MEASURING SKELETAL DISTRACTION
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method, comprising:
- transmitting an interrogation signal;
detecting a first signal transmitted in response to the interrogation signal, the first signal being transmitted by a first transponder arranged to move with a first bone fragment;
detecting a second signal transmitted in response to the interrogation signal, the second signal being transmitted by a second transponder arranged to move with a second bone fragment; and
determining a distance between the bone fragments using the detected signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one aspect, a method includes transmitting an interrogation signal. A first signal transmitted in response to the interrogation signal is detected, the first signal being transmitted by a first transponder arranged to move with a first bone fragment. A second signal transmitted in response to the interrogation signal is detected, the second signal being transmitted by a second transponder arranged to move with a second bone fragment. A distance between the bone fragments is determined using the detected signals.
85 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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transmitting an interrogation signal; detecting a first signal transmitted in response to the interrogation signal, the first signal being transmitted by a first transponder arranged to move with a first bone fragment; detecting a second signal transmitted in response to the interrogation signal, the second signal being transmitted by a second transponder arranged to move with a second bone fragment; and determining a distance between the bone fragments using the detected signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method, comprising:
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increasing a distance between a first bone fragment and a second bone fragment, a first transponder being coupled to the first bone fragment and a second transponder being coupled to the second bone fragment; after increasing the distance, causing a device to periodically transmit a wireless interrogation signal; and while the device periodically transmits the wireless interrogation signal, moving the device relative to the first bone fragment and the second bone fragment such that, at each of a plurality of locations, the interrogation signal is received by the first transponder and the second transponder, and signals produced by the first transponder and the second transponder in response to the interrogation signal are detected by the device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A system, comprising:
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a bone-lengthening device; a first transponder and a second transponder, the transponders being coupled to the bone-lengthening device and spaced apart from each other along a length of the bone-lengthening device, the transponders each being operable to transmit a radio-frequency signal in response to an interrogation signal; and a reader comprising a radio-frequency transceiver operable to transmit an interrogation signal and detect responsive signals from the first transponder and the second transponder, one or more processing devices, and one or more storage devices storing instructions that are operable, when executed by the one or more processing devices, to cause the one or more processing devices to perform operations including; causing the transceiver to transmit the interrogation signal and detect response signals from the first transponder and the second transponder, determining delays between the transmission of the interrogation signal and detection of the response signals from the first transponder and the second transponder, and determining a distance spanned by the transponders based on the delays. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system, comprising:
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an external fixation device; a first transponder and a second transponder, the transponders being configured to be coupled to different bone fragments, the transponders each being operable to transmit a radio-frequency signal in response to an interrogation signal; and a reader comprising a radio-frequency transceiver operable to transmit an interrogation signal and detect responsive signals from the first transponder and the second transponder, one or more processing devices, and one or more storage devices storing instructions that are operable, when executed by the one or more processing devices, to cause the one or more processing devices to perform operations including; causing the transceiver to transmit the interrogation signal and detect response signals from the first transponder and the second transponder, determining delays between the transmission of the interrogation signal and detection of the response signals from the first transponder and the second transponder, and determining a distance spanned by the transponders based on the delays.
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22. An apparatus comprising:
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a radio-frequency transceiver operable to transmit an interrogation signal and detect responsive signals from a first transponder and a second transponder when the first transponder and the second transponder are coupled to different fragments of a bone, one or more processing devices, and one or more storage devices storing instructions that are operable, when executed by the one or more processing devices, to cause the one or more processing devices to perform operations including; causing the transceiver to transmit the interrogation signal and detect response signals from the first transponder and the second transponder, determining delays between the transmission of the interrogation signal and detection of the response signals from the first transponder and the second transponder, and determining a change in a length of the bone based on the delays.
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Specification