US 11,911,074 B2
Device for external fixation strut measurement and real-time feedback
Charles Heotis, Cordova, TN (US); Johnny Mason, Cordova, TN (US); Andrew Noblett, Cordova, TN (US); Paul Bell, Cordova, TN (US); Nathaniel Kelley Grusin, Cordova, TN (US); and Joseph Ferrante, Cordova, TN (US)
Assigned to Smith & Nephew, Inc., Memphis, TN (US); Smith & Nephew Pte. Limited Smith, Singapore (SG); and Nephew Orthopaedic.; AG, Zug (CH)
Appl. No. 17/424,324
Filed by Smith & Nephew, Inc., Memphis, TN (US); Smith & Nephew Orthopaedics AG, Zug (CH); and Smith & Nephew Asia Pacific Pte. Limited, Singapore (SG)
PCT Filed Jan. 29, 2020, PCT No. PCT/US2020/015558
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 20, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/160076, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 6, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/815,475, filed on Mar. 8, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/799,132, filed on Jan. 31, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0071662 A1, Mar. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 17/62 (2006.01); A61B 17/66 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/62 (2013.01) [A61B 17/66 (2013.01)] 31 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An external bone alignment device arranged and configured to align two or more bones or pieces of bone, the device comprising:
a first bone coupling device arranged and configured to engage a patient's first bone or piece of bone;
a second bone coupling device arranged and configured to engage a patient's second bone or piece of bone;
a plurality of struts coupled to the first and second bone coupling devices, each of the plurality of struts being arranged and configured to be lengthened and shortened so that adjustment of the strut moves the first bone coupling device relative to the second bone coupling device; and
a strut measurement and feedback device arranged and configured to:
selectively attach, at a plurality of attachment points, to one of the plurality of struts; and
in real time, determine and provide information regarding an absolute or relative positioning or length of the strut to which the strut measurement and feedback device is attached.