A Radio Telemetry Device for Monitoring Cartilage Surface Pressures in the Human Hip

A miniaturized radio telemetry device has been developed which can monitor the magnitude and distribution of pressure generated between the cartilage-covered surface of the human hip socket and the surface of a hip prosthesis which replaces the spherical head of the femur in the hip. The pressure distribution is sensed by an array of 14 pressure transducers mounted inside the hollow ball of the prosthesis, and the signals from the transducers are transmitted to external receiving and recording equipment by a radio telemetry device also located inside the hollow ball.