SHAPER FOR VERTEBRAL FIXATION RODS
First Claim
1. A method for shaping an intervertebral connection rod for use in a computer assisted spinal stabilization procedure, comprising:
- providing a surgical plan based on preoperative images of a patient'"'"'s spine, said plan defining the position and orientation of pedicle screws whose insertion into the patient'"'"'s vertebrae is to performed with the assistance of either a robotic system or a navigation system;
generating from said robotic or navigation system, positional data incorporating the co-ordinates of the points at which said rod sits correctly in each desired pedicle screw head;
inputting said positional data to the control system of a rod shaping system, said system adapted to use said positional data to bend a rod inserted therein, such that it adopts a shape that will sit correctly in said desired pedicle screw heads; and
actuating said system to generate a correctly shaped rod for use in said spinal stabilization procedure.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for rod bending for use in robotic spinal surgery, enabling the correct bending of a fusion rod to match the shape required to accurately pass through the heads of the pedicle screws. The system uses data generated by information provided to the robot by the surgeon'"'"'s preoperative plan, optionally augmented by feedback from the robot control system of deviations encountered intraoperatively. Such deviations could occur, for example, when the surgeon decides intraoperatively on a different trajectory or even to skip screws on one vertebra, in which case, the robot will be commanded to perform the alternative procedure, with commensurate instructions relayed to the control system of the rod-bending machine. The system is also able to thin down the rod at predetermined locations along its length, adapted to be at selected intervertebral locations, for maintaining limited flexibility between vertebrae, instead of fixating them.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for shaping an intervertebral connection rod for use in a computer assisted spinal stabilization procedure, comprising:
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providing a surgical plan based on preoperative images of a patient'"'"'s spine, said plan defining the position and orientation of pedicle screws whose insertion into the patient'"'"'s vertebrae is to performed with the assistance of either a robotic system or a navigation system; generating from said robotic or navigation system, positional data incorporating the co-ordinates of the points at which said rod sits correctly in each desired pedicle screw head; inputting said positional data to the control system of a rod shaping system, said system adapted to use said positional data to bend a rod inserted therein, such that it adopts a shape that will sit correctly in said desired pedicle screw heads; and actuating said system to generate a correctly shaped rod for use in said spinal stabilization procedure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for generating an intervertebral connection rod for use in a dynamic spinal stabilization procedure in a subject, comprising:
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providing a surgical plan of a patient'"'"'s spine, said plan defining the desired shape of said intervertebral connection rod in three dimensions, and defining vertebrae between which dynamic mutual motion is to be maintained; using a rod shaping system to generate said intervertebral connection rod having said desired shape defined by said surgical plan; and using said rod-shaping system to reduce the cross-sectional area of said rod at rod locations corresponding to regions falling between said vertebrae when said rod is attached to said subject, such that said rod has increased flexibility at said regions. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A system for generating an intervertebral connection rod for use in a dynamic spinal stabilization procedure in a subject, said system comprising:
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clamps for holding said rod in said system; a bending mechanism for applying predetermined bends to said rod at preselected longitudinal and azimuthal positions such that said rod is shaped in accordance with a surgical plan; and at least one rod thinning element disposed such that the cross section of said rod can be reduced at predetermined locations along the length of said rod. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification