External fixator deformity correction systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10213261-B2
Application number	US-201615350220-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 14, 2016
Priority date	Feb 3, 2012
Publication date	Feb 26, 2019
Grant date	Feb 26, 2019

Abstract

In some embodiments, a synthetic (virtual) orthopedic treatment device (e.g. a virtual external fixator representing a physical fixator attachable to a patient's anatomic structure) is displayed concurrently in two views (e.g. anterior-posterior and lateral) along corresponding digital medical images (e.g. X-rays), and rotation/translation user input received along one of the images is used to concurrently control both displays of the orthopedic treatment device to reflect the rotation/translation user input.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method comprising employing at least one processor to execute instructions to:
generate a display of an ellipse superimposed on a display of at least one digital medical image, the at least one digital medical image displaying a representation of a patient's anatomical structure, the ellipse being a graphical representation of a ring of a synthetic external fixator representing a physical external fixator attachable to the patient's anatomical structure, the physical external fixator comprising at least two rings interconnected by a plurality of struts;
receive strut attachment point user input representing actual or planned points of attachment of the plurality of struts to the at least two rings of the physical external fixator, wherein a selected one of the plurality of struts is coupled or is planned to be coupled to a selected one of the at least two rings via an intermediary piece of hardware; and
generate a bone deformity correction plan specifying for each strut a sequence of strut lengths to be used in a bone deformity correction treatment.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the intermediary piece of hardware is a ring drop device adapted to position the selected strut a predefined distance from the selected ring.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the step of receiving strut attachment point user input includes receiving strut attachment point user input entered graphically on the display.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the strut attachment point user input includes strut drop length.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the strut drop length is defined by a length of the ring drop device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the intermediary piece of hardware is a ring extender adapted to be directly coupled to the selected strut and the selected ring.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the ring extender is includes a first end adapted to couple to the selected ring, and a second end opposite the first end, the second end adapted to couple to the selected strut.

8. A computer system comprising at least one microprocessor configured to execute instructions to:
generate a display of an ellipse superimposed on a display of at least one digital medical image, the at least one digital medical image displaying a representation of a patient's anatomical structure, the ellipse being a graphical representation of a ring of a synthetic external fixator representing a physical external fixator attachable to the patient's anatomical structure, the physical external fixator comprising at least two rings interconnected by a plurality of struts;
receive strut attachment point user input representing actual or planned points of attachment of the plurality of struts to the at least two rings of the physical external fixator, wherein a selected one of the plurality of struts is coupled or is planned to be coupled to a selected one of the at least two rings via an intermediary piece of hardware; and
generate a bone deformity correction plan specifying for each strut a sequence of strut lengths to be used in a bone deformity correction treatment.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the intermediary piece of hardware is a ring drop device adapted to position the selected strut a predefined distance from the selected ring.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the strut attachment point user input includes strut attachment point user input entered graphically on the display.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the strut attachment point user input includes strut drop length.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the strut drop length is defined by a length of the ring drop device.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the intermediary piece of hardware is a ring extender adapted to be directly coupled to the selected strut and the selected ring.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the ring extender is includes a first end adapted to couple to the selected ring, and a second end opposite the first end, the second end adapted to couple to the selected strut.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoding instructions which, when executed by a microprocessor of a computer system, cause the computer system to:
generate a display of an ellipse superimposed on a display of at least one digital medical image, the at least one digital medical image displaying a representation of a patient's anatomical structure, the ellipse being a graphical representation of a ring of a synthetic external fixator representing a physical external fixator attachable to the patient's anatomical structure, the physical external fixator comprising at least two rings interconnected by a plurality of struts;
receive strut attachment point user input representing actual or planned points of attachment of the plurality of struts to the at least two rings of the physical external fixator, wherein a selected one of the plurality of struts is coupled or is planned to be coupled to a selected one of the at least two rings via an intermediary piece of hardware; and
generate a bone deformity correction plan specifying for each strut a sequence of strut lengths to be used in a bone deformity correction treatment.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the intermediary piece of hardware is a ring drop device adapted to position the selected strut a predefined distance from the selected ring.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the strut attachment point user input includes strut attachment point user input entered graphically on the display.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the strut attachment point user input includes strut drop length.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the strut drop length is defined by a length of the ring drop device.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the intermediary piece of hardware is a ring extender adapted to be directly coupled to the selected strut and the selected ring.

21. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 20 , wherein the ring extender includes a first end adapted to couple to the selected ring, and a second end opposite the first end, the second end adapted to couple to the selected strut.

Assignees

• Stryker European Holdings I Llc

Inventors

• Haskell Andrew

Classifications

• A61B17/62

  Ring frames, i.e. devices extending around the bones to be positioned ({A61B17/6433} , A61B17/66 take precedence) · CPC title

• G06T19/00 Primary

  Manipulating three-dimensional [3D] models or images for computer graphics · CPC title

• G06F3/0483

  Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor · CPC title

• G16H40/63

  for local operation · CPC title

• A61B34/10 Primary

  Computer-aided planning, simulation or modelling of surgical operations · CPC title