US 2017/0303966 A1 · RING HOLE PLANNING FOR EXTERNAL FIXATION FRAMES

Abstract

An external fixation system includes first and second fixation members having first and second pluralities of mounting holes, respectively. The first and second plurality of holes are configured to receive first and second ends of a plurality of struts, each strut having a default or initial mounting position. A simulation of the correction may be performed with the struts in the default positions, but it may be determined that the correction is not achievable. Additional simulations of the correction may be performed with the ends of the struts in different mounting positions to determine if other mounting positions of the struts allow the correction to be completed. During the correction, if one of the struts reaches a maximum length, it may be disconnected and reconnected to a different mounting hole so that, after being reconnected, the strut may be further increased in length to continue the correction.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A method of establishing mounting positions of a plurality of struts in an external fixation system, the external fixation system including a first fixation member having a first plurality of mounting holes each configured to receive a first end of one of the plurality of struts and a second fixation member having a second plurality of mounting holes each configured to receive a second end of one of the plurality of struts, each strut having a default mounting position corresponding to one of the holes in each of the first and second fixation members, the method comprising:

performing a first simulation of a correction of a bone deformity with the first and second ends of the plurality of struts coupled to the first and second fixation members in the default mounting position;
and
performing a second simulation of a correction of a bone deformity with the first end of one of the plurality of struts coupled to the first fixation member in a first alternative mounting position,
wherein in the first alternative mounting position the first end of the one strut is located in a hole different from the default mounting position.

1 more element

A method of correcting a bone deformity with an external fixation system, the external fixation system including a first fixation member having a first plurality of mounting holes each configured to receive a first end of one of a plurality of struts and a second fixation member having a second plurality of mounting holes each configured to receive a second end of one of the plurality of struts, the method comprising:

fixing the first fixation member to a first bone segment;
fixing the second fixation member to a second bone segment;
coupling a first end of each of the plurality of struts to one of the first plurality of mounting holes of the first fixation member and coupling a second end of each of the plurality of struts to one of the second plurality of mounting holes in the second fixation member, each of the plurality of struts being in an initial mounting position;
beginning to perform the correction of the bone deformity by increasing a length of at least one of the plurality of struts;
continuing to perform the correction of the bone deformity until the one strut reaches a maximum length;
disconnecting the first end of the one strut from the initial mounting position and reconnecting the first end of the one strut to one of the first plurality of holes in the first fixation member different than the initial mounting position;
and
completing the correction of the bone deformity.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Ring hole planning for external fixation frames

Life of this patent

Ring hole planning for external fixation frames

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21