Patent ID: 11896267
Assignee: STRYKER EUROPEAN OPERATIONS LIMITED
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 14:
15. A method of implementing a correction plan to correct a deformity in a bone of a patient, the method comprising:
coupling a first fixation ring to a first portion of the bone of the patient;
coupling a second fixation ring to a second bone portion of the bone of the patient;
coupling the first fixation ring to the second fixation ring with a plurality of adjustable length struts, each strut having a first joint proximate a first end of the strut, a second joint proximate a second end of the strut opposite the first end, a rod, a tube that receives the rod, and an actuator configured to drive the rod axially relative to the tube to change an effective length of the strut; and
providing a plurality of controller modules, each controller module configured to couple to a corresponding strut;
wherein the correction plan may be implemented using either (i) a manual mode of operation or (ii) an automated mode of operation;
wherein in the manual mode of operation, there is no coupling between any of the plurality of controller modules and any of the plurality of struts, and manual actuation of one of the actuators changes the effective length of the corresponding strut in discrete length increments; and
wherein in the automated mode of operation, each of the controller modules is coupled to the corresponding strut, and automated actuation of one of the actuators is capable of changing the effective length of the corresponding strut in infinitesimally small length increments,
coupling the plurality of controller modules to the corresponding struts, and implementing the correction plan using the automated mode of operation, and
operating one of the controller modules in a dynamization mode to cycle between increasing and decreasing the effective length of the corresponding strut to axially dynamize the strut with effective length adjustments that are smaller than the discrete length increments available in the manual mode of operation.