1. A device for delivering a substance to a bone, the device comprising:
(a) a bone screw comprising two ends connected by a shaft, wherein the shaft is cannulated along at least a portion of its length;
(b) one or more bone-screw fenestrations disposed along the cannulated portion of the bone-screw shaft;
(c) an insert disposed inside the cannulated bone-screw shaft, wherein the insert is cannulated along at least a portion of its length; and
(d) one or more insert fenestrations disposed along the cannulated portion of the insert to provide a delivery pathway for the substance between at least one end of the bone screw and the at least one bone-screw fenestration.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein the insert partially blocks at least one bone-screw fenestration.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein the insert completely blocks at least one bone-screw fenestration.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein the cannulated portion of the bone-screw shaft extends through the entire length of the bone screw.
5. The device of claim 1 wherein the bone screw is a fixation screw.
6. The device of claim 1 wherein one end of the bone screw is self-tapping.
7. The device of claim 1 wherein the bone screw comprises a material selected from the group consisting of titanium and its alloys, tantalum and its alloys, nickel-cadmium and its alloys, steel and its alloys, plastics, absorbable materials, resorbable materials, polyamino acids, polylactide, polyglycolide, hydroxylapatite, and tricalciumphosphate.
8. The device of claim 1 wherein the insert comprises a material selected from the group consisting of titanium and its alloys, tantalum and its alloys, nickel-cadmium and its alloys, steel and its alloys, plastics, absorbable materials, resorbable materials, polyamino acids, polylactide, polyglycolide, hydroxylapatite, and tricalciumphosphate.
9. The device of claim 1 further comprising a substance reservoir attached to at least one end of the bone screw.
10. The device of claim 9 wherein the reservoir is implanted subcutaneously.
11. The device of claim 1 further comprising a pump attached to at least one end of the bone screw.
12. The device of claim 11 wherein the pump is implanted subcutaneously.
13. A device for delivering a substance to a bone, the device comprising:
(a) a bone screw comprising two ends connected by a shaft, wherein the shaft is cannulated along at least a portion of its length;
(b) one or more bone-screw fenestrations disposed along the cannulated portion of the bone-screw shaft; and
(c) an insert disposed inside the cannulated bone-screw shaft, wherein the insert is cannulated along at least a portion of its length, and further wherein the insert is permeable to the substance to be delivered to the bone.
14. The device of claim 13 wherein the insert further comprises at least one insert fenestration disposed along the cannulated portion of the insert.
15. The device of claim 13 wherein the cannulated portion of the bone-screw shaft extends through the entire length of the bone screw.
16. The device of claim 13 wherein the bone screw is a fixation screw.
17. The device of claim 13 wherein one end of the bone screw is self-tapping.
18. A method of administering a substance to a bone, the method comprising:
(a) introducing a bone screw into a bone, the bone screw comprising two ends connected by a shaft, wherein the shaft is cannulated along at least a portion of its length, and further wherein the bone screw comprises one or more bone-screw fenestrations disposed along the cannulated portion of the bone-screw shaft;
(b) introducing an insert into the bone screw, wherein the insert is cannulated along at least a portion of its length, and further wherein the insert comprises one or more insert fennestrations along the cannulated portion of the insert; and
(c) introducing a substance into the cannulated portion of the insert.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein at least part of the insert is introduced into the bone screw prior to introducing the bone screw into the bone.
20. The method of claim 18 wherein at least part of the insert is introduced into the bone screw after introducing the bone screw into the bone.
21. The method of claim 18 wherein two or more bones are held in a fixed position relative to each other by the bone screw.
22. The method of claim 18 wherein a peripheral skeletal fracture is mended, an osteotomy is mended, a spondyloysis is repaired, an odontoid fracture repaired, or lumbar facet joints are fused by the insertion of the bone screw into the bone.
23. The method of claim 18 further comprising attaching a reservoir to at least one end of the bone screw or insert.
24. The method of claim 18 further comprising attaching a pump to at least one end of the bone screw or insert.
25. The method of claim 23 wherein the reservoir is implanted subcutaneously.
26. The method of claim 24 wherein the pump is implanted subcutaneously.
27. A method of administering a substance to a bone, the method comprising:
(a) introducing a bone screw into a bone, the bone screw comprising two ends connected by a shaft, wherein the shaft is cannulated along at least a portion of its length, and further wherein the bone screw comprises one or more bone-screw fenestrations disposed along the cannulated portion of the bone-screw shaft;
(b) introducing an insert into the bone screw, wherein the insert is cannulated along at least a portion of its length, and further wherein the insert is permeable to the substance to be administered; and
(c) introducing a substance into the cannulated portion of the insert.
