Patent 7993269 was granted and assigned to Medtronic on August, 2011 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
A sensor for detecting changes in spinal tissue is disclosed. The implantable sensor or surgical instrument includes a sensing element adapted for detecting indicators of tissue health. The sensor is configured for transmitting the tissue data outside of the body. Further a system and method are provided to utilize the sensed tissue properties to treat the patient's condition.