TOOL AND METHOD FOR EXTERNAL FIXATION STRUT ADJUSTMENT

• US 20110004199A1
• Filed: 02/18/2009
• Published: 01/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children
• Original Assignee: Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children
• Inventors: Samchukov, Mikhail L., Birch, John G., Ross, John D., Cherkashin, Alexander M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,864,750 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/62 Ring frames, i.e. devices extending around the bones to be positioned A61B17/6433 , A61B17/66 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/66 Alignment, compression or distraction mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8875 Screwdrivers, spanners or wrenches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00734 battery operated
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/061 for measuring dimensions, e.g. length
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/96 using barcodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 21/00 Portable power-driven screw or nut setting or loosening tools; details or components, e.g. casings, bodies, of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operation performed B25F5/00; for mounting or dismounting wheels B60B29/006; Attachments for drilling apparatus serving the same purpose machines B23P19/06
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 21/002 for special purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/14 Arrangement of torque limiters or torque indicators in wrenches or screwdrivers couplings for transmitting rotation or clutches F16D; devices for measuring torque per se G01L

Abstract

The present disclosure includes a method for adjusting the orientation of a first external fixator support member relative to a second external fixator support member, wherein a plurality of adjustable struts connect the first and second external fixator support members. The method include providing a programmable tool, and storing, in a memory unit of the tool, instructions for adjusting the length of each of the plurality of adjustable struts to a desired length. The method further includes receiving identification information corresponding to a first adjustable strut and retrieving, from the memory unit, the instructions for adjusting the length of the first adjustable strut. The method also includes activating an actuator of the tool to adjust the length of the first adjustable strut according to the retrieved instructions. Various embodiments of the programmable tools are also included in the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A programmable tool operable to adjust an external fixation strut having a rotatable adjustment mechanism for length adjustments, the programmable tool comprising:

a housing;

a power supply disposed in the housing;

a data port disposed at least partially within the housing, the data port operable to receive instructions for adjusting the external fixation strut;

a signal-sensor disposed at least partially within the housing, the signal-sensor operable to receive a signal from an external source, the signal comprising identification information corresponding to the external fixation strut;

a motor disposed within the housing, comprising a first output shaft;

a gear box comprising one or more sets of gears driven by the first output shaft, wherein the one or more sets of gears drive a second output shaft;

a rotational shaft coupled to the output shaft, the rotational shaft comprising a strut fitting adapted to engage and rotate the rotatable adjustment mechanism of the external fixation strut;

a controller in electrical communication with the data port, the signal-sensor, the power supply, and the motor; and

a memory unit in electrical communication with the controller, the memory unit operable to store data.

2. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a display in electrical communication with the controller, wherein the display comprises a LCD display, a LED display, an array of LEDs, a speaker, a multi-tone generator, a communication interface or a combination thereof.

3. The tool of claim 1, wherein the data port comprises a USB port, an RS232 port, a 25 modem port, cellular modem, a Wi-Fi module, a Bluetooth module, an IR module, an RF module, an RFID module or combination thereof.

4. The tool of claim 1, wherein the signal-sensor comprises a barcode reader, a Bluetooth receiver, an IR receiver, an RF receiver, an RFID receiver, magnetic decoder or combination thereof.

5. The toot of claim 1, wherein the power supply comprises a battery, a DC source, a AC source or a combination thereof.

6. The tool of claim 1, wherein the power supply comprises a rechargeable battery and a connection port for connection to a DC source, a AC source or a combination thereof.

7. The tool of claim 1 wherein the controller comprises a microcontroller, a microcomputer, a programmable logic array, or an application specific integrated circuit under the control of a software program.

8. The tool of claim 1, further comprising a control panel in electrical communication with the controller, the control panel operable to input control signals for one or more operations of the programmable tool.

9. A programmable tool operable to adjust an external fixation strut having a rotatable adjustment mechanism for length adjustments, the programmable tool comprising:

a housing;

a power supply disposed in the housing;

a data port disposed at least partially within the housing, the data port operable to receive instructions for adjusting the external fixation strut;

a signal-sensor disposed at least partially within the housing, the signal-sensor operable to receive a signal from an external source, the signal comprising identification information corresponding to the external fixation strut;

a motor disposed within the housing; and

an output shaft driven by the motor, the output shaft comprising a strut fitting adapted to adapted to engage and rotate the rotatable adjustment mechanism of the external fixation strut; and

a controller in electrical communication with the data port, the signal-sensor, the power supply and the motor.

