Methods and systems for adjusting an external fixation frame

Abstract

A tool for implementing a correction plan in an external fixation frame having a plurality of adjustment elements or screws, for example, generally includes a driver, a motor, a controller, and a processor. The driver is adapted to engage and rotate each of the screws. The motor is coupled the driver and adapted to rotate the driver. The controller is connected to the motor and configured to control operation of the motor. The a processor adapted configured to: receive correction plan data; receive identification data including information for identifying at least one of the plurality of screws; determine movement of at least one of the plurality of the screws based on the correction plan data and the identification data; and send signals indicative of the determined movement to the controller in order to rotate at least one of the plurality of screws according to a predetermined correction plan.

1 . A system for implementing a correction plan in an external fixation frame having a plurality of adjustment elements, comprising:
 an identification mechanism adapted to identify each of a plurality of adjustment elements of an external fixation system; and   a tool adapted to adjust the external fixation frame according to a predetermined correction plan by rotating the plurality of adjustment elements, the tool comprising:
 a processor configured to: 
 receive correction plan data including the predetermined correction plan, the predetermined correction plan including a schedule of adjustment times and degree of rotation of each of the plurality of adjustment elements; 
 receive identification data from the identification mechanism; and 
 determine a degree of rotation of at least one of the plurality of the adjustment elements based on the correction plan data and the identification data. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the identification mechanism includes RFID tags attached to each of the plurality of adjustment elements, each RFID tag including identification data identifying each of the plurality of adjustment elements. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the tool further comprise an RFID reader adapted to read the identification data of the RFID tags. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a bus device adapted to establish communication and allow data transfer between the processor of the tool and an external processor. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein the bus device includes an UBS device. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein the external processor is coupled to a memory module adapted to store at least one of the correction plan data or the identification data. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool includes a memory module adapted for storing at least one of the correction plan data or the identification data. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool includes a driver adapted to engage and rotate each of the plurality of adjustment elements. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the tool includes a motor connected to the driver and adapted to rotate the driver. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the tool includes a controller electronically coupled to the motor and adapted to control the motor based on the correction plan data and the identification data. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the tool includes an angular position sensor coupled to the motor and adapted to determine an angular position of the driver. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the angular position sensor includes a rotary encoder. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool includes an alarm connected to the process and adapted to be actuated at adjustment times. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein the tool includes a clock for measuring time and allowing the processor to actuate the alarm at the adjustment times. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein the alarm includes a buzzer adapted to generate an audio signal at adjustment times. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool includes a display unit connected to the processor and adapted to display correction plan data. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool includes a power supply connected to the processor. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 17 , wherein the power supply includes a portable battery. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the tool includes an input device adapted to accept instructions from a user. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 19 , wherein the input device includes a keypad. 
     
     
         21 . A tool for implementing a correction plan in an external fixation frame having a plurality of adjustment elements, comprising:
 a driver adapted to engage and rotate each of a plurality of adjustment elements of an external fixation frame;   a motor coupled the driver and adapted to rotate the driver;   a controller connected to the motor and configured to control operation of the motor;   a processor adapted configured to:
 receive correction plan data; 
 receive identification data including information for identifying at least one of the plurality of adjustment elements; 
 determine movement of at least one of the plurality of the adjustment elements based on the correction plan data and the identification data; and 
 send signals indicative of the determined movement to the controller in order to rotate at least one of the plurality of adjustment elements according to a predetermined correction plan. 
   
     
     
         22 . The tool according to  claim 21 , further comprising an RFID reader is adapted to receive signals containing identification data and originating from RFID tags attached to each of the plurality of adjustment elements. 
     
     
         23 . The tool according to  claim 21 , further comprising a bus device adapted to establish communication and allow data transfer between the processor of the tool and an external processor. 
     
     
         24 . The tool according to  claim 23 , wherein the bus device is a UBS device. 
     
     
         25 . The tool according to  claim 23 , further comprising an angular position sensor coupled to at least one of the motor or the driver, the angular position sensor being adapted to measure an angular position of the driver. 
     
     
         26 . The tool according to  claim 25 , wherein the angular position sensor includes a rotary encoder. 
     
     
         27 . The tool according to  claim 21 , wherein the correction plan data includes adjustment times for adjusting the external fixation frame. 
     
     
         28 . The tool according to  claim 27 , further comprising an alarm connected to the process and adapted to be actuated at adjustment times. 
     
     
         29 . A computer readable medium including instructions that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the following steps:
 receiving correction plan data including information about a correction plan for adjusting an external fixation frame, the correction plan including a list of adjustment times and positions for each of a plurality of adjustment elements of the external fixation frame;   receiving identification data including information for identifying at least one of the plurality of adjustment elements of the external fixation frame; and   determining movement of at least one of the plurality of adjustment elements based on the correction plan data and the identification data.   
     
     
         30 . A method for implementing a correction plan in an external fixation frame having a plurality of adjustment elements, comprising:
 receiving correction plan data including information about a correction plan for adjusting an external fixation frame, the correction plan including a list of adjustment times and positions for each of a plurality of adjustment elements of the external fixation frame;   receiving identification data including information for identifying at least one of the plurality of adjustment elements of the external fixation frame;   determining movement of at least one of the plurality of adjustment elements based on the correction plan data and the identification data using a processor; and   moving at least one of the plurality of adjustment elements according to the movement determined by the processor.