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Device, system and activation method for intraoperative disinfection of bone prostheses using bioelectrical effect
The formation of bacterial biofilms in bone implants, such as prosthetic knee implants, is a post-surgical complication that leads to the chronification of infections, as well as the protection of bacterial colonies against antibiotics. Biofilms are mainly generated by the adhesion of microorganisms to the metal surfaces of prostheses, and contain enzymes that trap antimicrobial agents, which decreases the penetration of antibiotics, reducing their effectiveness. In this invention, a device for intraoperative use has been developed, which performs an electro-disinfection process for the reduction of biofilm or bacterial infections in knee prostheses. The new system provides a terminal with an array of electrodes that is placed on the external surface of the prosthesis to be treated and a control system that controls the sequence and amount of energy applied through each of the electrodes. The device is used only during the time of surgery.
Treatment of bone prosthesis infections is complex, time-consuming, and expensive. In recent infections, washing and replacement of mobile components is carried out, but biofilm makes it difficult to detect and eradicate. After this period, it is usually necessary to completely replace the implant in one or two surgeries, with success rates of 50-55% and 70-90%, respectively. These procedures entail a high physical, psychological and economic cost, especially in knee replacements, with about 300,000 infections per year and a five-year mortality of 25.9%. The developed system allows intraoperative disinfection without the need for special prostheses, unlike other bioelectrical methods. The invention is applied in orthopedic surgery, mainly in knee prostheses, using low-power electrical currents, being of interest to manufacturers of medical equipment and prostheses.