10. The tool of claim 9, further comprising a display comprises a LCD display, a LED display, an array of LEDs, a speaker, a multi-tone generator, a communications interface or a combination thereof.

11. The tool of claim 9, wherein the data port comprises a modem, cellular modem, a Wi-Fi module, a Bluetooth module, an IR module, an RF module, an RFID module or combination thereof.

12. The tool of claim 9, wherein the signal-sensor comprises a barcode reader, a Bluetooth receiver, an IR receiver, an RF receiver, an RFID receiver, magnetic decoder or combination thereof.

13. The tool of claim 9, wherein the power supply comprises a battery, a DC source, a AC source or a combination thereof.

14. The tool of claim 9, further comprising a gear box, a clutch or both coupling the output shaft and the motor.

15. The tool of claim 9 further comprising a memory unit in electrical communication with the controller to store one or more parameters.

16. The tool of claim 9, further comprising a display in electrical communication with the controller.

17. The tool of claim 9, further comprising a control board in electrical communication with the controller to control one or more operations of the programmable tool.

18. The tool of claim 9, wherein the controller comprises a digital logic circuit selected from a microcontroller, microcomputer, a programmable logic array, an application specific integrated circuit under the control of a software program.

19. A method for adjusting the orientation of a first external fixator support member relative to a second external fixator support member, wherein a plurality of adjustable struts connect the first and second external fixator support members and comprise a first adjustable strut having an initial length, the method comprising:

providing a programmable tool, the programmable tool comprising a controller in electrical communication with a memory unit and an actuator, the actuator operable to engage the plurality of adjustable struts and adjust the length of the plurality of adjustable struts;

storing, in the memory unit, instructions for adjusting the length of each of the plurality of adjustable struts to a desired length;

receiving identification information corresponding to the first adjustable strut;

retrieving, from the memory unit, the instructions for adjusting the length of the first adjustable strut based on the identification information corresponding to the first adjustable strut; and

activating the actuator to adjust the length of the first adjustable strut according to the retrieved instructions.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the programmable tool further comprises a measuring device for measuring the length of the plurality of adjustable struts, and the method further comprises determining the length of the first adjustable strut prior to and after adjusting the length of the first adjustable strut;

and confirming that the first strut has the desired length.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the measuring device is a digital ruler.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising storing, in the memory unit, the length of the first adjustable strut after length adjustment.

23. The method of claim 20, further comprising storing, in the memory unit, the difference between the initial length and the desired length.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein each of the plurality of adjustable struts comprises a rotatable adjustment mechanism for length adjustments and the actuator comprises a rotatable shaft operable to rotate the adjustment mechanism of each of the plurality of adjustable struts, and further wherein the instructions for adjusting the length of each of the plurality of adjustable struts comprise the amount of rotation for the shaft of the actuator.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein each of the plurality of adjustable struts comprises a rotatable adjustment mechanism for length adjustments and the actuator comprises a rotatable shaft operable to rotate the adjustment mechanism of each of the plurality of adjustable struts, and further wherein the instructions for adjusting the length of each of the plurality of adjustable struts comprise the direction of rotation for the shaft of the actuator.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the instructions for adjusting the length of each of the plurality of adjustable struts comprise the amount of length adjustment to be effected by the actuator.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein receiving identification information corresponding to the first adjustable strut comprises wirelessly receiving the identification information.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the identification information is in the form of a bar code.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the identification information is in the form of a radio frequency ID.

30. The method of claim 19, wherein receiving identification information corresponding to the first adjustable strut comprises receiving the identification information via a direct electrical communication from a strut identification device of the first adjustable strut.

31. The method of claim 19, wherein receiving identification information corresponding to the first adjustable strut comprises receiving the identification information manually entered by a user of the programmable tool.

32. The method of claim 19, wherein the programmable tool further comprises a force sensor, and the method further comprises determining a resistant force exerted against adjusting the length of the first adjustable strut.