Apparatus and method for forming support device for effecting orthopedic stabilization

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016175013-A1
Application number	US-201414574595-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 18, 2014
Priority date	Dec 18, 2014
Publication date	Jun 23, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A forming apparatus and method for forming a workpiece used a medical procedure is provided. A controllable bending machine for bending the workpiece is provided. A template is manually formable. The template has a shape sensor so as to sense a shape of the template. A controller receives template shape data from the shape sensor and operates the bending machine in accordance with the template shape data. The bending of the workpiece includes a spring back compensating operation which performs a first bending operation on the workpiece in accordance with the template shape data, acquires workpiece shape data from one of the shape sensor re-disposed associated with the workpiece, or another shape sensor associated with the workpiece, and performs a second bending operation compensating for spring back. A method employs the template for workpiece measurements and the forming apparatus using the measurements for forming the workpiece.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A forming apparatus for forming a workpiece for use in a medical procedure wherein the workpiece is to be fitted to a patient by bending, comprising:
a bending machine having a configuration for bending the workpiece; a template which is manually formable and has a form functionally conforming to a form of the workpiece; said template having a shape sensor disposed associated with said template so as to sense a shape of the template such that a relative position of at least two portions of the template relative to each other are measurable; and a controller configured to receive template shape data from said shape sensor disposed associated with said template and operate said bending machine to effect bending of the workpiece in accordance with the template shape data, wherein said bending of said workpiece includes a spring back compensating operation comprising one of an iterative bending operation or a material characteristic data calculated bend amount.

2 . A forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said spring back compensating operation is an iterative bending operation comprising:
performing a first bending operation on said workpiece in accordance with said template shape data; acquiring workpiece shape data from one of said shape sensor re-disposed associated with said workpiece or another shape sensor disposed associated with said workpiece so as to provide workpiece shape data, representative of said workpiece, to said controller; and performing a second bending operation compensating for spring back due to elastic deformation during said first bending operation based on said template shape data and said workpiece shape data.

3 . A forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein said workpiece is a spinal rod, said shape sensor includes a fiber optic shape sensor, and said another shape sensor, if present, is a fiber optic shape sensor.

4 . A forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein:
said template has said shape sensor disposed in a channel which is one of a groove or a bore; and said workpiece has said one of said shape sensor re-disposed associated with said workpiece or another shape sensor disposed associated with said workpiece disposed in a channel which is one of a groove or a bore.

5 . A forming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein:
said template includes a sleeve and said shape sensor is disposed in the sleeve; and said workpiece has said one of said shape sensor re-disposed associated with said workpiece or another shape sensor disposed associated with said workpiece disposed in one of the sleeve or another sleeve.

6 . A forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
said controller is configured to accept linear identifier coordinates identifying target positions along the template; said template includes indicia identifying linear positions along said template; and said controller is configured to effect minimum bend bending via said bender wherein a number of bends, between the target positions, are minimized and bends are effected outside of defined areas including said target positions.

7 . A forming apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein said controller is configured to accept linear identifier coordinates identifying said defined areas.

8 . A forming apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
said template includes a linear touch sensor for accepting contact at a position to effect input of coordinates of the position of the contact; said controller is configured to accept input from said linear touch sensor as linear identifier coordinates identifying target positions along the template; and said controller is configured to effect minimum bend bending via said bender wherein a number of bends, between the target positions, are minimized and bends are effected outside of defined areas including said target positions.

9 . A forming apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein said controller is configured to accept input from said linear touch sensor as linear identifier coordinates identifying said defined areas.

10 . A method for forming a workpiece for use in a medical procedure wherein the workpiece is to be fitted to a patient by bending, comprising:
providing said forming apparatus of claim 1 ; manually shaping said template to fit the patient; and operating said controller to effect bending of said workpiece based on said template shape data using said spring back compensating operation.

11 . A method for forming a workpiece for use in a medical procedure wherein the workpiece is to be fitted to a patient by bending, comprising:
providing said forming apparatus of claim 1 ; manually shaping said template to fit the patient by placing said template in-situ while manually forming said workpiece to a configuration dictated by the in-situ placement of said template; and operating said controller to effect bending of said workpiece based on said template shape data using said spring back compensating operation.

12 . A method according to claim 11 wherein said template is limp and said manually forming comprises laying said template in-situ and acquiring said template shape data with said template laying in-situ.

13 . A method according to claim 12 , wherein said workpiece is a spinal rod, and said shape sensor includes a fiber optic shape sensor.

14 . A method for forming a workpiece for use in a medical procedure wherein the workpiece is to be fitted to a patient by bending, comprising:
providing said forming apparatus of claim 6 ; manually shaping said template to fit the patient; inputting linear identifier coordinates of at least one of said target positions or said defined areas; and operating said controller to effect said minimum bend bending of said workpiece based on said template shape data, and said linear identifier coordinates of at least one of said target positions or said defined areas, using said spring back compensating operation.

15 . A method according to claim 14 , wherein said workpiece is a spinal rod, and said shape sensor includes a fiber optic shape sensor.

16 . A method for forming a workpiece for use in a medical procedure wherein the workpiece is to be fitted to a patient by bending, comprising:
providing said forming apparatus of claim 6 ; manually shaping said template to fit the patient by placing said template in-situ while manually forming said workpiece to a configuration dictated by the in-situ placement of said template; inputting linear identifier coordinates of at least one of said target positions or said defined areas; and operating said controller to effect said minimum bend bending of said workpiece based on said template shape data, and said linear identifier coordinates of at least one of said target positions or said defined areas, using said spring back compensating operation.

17 . A method according to claim 16 wherein said template is limp and said manually forming comprises laying said template in-situ and acquiring said template shape data with said template laying in-situ.

18 . A method for forming a workpiece for use in a medical procedure wherein the workpiece is to be fitted to a patient by bending, comprising:
providing said forming apparatus of claim 8 ; manually shaping said template to fit the patient; inputting linear identifier coordinates of at least one of said target positions or said defined areas by touching said linear touch sensor; and operating said controller to effect said minimum bend bending of said workpiece based on said te

Assignees

• Warsaw Orthopedic Inc

Inventors

• Redmond Jerald L

Classifications

• B21D7/14

  combined with measuring of bends or lengths · CPC title

• A61B17/8863 Primary

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

• B21D7/12

  with program control · CPC title

• A61B17/7019 Primary

  Longitudinal elements having flexible parts, or parts connected together, such that after implantation the elements can move relative to each other · CPC title

• B21D11/10

  Bending specially adapted to produce specific articles, e.g. leaf springs {(making or bending leaf springs B21D53/886)} · CPC title