Spinal Rod Bending Device with Sensor Feedback
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical methods for treating spinal disorders, such as scoliosis and degenerative disc disease, face challenges in accurately bending spinal rods to achieve the desired curvature and account for spring back, which can affect the stability and alignment of vertebral members during surgical correction.
Innovation Solution
An automated implant bending device that includes a mandrel, a carrier, and a rotatable arm with a sensor system to detect contact and non-contact with the spinal rod, allowing for precise bending and measurement of the actual curvature compared to the selected curvature, while also compensating for spring back.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual bending methods are used for spinal rods, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision and measurement precision deteriorate due to inability to accurately account for spring back
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates sensors that detect the actual curvature of the spinal rod after bending and feed this information back to the controller. The controller then compares the actual curvature with the desired curvature and automatically adjusts the bending process to compensate for spring back, achieving high manufacturing precision through closed-loop control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical bending operations with an automated system that uses sensors, controllers, and algorithms to precisely control the bending process. This substitution of mechanical manual operations with automated control systems enables accurate compensation for spring back while maintaining manageable device complexity
2Measurement precision
If automated bending with sensor detection is implemented, then the manufacturing precision improves to ±3 angular degrees, but the device complexity increases due to additional sensors and control systems
Solution Approach 1:
Sensors are integrated into the bending device to detect the actual curvature of the spinal rod during and after bending. This real-time feedback enables the controller to measure curvature with high precision (±3 angular degrees) and automatically adjust the bending process to achieve the desired accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-measurement and self-correction of the bending process. The sensors automatically detect the rod's curvature, the controller calculates the necessary adjustments for spring back compensation, and the system autonomously modifies the bending parameters without requiring external intervention, thereby managing complexity through automation
3Reliability
If spring back compensation is implemented through automated control, then the reliability of spinal correction improves, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to complex control algorithms
Solution Approach 1:
The controller continuously monitors the actual curvature through sensors and compares it with the target curvature. Based on this feedback, the system automatically applies spring back compensation by adjusting bending parameters, ensuring reliable and stable spinal alignment without requiring the operator to manually calculate or adjust for spring back
Solution Approach 2:
The system autonomously handles the complex spring back compensation calculations and adjustments. The controller self-corrects bending errors by analyzing sensor data and automatically modifying the bending process, thereby maintaining high reliability while keeping the operator interface simple and ease of operation high
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate and efficient bending of spinal rods with high precision, achieving a maximum bend angle accuracy of ±3 angular degrees and ±3 mm translation displacement, effectively addressing the challenges of spring back and rod inconsistencies during spinal correction surgeries.
Implementation Method 1
A detector includes at least one element that defines at least one opening such that a medium passing through the at least one opening is detectable by a sensor to determine contact of the arm with the spinal rod
Data Source
AI summary
An implant bending device includes a first work surface. An implant support is movable relative to the first work surface. A second work surface is movable relative to the first work surface. A sensor is connected with the work surfaces and configured to detect contact of at least one of the work surfaces with an implant. Systems, surgical instruments, spinal constructs, implants and methods are disclosed.