# US 12,759,141 B2 · Robotic rod benders and related mechanical and motor housings > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,759,141 B2 - Document ID: US12759141B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/360,871 - Filed: 2023-07-28 - Published: 2024-03-21 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2017-11-09 - Assignees: Globus Medical, Inc. - Applicants: Globus Medical, Inc. - Inventors: Sritam Parashar Rout; Norbert Johnson; David Cleary - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12759141B2 ## CPC - B25J 9/126: {Rotary actuators} - B21D 7/00: Bending rods, profiles, or tubes (B21D11/02 - B21D11/18 take precedence; using mandrels or the like B21D9/00) - B25J 11/005: {Manipulators for mechanical processing tasks} - F16H 25/08: for interconverting rotary motion and reciprocating motion (F16H23/00 takes precedence) - H02K 5/04: Casings or enclosures characterised by the shape, form or construction thereof - B25J: MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES ({manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; manipulators used in cleaning hollow articles B08B9/04}; manipulators associated with rolling mills B21B39/20; manipulators associated with forging machines B21J13/10; {manipulators associated with picking-up and placing mechanisms B23P19/007}; means for holding wheels or parts thereof B60B30/00; {vehicles with ground-engaging propulsion means, e.g. walking members B62D57/02, B62D57/032; devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials between conveyors B65G47/90, B65G47/91; manipulators with gripping or holding means for transferring packages B65H67/065}; cranes B66C; {manipulators used in the protection or supervision of pipe-line installations F17D5/00; walking equipment adapted for nuclear steam-generators F22B37/006}; manipulators specially adapted for, or associated with, nuclear reactors G21C; {apparatus used for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor H10P72/50}) - B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F) - F16H: GEARING - H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53}) ## Abstract A robotic rod bender includes an autoclavable top assembly that includes a rod feeding subassembly, a brake subassembly, and a bending subassembly. The rod feeding subassembly, the bending subassembly, and the brake assembly are disposed on a top plate. The robotic rod bender also includes a motor housing that includes one or more motors, a spline shaft, and a linear actuated elevator assembly. The linear actuated elevator assembly includes a linear actuator, a movable plate, and a mid-plate. The spine shaft extends from the moveable plate. The autoclavable top assembly is removably disposed atop the mid-plate. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A robotic rod bender comprising: an autoclavable top assembly comprising a rod feeding subassembly configured to feed a surgical rod, a brake subassembly configured to receive the surgical rod from the rod feeding subassembly and fix the surgical rod in place, and a bending subassembly configured to bend the surgical rod while the surgical rod is fixed in place by the brake subassembly; wherein the rod bending subassembly, the bending subassembly, and the brake subassembly are disposed on a top plate; and a motor housing comprising one or more motors configured to drive the autoclavable top assembly, a spline shaft, and an actuated elevator assembly, wherein the actuated elevator assembly comprises an actuator, a movable plate driven by the actuator, and a mid-plate above the movable plate, wherein the spline shaft extends from the moveable plate and wherein at least one of the motors is connected to the moveable plate. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The robotic rod bender of claim 1 wherein the actuated elevator assembly further comprises a cam assembly, the cam assembly comprising a cam, a roller, and a cam engagement bar, wherein the roller is connected to the movable plate, and wherein the cam engagement bar is connected to the top plate. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The robotic rod bender of claim 2 wherein the actuator is removably attached to the movable plate, wherein the actuator is configured to lift the moveable plate upward along a longitudinal axis, wherein the roller is configured to move in conjunction with the movable plate, and wherein the roller is configured to contact and rotate the cam, thereby causing the cam to engage with and lock onto the cam engagement bar, and wherein the roller is configured to continue to move in a straight line along the longitudinal axis, wherein the roller facilitates automatic piercing of a drape and engaging the spline shaft. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The robotic rod bender of claim 3 wherein an automatic positioning of the motor housing with the autoclavable top assembly comprises alignment of the autoclavable top assembly with respect to the motor housing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The robotic rod bender of claim 2 wherein the cam has a first configuration, wherein the first configuration is a ground position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The robotic rod bender of claim 5 wherein the cam has a second configuration, wherein the cam locks onto the cam engagement bar. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The robotic rod bender of claim 6 wherein the cam has a third configuration, wherein the roller moves along a longitudinal axis to facilitate engagement with the spline shaft. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The robotic rod bender of claim 1 wherein the actuated elevator assembly further comprises at least one pair of rails positioned in parallel alignment with one another, wherein the rails are disposed along a longitudinal axis of the motor housing, wherein the rails are configured to facilitate movement of the motor housing in an upward and downward direction. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The robotic rod bender of claim 1 wherein the spline shaft engages with the mid-plate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The robotic rod bender of claim 1 wherein the actuator is activated with a switch. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The robotic rod bender of claim 1 wherein the top plate is coupled to the mid-plate with a kinematic mount. ### Claim 12 A motor housing for a robotic rod bender comprising: a motor; a spline shaft; an actuated elevator assembly comprising: a mid-plate; a movable plate below the mid-plate, wherein the motor is connected to the moveable plate, and wherein the spline shaft extends from the moveable plate; a cam assembly comprising a cam, a roller, and a cam engagement bar, wherein the roller is connected to the movable plate, wherein the cam engagement bar is connected to a top plate, wherein the roller is configured to move in conjunction with the movable plate, wherein the roller is further configured to contact and rotate the cam, thereby causing the cam to engage with and lock onto the cam engagement bar, and wherein the roller is further configured to continue to move in a straight line along a longitudinal axis, and wherein the roller facilitates automatic piercing of a drape and engaging the spline shaft through the mid-plate, at least one pair of rails positioned in alignment with one another, wherein the rails are disposed along the longitudinal axis of the motor housing, wherein the rails are configured to facilitate movement of the moveable plate in an upward and a downward direction; and an actuator removably attached to the movable plate, wherein activation of the actuator is configured to lift the movable plate upward along the longitudinal axis. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The motor housing of claim 12 wherein the spline shaft comprises a central projection that engages with the mid-plate. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The motor housing of claim 12 wherein the actuator is activated with a switch. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The motor housing of claim 12 wherein the top plate is coupled to the mid-plate with a kinematic mount. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The motor housing of claim 13 wherein the cam has a first configuration, wherein the first configuration is a ground position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The motor housing of claim 16 wherein the cam has a second configuration, wherein the cam locks onto the cam engagement bar. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The motor housing of claim 17 wherein the cam has a third configuration, wherein the roller moves along the longitudinal axis to facilitate engagement with the spline shaft. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The motor housing of claim 12 wherein the moveable plate is positionable to align one or more components of the motor housing with respect to an autoclavable top assembly. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The motor housing of claim 19 wherein the motor housing is configured for clamped engagement with the autoclavable top assembly.