Device for external fixation strut measurement and real-time feedback

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11911074-B2
Application number	US-202017424324-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 29, 2020
Priority date	Jan 31, 2019
Publication date	Feb 27, 2024
Grant date	Feb 27, 2024

Abstract

A strut measurement and feedback device and corresponding systems and methods for use with an external fixator are disclosed. The strut measurement and feedback device can be attached to a strut of an external fixator. The strut measurement and feedback device can confirm that the strut measurement and feedback device is attached to a proper strut to be adjusted. The strut measurement and feedback device can provide real-time feedback to an individual as the length of the strut is being adjusted to ensure the length adjustment complies with a prescription for the length of the strut. As a result, a patient can more effectively comply with the prescription as adjustments to the strut are made over time, thereby improving the likelihood of successful bone alignment.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An external bone alignment device arranged and configured to align two or more bones or pieces of bone, the device comprising:
a first bone coupling device arranged and configured to engage a patient's first bone or piece of bone;
a second bone coupling device arranged and configured to engage a patient's second bone or piece of bone;
a plurality of struts coupled to the first and second bone coupling devices, each of the plurality of struts being arranged and configured to be lengthened and shortened so that adjustment of the strut moves the first bone coupling device relative to the second bone coupling device; and
a strut measurement and feedback device arranged and configured to:
selectively attach, at a plurality of attachment points, to one of the plurality of struts; and
in real time, determine and provide information regarding an absolute or relative positioning or length of the strut to which the strut measurement and feedback device is attached.

2. The bone alignment device of claim 1 , wherein the strut measurement and feedback device includes a communication interface arranged and configured to communicate with a remote device to provide real-time feedback to an individual as the length of the strut to which the device is attached is being adjusted to ensure the length adjustment complies with a prescription for the length of the strut.

3. The bone alignment device of claim 1 , wherein the strut measurement and feedback device is arranged and configured to identify the strut to which it is attached from the plurality of struts.

4. The bone alignment device of claim 1 , wherein the strut measurement and feedback device can determine if a length adjustment to the strut to which it is attached is correct.

5. The bone alignment device of claim 1 , wherein the strut measurement and feedback device includes:
a coupling component arranged and configured to enable the strut measurement and feedback device to be selectively attached and detached from one of the plurality of struts;
a strut measurement component for providing real-time information regarding an absolute or relative positioning or length of the strut to which the strut measurement and feedback device is attached; and
a communications interface arranged and configured to provide measurement data to a user device to provide real-time feedback regarding adjustments to the length of the strut to an individual making the adjustments.

6. The bone alignment device of claim 5 , wherein the strut measurement component is also arranged and configured to determine the strut, from the plurality of struts, to which the strut measurement and feedback device is attached.

7. The bone alignment device of claim 5 , wherein the communications interface is also arranged and configured to provide identification data regarding the strut to a user device to provide real-time feedback regarding adjustments to the length of the strut to which the strut measurement and feedback device is attached.

8. The bone alignment device of claim 5 , wherein the strut measurement component is a camera arranged and configured to read visualizing markings positioned on the strut to which the strut measurement and feedback device is attached, the visualizing markings determining a length of the strut.

9. The bone alignment device of claim 8 , wherein the strut measurement component is a scanner for reading a barcode positioned on the strut to which the strut measurement and feedback device is attached, the barcode identifying the strut to which the strut measurement and feedback device is attached.

10. The bone alignment device of claim 9 , wherein the strut measurement component includes a radio-frequency identification (RFID) scanner for reading an RFID tag positioned on the strut to which the strut measurement and feedback device is attached, the RFID tag identifying the strut to which the strut measurement and feedback device is attached.

11. The bone alignment device of claim 5 , wherein the communications interface component includes a wireless communications interface for transmitting measurement data and identification data regarding the strut to which the strut measurement and feedback device is attached to the user device.

12. The bone alignment device of claim 5 , wherein the strut measurement and feedback device includes a device to adjust a length of the strut to which the strut measurement and feedback device is attached.

13. The bone alignment device of claim 12 , wherein the device to adjust the length of the strut is arranged and configured to be removably attached to the strut measurement and feedback device.

14. The bone alignment device of claim 5 , wherein the strut measurement and feedback device is arranged and configured to detect an adjustment made to the strut to which the strut measurement and feedback device is attached, the adjustment information including one of providing an initial length of the strut prior to adjustment and an ending length of the strut after the adjustment, and a measure of the change in length of the strut resulting from the adjustment.

15. The bone alignment device of claim 5 , further comprising the user device arranged and configured to compare the adjustment to the strut to a predetermined prescription for adjusting the strut and indicating to an individual implementing the adjustment whether or not the proper strut was adjusted or whether or not the adjusted length of the strut is correct.

16. The device of claim 1 , wherein the strut measurement and feedback device is arranged and configured to, in real-time, receive and trigger execution of one or more adjustment instructions determined based on the provided information.

17. A device to measure and provide feedback associated with an external bone alignment device comprising:
a coupling component arranged and configured to selectively attach to one of a plurality of struts of the external bone alignment device, the external bone alignment device arranged and configured to align two or more bones or pieces of bone, the external bone alignment device comprising a first bone coupling device arranged and configured to engage a patient's first bone or piece of bone, a second bone coupling device arranged and configured to engage a patient's second bone or piece of bone, the plurality of struts coupled to the first and second bone coupling devices, each of the plurality of struts being arranged and configured to be lengthened and shortened so that adjustment of the strut moves the first bone coupling device relative to the second bone coupling device; and
circuitry to, in real time, determine and provide information regarding an absolute or relative positioning or length of the strut to which the strut measurement and feedback device is attached.

18. The device of claim 17 , wherein the circuitry includes a communication interface arranged and configured to communicate with a remote device to provide real-time feedback to an individual as the length of the strut to which the device is attached is being adjusted to ensure the length adjustment complies with a prescription for the length of the strut.

19. The device of claim 17 , wherein the circuitry is arranged and configured to identify the strut to which it is attached from the plurality of struts.

20. The device of claim 17 , wherein the circuitry can determine if a length adjustment to the strut to which it is attached is correct.

21. The device of claim 17 , wherein the circuitry include

Assignees

• Smith & Nephew Inc
• Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics Ag
• Smith & Nephew Asia Pacific Pte Ltd
• Smith & Nephew Pte Ltd Smith
• Nephew Orthopaedic Ag

Inventors

• Heotis Charles
• Mason Johnny
• Noblett Andrew
• Bell Paul
• Grusin Nathaniel Kelley
• Ferrante Joseph

Classifications

• A61B17/62 Primary

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

• A61B17/66

  {Alignment}, compression or distraction mechanisms · CPC title