Surgical rod bending system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11172971-B2
Application number	US-201916292527-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 5, 2019
Priority date	Dec 5, 2011
Publication date	Nov 16, 2021
Grant date	Nov 16, 2021

Abstract

System and method for automatically bending a surgical rod are provided. The system includes a linear movement device configured to axially feed the surgical rod, a rotational movement device configured to rotate the surgical rod as it is axially fed, and a bending device including a roller to impose bending forces against the rod. The rod is free from contact with the bending device after it is axially fed past the roller.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An automated rod bending system to bend a rod, the automated rod bending system comprising:
a plurality of guide rollers;
a linear movement device configured to axially feed the rod in a vertical first direction between the plurality of guide rollers;
a rotational movement device configured to rotate the rod as it is axially fed between the plurality of guide rollers;
a bending device linearly movable along a bending plane and configured to impose bending forces against the rod in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction after it is fed between the plurality of guide rollers, the bending device positioned adjacent to the plurality of guide rollers so that the imposed bending forces against the rod causes the rod to bend against a curve of one of the plurality of guide rollers; and
a base that supports the linear movement device, the rotational movement device, and the bending device so that the rod is unsupported in the vertical direction at the bending plane as the rod crosses the bending plane.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a cutting blade configured to cut the rod after it is fed between the plurality of guide rollers.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the base comprises a first end and a second end and wherein the base includes a base passage extending in the first direction from the first end to the second end to receive the rod therethrough for movement by the linear movement device.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the rotational movement device is coupled to one of the base or the linear movement device.

5. The system of claim 3 wherein the bending device is coupled to the base at the second end of the base adjacent to the base passage.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the bending device includes a bending roller that disengages the bending device from contact with the rod after the rod is axially fed past the bending roller.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a cutting device adjacent the bending device and moveable in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and opposite the second direction to cut the rod.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a controller and at least one motor to operate at least one of the linear movement device, the rotational movement device, and the bending device.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the bending device includes one of a scissors jack operated by a motor to provide the bending forces or a bending roller that is pushed by the motor to provide the bending forces.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising a rod holder that holds a trailing end of the rod as it is axially fed by the linear movement device.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the rotational movement device includes a rotatable platform and the linear movement device is coupled to the rotatable platform.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the first direction is vertical.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the linear movement device linearly moves the rotational movement device.

14. An automated rod bending system to bend a rod, the automated rod bending system comprising:
a plurality of guide rollers;
a linear movement device configured to axially feed the rod in a vertical first direction between the plurality of guide rollers;
a rotational movement device configured to rotate the rod as it is axially fed between the plurality of guide rollers;
a bending roller configured to linearly move along a bending plane to impose bending forces against the rod in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction after it is fed between the plurality of guide rollers, the bending roller positioned adjacent to the plurality of guide rollers so that the imposed bending forces against the rod causes the rod to bend along a curve of one of the plurality of guide rollers; and
a controller configured to coordinate operation of, the linear movement device, the rotational movement device, and the bending roller to bend the rod;
wherein the rod is unsupported in the vertical direction at the bending plane as the rod crosses the bending plane.

15. The system of claim 14 further comprising a cutting device configured to cut the rod after it is fed between the plurality of guide rollers.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the cutting device is arranged adjacent the bending device and moveable in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and opposite the second direction to cut the rod.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the cutting device is a rotatable cutting wheel.

18. The system of claim 14 further comprising a receiving container that receives the rod after it is fed past the plurality of guide rollers.

Assignees

• Dignity Health

Inventors

• Crawford Neil R
• Theodore Nicholas
• Reyes Philip M
• Newcomb Anna G U S
• Baek Seungwon

Classifications

• A61B17/7013

  the shape of the element being adjustable before use (adjustable length plates A61B17/7014) · CPC title

• A61B17/8863 Primary

  Apparatus for shaping or cutting osteosynthesis equipment by medical personnel · CPC title

• B21D7/08

  by passing between rollers or through a curved die · CPC title

• B21F45/008

  of medical instruments, e.g. stents or corneal rings · CPC title

• B21F1/008

  in 3D with means to rotate the wire about its axis · CPC title