Systems and methods for performing spinal surgery

Abstract

A method is provided for correcting a curvature or deformity in a patient's spine based on the digitized locations of implanted screws. The method is implemented by a control unit through a GUI to digitize screw locations, accept one or more correction outputs, and generate one or more rod solution outputs shaped to fit at locations distinct from the implanted screw locations.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 displaying an initial rod graphic representing an adjustable rod according to an initial bend curve;   receiving at least one correction input;   generating a revised bend curve based on the at least one correction input;   providing an offset indicator indicative of a relative position between an implanted screw location and a revised screw location along the adjustable rod based on the at least one correction input; and   providing a revised rod graphic representing the adjustable rod according to the revised bend curve.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving spatial position information associated with locations of each of a plurality of implanted screws, including the implanted screw location.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving the correction input includes:
 receiving, via an adjust points control of a user interface, an adjustment of a selected point from a first position corresponding to an initial screw location to a modified screw position corresponding to a location without an implanted screw.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 based on the correction input, adding at least one virtual point.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one correction input includes:
 at least one virtual point input; and   at least one adjustment input.   
     
     
         6 . A method comprising:
 obtaining digitized spatial position information associated with locations of implanted screws;   receiving selection of a location of one of the implanted screws;   receiving an adjustment via an adjust points control of a user interface, wherein the adjustment is movement of the selected location from a first position corresponding to an originally digitized screw location to a second position corresponding to a location without an implanted screw;   developing a bend curve based on the digitized spatial position information and the adjustment; and   providing a rod graphic representing an adjustable rod according to the bend curve.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the selected location is between a superior-most screw location and an inferior-most screw location of the digitized screw locations. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the adjustment is in a coronal plane or a sagittal plane.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 receiving one or more added virtual locations,   wherein the bend curve is further dependent on the one or more added virtual locations.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 ,
 wherein the added virtual locations are between a superior-most digitized screw location and an inferior-most digitized screw location.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 ,
 wherein the one or more added virtual locations are at least two or more additional locations.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 generating bend instructions describing how to bend a rod with a bending tool to approximate the rod shown in the rod graphic.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 bending a rod with a bending tool according to the bend instructions; and   implanting the rod in a patient.   
     
     
         14 . A method comprising:
 receiving spatial position information associated with locations of a plurality of implanted screws;   displaying a user interface that includes:
 a rod graphic representing a virtual adjustable rod; and 
 a plurality of screw points representing to the plurality of implanted screws; 
   receiving a selection of one screw point of the plurality of screw points;   providing an adjust points control by which a user can adjust the selected screw point;   receiving, over the adjust points control, an adjustment to a location of the selected screw point from a first position to a second position; and   displaying an updated rod graphic that takes into account the adjustment.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 generating bend instructions to bend a physical rod with a bending tool to approximate a bend curve corresponding to the updated rod graphic;   bending the physical rod according to the bend instructions; and   implanting the rod.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the adjustment is in a coronal plane. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 ,
 wherein the rod graphic is a sagittal rod graphic representing the adjustable rod in a sagittal view; and   wherein the plurality of screw points is a plurality of sagittal screw points representing the plurality of implanted screws in a sagittal view.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein displaying the user interface includes displaying the user interface including:
 a coronal rod graphic representing the adjustable rod in a coronal view; and   a plurality of coronal screw points representing the plurality of implanted screws in a coronal view.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 ,
 wherein the adjust points control is a sagittal adjust points control configured to adjust the selected screw point in a sagittal plane.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein displaying the user interface includes displaying the user interface including:
 a sagittal adjust points control; and   a coronal adjust points control configured to adjust the selected screw point in a coronal plane.