28. A method of manufacturing a substance delivery device comprising:
(a) producing a bone screw comprising two ends connected by a shaft, wherein the shaft is cannulated along at least a portion of its length, and further wherein the bone screw comprises one or more bone-screw fenestrations disposed along the cannulated portion of the bone-screw shaft; and
(b) producing an insert that fits in the bone screw, wherein the insert is cannulated along at least a portion of its length, and further wherein the insert comprises one or more insert fennestrations along the cannulated portion of the insert.
29. A method of manufacturing a substance delivery device comprising:
(a) producing a bone screw comprising two ends connected by a shaft, wherein the shaft is cannulated along at least a portion of its length, and further wherein the bone screw comprises one or more bone-screw fenestrations disposed along the cannulated portion of the bone-screw shaft; and
(b) producing an insert that fits in the bone screw, wherein the insert is cannulated along at least a portion of its length, and further wherein the insert is permeable to the substance to be delivered.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method, implemented on a machine having at least one processor, storage, and a communication platform connected to a network for cross device notification (CDN), comprising:
receiving, at a first device associated with a user, an incoming event, wherein the first device detects one or more active devices associated with the user other than the first device;
detecting whether the user reacts to the incoming event on the first device;
determining whether a CDN is needed based on whether the one or more active devices are detected andor whether the user reacts to the event within a predetermined time period; and
if a CDN is needed,
generating the CDN, and
transmitting the CDN to the one or more active devices.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising waiting for another incoming event at the first device, if no CDN is needed.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising if a CDN is needed,
detecting a react notification with respect to the CDN from one of the one or more active devices after transmitting the CDN;
displaying a react message at the first device if the react notification is detected within a second predetermined time period; and
displaying a non-react message at the first device if the react notification is not detected within the second predetermined time period.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
if the user reacts to the incoming event within the predetermined time period,
sending a react notification to the one or more active devices if the one or more active devices are detected, and
displaying a react message at the first device; and
if the user does not react to the incoming event within the predetermined time period, displaying a non-react message at the first device.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein a CDN is determined to be needed if within the predetermined time period
the one or more active devices are detected; and
the user does not react to the event.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein
the step of determining whether a CDN is needed comprises determining a priority for the incoming event based on one or more configuration parameters associated with the first device; and
a CDN is determined to be needed if
the priority is larger than a predetermined threshold;
the one or more active devices are detected within the predetermined time period; and
the user does not react to the event within the predetermined time period.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more active devices are determined based on
an input, from the user on at least one device associated with the user, for identifying the one or more active devices, andor
a last action of the user, detected on at least one device associated with the user, for implying the one or more active devices.
8. A method, implemented on a machine having at least one processor, storage, and a communication platform connected to a network for responding to a CDN, comprising:
receiving, at a first device associated with a user, a CDN from a second device associated with the user, wherein the first device detects one or more active devices associated with the user other than the first device;
detecting whether the user reacts to the CDN; and
if the user reacts to the CDN within a predetermined time period,
sending a react notification with respect to the CDN to the second device, and
sending the react notification to the one or more active devices if the one or more active devices are detected.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising displaying a non-react message at the first device, if the user does not react to the CDN within the predetermined time period.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more active devices are determined based on
an input, from the user on at least one device associated with the user, for identifying the one or more active devices, andor
a last action of the user, detected on at least one device associated with the user, for implying the one or more active devices.
11. An apparatus including at least one processor, storage, and a communication platform connected to a network for CDN, comprising:
an event detector configured for receiving an incoming event;
a user reaction detector configured for detecting whether the user reacts to the incoming event;
a CDN controller configured for
detecting one or more active devices, wherein the apparatus and the one or more active devices are associated with a user, and
determining whether a CDN is needed based on whether the one or more active devices are detected andor whether the user reacts to the event within a predetermined time period; and
a CDN generator configured for generating and transmitting the CDN to the one or more active devices, if a CDN is needed.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the CDN controller is further configured for waiting for another incoming event if no CDN is needed.
