to obtain real in vivo measurements, and smart implants embedded with sensor technology offer the opportunity to improve surgical outcomes ( Kelmers et al, 2023 ). For OUKA, the soft tissue tension and the balance of flexion and extension are particularly important ( Heyse et al, 2016 ; Kwon et al, 2020 ).…”

Advancement of a High-Efficiency Wearable Antenna Enabling Wireless Body Area Networks

“…Hence, the emergence of wearable technology has significantly advanced healthcare, notably in implantable devices [4], [12]. These devices were developed for several medical applications, including neural stimulation [13], cochlear implants [14], pacemakers [15], [16], cardiac defibrillators [17], knee implants [18], [19], bone growth stimulators [20], [21], and foot drop implants [22]. Signals between the implanted device and the wearable network are received and sent by the wearable antenna, which is a key component of the wearable network [23], [24].…”

An Integrated IoT Smart Cane for the Blind and Visually Impaired Individuals

“…IoT-enabled medical devices allow continuous remote monitoring of patient's vital signs, chronic conditions, and post-surgical recovery to assist early detection of any anomalies and reduce the need for frequent hospital visits [8]. Implants equipped with IoT technology can provide real-time data about their status and the surrounding tissue conditions; this is particularly beneficial in monitoring the healing progress of bone fractures and post-surgical implants [9]. IoT devices can help patients manage their medications by sending reminders to take pills, providing dosage instructions, and even tracking medication adherence [10].…”