Wireless Micropump and Pressure Monitoring System for Inducing Bone Formation Through Intramedullary Pressure Modulation

Osteoporosis is a severe health issue in the aging population. It can be alleviated or delayed with proper medication as well as mechanical loading. Various studies showed that the oscillation of pressure inside the intramedullary cavity is an effective stimulus to initiate bone remodeling. Current in vivo methods designed to modulate intramedullary pressure involve infection-vulnerable external oscillatory equipment. We report a methodology that combines a wireless micropump and a wireless pressure monitoring system for new bone formation. A wireless magnetic micropump was used to oscillate the intramedullary pressure of the rat femur. Pressure variations inside the intramedullary cavity were recorded using a wireless pressure monitoring system. Following 10 min of applied pressure oscillations and seven days of recovery, bone formation in femora of rats tended to increase.