13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a displaying terminal, wherein:
the user reaction detector is further configured for detecting a react notification with respect to the CDN from one of the one or more active devices if the CDN is transmitted; and
the displaying terminal, in conjunction with the user reaction detector, is configured for
displaying a react message if the react notification is detected within a second predetermined time period, and
displaying a non-react message if the react notification is not detected within the second predetermined time period.
14. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a displaying terminal, wherein:
the user reaction detector is further configured for sending a react notification to the one or more active devices if the user reacts to the incoming event and the one or more active devices are detected within the predetermined time period; and
the displaying terminal, in conjunction with the user reaction detector, is configured for
displaying a react message if the user reacts to the incoming event within the predetermined time period, and
displaying a non-react message if the user does not react to the incoming event within the predetermined time period.
15. An apparatus including at least one processor, storage, and a communication platform connected to a network for responding to a CDN, comprising:
a CDN receiver configured for receiving a CDN from a device, wherein the apparatus and the device are associated with a user;
a CDN controller configured for detecting one or more active devices associated with the user; and
a user reaction detector configured for:
detecting whether the user reacts to the CDN, and
if the user reacts to the CDN within a predetermined time period,
sending a react notification with respect to the CDN to the device, and
sending the react notification to the one or more active devices if the one or more active devices are detected.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a displaying terminal configured for displaying a non-react message at the apparatus if the user does not react to the CDN within the predetermined time period.
17. A system including at least one processor, storage, and a communication platform connected to a network for CDN, comprising:
a first device associated with a user;
at least one second device associated with the user; and
a CDN mechanism residing in each of the devices associated with the user, wherein
the first device
detects one or more active second devices,
detects whether the user reacts to an incoming event,
determines whether a CDN is needed based on whether the one or more active second devices are detected andor whether the user reacts to the incoming event within a first predetermined time period, and
if a CDN is needed, generates and transmits the CDN to the one or more active second devices, and
each of the one or more active second devices
receives a CDN from the first device,
detects each remaining active second device,
detects whether the user reacts to the CDN on the active second device, and
if the user reacts to the CDN within a second predetermined time period,
sends a react notification with respect to the CDN to the first device, and
sends the react notification to each remaining active second device if the remaining active second device is detected.
18. A machine-readable tangible and non-transitory medium having information for CDN, wherein the information, when read by the machine, causes the machine to perform the following:
receiving, at a first device associated with a user, an incoming event, wherein the first device detects one or more active devices associated with the user other than the first device;
detecting whether the user reacts to the incoming event on the first device;
determining whether a CDN is needed based on whether the one or more active devices are detected andor whether the user reacts to the event within a predetermined time period; and
if a CDN is needed,
generating the CDN, and
transmitting the CDN to the one or more active devices.
19. The medium of claim 18, the information, when read by the machine, further causing the machine to wait for another incoming event at the first device, if no CDN is needed.
20. The medium of claim 18, the information, when read by the machine, further causing the machine to perform the following if a CDN is needed:
detecting a react notification with respect to the CDN from one of the one or more active devices after transmitting the CDN;
displaying a react message at the first device if the react notification is detected within a second predetermined time period; and
displaying a non-react message at the first device if the react notification is not detected within the second predetermined time period.
21. The medium of claim 18, the information, when read by the machine, further causing the machine to perform the following:
if the user reacts to the incoming event within the predetermined time period, sending a react notification to the one or more active devices if the one or more
active devices are detected, and
displaying a react message at the first device; and
if the user does not react to the incoming event within the predetermined time period,
displaying a non-react message at the first device.
22. A machine-readable tangible and non-transitory medium having information for responding to a CDN, wherein the information, when read by the machine, causes the machine to perform the following:
receiving, at a first device associated with a user, a CDN from a second device associated with the user, wherein the first device detects one or more active devices associated with the user other than the first device;
detecting whether the user reacts to the CDN; and
if the user reacts to the CDN within a predetermined time period,
sending a react notification with respect to the CDN to the second device, and
sending the react notification to the one or more active devices if the one or more active devices are detected.