Patent ID: 9668785
Date: 2017-06-06
CPC Classifications: A61B,A61F

Claim:
1. A method for post-operatively actuating an implant that has been surgically implanted with at least one portion within a functional spinal unit of a patient, the implant including a sensor capable of determining a change in the physical surroundings of the implant and being capable of delivering an electric current, the implant being implanted and configured so as to be able to provide an electrical stimulus to a fluid, comprising: post-operatively analyzing by the sensor of the physical surroundings of the implant, wherein analyzing the physical surroundings of the implant includes analyzing the patient's motion; post-operatively determining by the sensor of a significant change in the physical surroundings of the implant; and post-operatively adjusting a characteristic of the functional spinal unit in response to the determined significant change in the physical surroundings of the implant, wherein adjusting a characteristic of the patient's spinal column includes applying an electrical stimulus to the fluid.