IP Library Granted Patent US 12685567
Granted Patent B2
US 12685567 · App. 18/683,243 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Visualisation device to provide information on the desired shape of a posterior spinal rod

Inventors: Justin Smith (Charlottesville, VA); Heiko Koller (Kufstein, AT); Tom Overes (Attiswil, CH)
Assignees: K-SPINE GMBH; IGNITE-CONCEPTS GMBH
A61B17/7013A61B17/8863A61B34/25A61B50/31A61B2034/102A61B2050/0053A61B2050/311A61B2090/0808
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12685567
App. No.
18/683,243
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A rod shape visualisation device ( 1 ) is proposed for providing information on the desired shape of a posterior spinal rod during a bending process whilst being arranged in a sterile operation area. The rod shape visualisation device ( 1 ) comprises: (a) a sterile case ( 10 ) comprising a housing portion ( 11 ) including an entrance aperture ( 12 ) and a cover ( 13 ), sized and shaped to seal the entrance aperture ( 12 ), the sterile case ( 10 ) further comprising an inner lumen ( 14 ) configured to come in contact with non-sterile or sterile objects, and (b) a non-sterile or sterile visualisation template ( 40 ) comprising a displaying side providing information on the desired shape of a posterior rod. The rod shape visualisation device ( 1 ) defines a first, open state in which the cover ( 13 ) is open, and a second, closed state in which the cover ( 13 ) is closed, wherein in the closed state, the displaying side of the visualisation template ( 40 ) is visibly arranged in the inner lumen ( 14 ).

Claims (34)

1 . A rod shape visualisation kit comprising a rod shape visualisation device for providing information on the desired shape of a posterior spinal rod during a bending process whilst being arranged in a sterile operation area, the rod shape visualisation device comprising:

a sterile case comprising a main body portion including an entrance aperture, and a cover, sized and shaped to seal the entrance aperture, the sterile case further comprising an inner cavity configured to come in contact with non-sterile or sterile objects,

a non-sterile or sterile visualisation template comprising a displaying side providing information on the desired shape of a posterior rod,

wherein the rod shape visualisation device defines a first, open state in which the cover is open, and a second, closed state in which the cover is closed, wherein in the closed state the displaying side of the visualisation template is visibly arranged in the inner cavity, and

wherein the rod shape visualisation kit further comprises scaling software.

2 . The rod shape visualisation kit according to claim 1 , wherein the visualisation template is a thin single-use object including a graphical image or representation of the desired rod size and shape.

3 . The rod shape visualisation kit according to claim 1 , wherein the visualisation template is made of a medium or material selected from paper, cardboard, foil, plastic, steel, aluminium or any combination thereof.

4 . The rod shape visualisation kit according to claim 1 , wherein the visualisation template is a screen of an electronic device, which is configured to display the desired rod size and shape.

5 . The rod shape visualisation kit according to claim 1 , wherein the main body portion comprises sidewalls comprising topsides, the sidewalls defining a periphery of the inner cavity, wherein at least one of the sidewalls and/or the periphery comprises at least one marking or different colour indicating a border of an area in which contact with non-sterile objects or persons is allowed.

6 . The rod shape visualisation kit according to claim 1 , wherein at least one side of the main body portion and/or the cover is transparent.

7 . The rod shape visualisation kit according to claim 1 , wherein at least one side of the main body portion and/or the cover is electrically conductive to operate as a touchscreen.

8 . The rod shape visualisation kit according to claim 1 , wherein the cover is coupled to the main body portion by a hinge coupling.

9 . The rod shape visualisation kit according to claim 1 , wherein the main body portion is a housing shaped as a box.

10 . The rod shape visualisation kit according to claim 1 , wherein the main body portion and/or the cover has/have at least one handle.

11 . The rod shape visualisation kit according to claim 1 , wherein the visualisation template is captured in a stable shell or covering.

12 . The rod shape visualisation kit according to claim 11 , wherein the shell or covering comprises at least one handhold.

13 . The rod shape visualisation kit according to claim 1 , wherein the cover and/or visualisation template comprises at least one first placement reference which matches a complementarily arranged second placement reference of the sterile case.

14 . The rod shape visualisation kit according to claim 1 , wherein the rod shape visualisation device comprises a rod holder to hold the spinal rod.

15 . The rod shape visualisation kit according to claim 1 , wherein the rod shape visualisation device comprises a rod holder to hold the spinal rod, and wherein the rod holder is shaped as a sacral bone.

16 . The rod shape visualisation kit according to claim 1 , wherein the visualisation template is built of a plurality of smaller visualisation sub-templates.

17 . The rod shape visualisation kit according to claim 16 , wherein the sub-templates are of a standardised sheet format.

18 . The rod shape visualisation kit according to claim 1 , wherein the scaling software is configured to divide the length of an image over the target number of sheets.

19 . The rod shape visualisation kit according to claim 1 , wherein the sterile case is a box, container, envelope, bag, or pouch.

20 . A rod shape visualisation device for providing information on the desired shape of a posterior spinal rod during a bending process whilst being arranged in a sterile operation area, the rod shape visualisation device comprising:

a sterile case comprising a main body portion including an entrance aperture, and a cover, sized and shaped to seal the entrance aperture, the sterile case further comprising an inner cavity configured to come in contact with non-sterile or sterile objects,

a non-sterile or sterile visualisation template comprising a displaying side providing information on the desired shape of a posterior rod,

wherein the rod shape visualisation device defines a first, open state in which the cover is open, and a second, closed state in which the cover is closed, wherein in the closed state the displaying side of the visualisation template is visibly arranged in the inner cavity, and

wherein the visualisation template is a screen of an electronic device, which is configured to display the desired rod size and shape.

21 . The rod shape visualisation device according to claim 20 , wherein the main body portion comprises sidewalls comprising topsides, the sidewalls defining a periphery of the inner cavity, wherein at least one of the sidewalls and/or the periphery comprises at least one marking or different colour indicating a border of an area in which contact with non-sterile objects or persons is allowed.

22 . The rod shape visualisation device according to claim 20 , wherein at least one side of the main body portion and/or the cover is transparent.

23 . The rod shape visualisation device according to claim 20 , wherein at least one side of the main body portion and/or the cover is electrically conductive to operate as a touchscreen.

24 . The rod shape visualisation device according to claim 20 , wherein the cover is coupled to the main body portion by a hinge coupling.

25 . The rod shape visualisation device according to claim 20 , wherein the rod shape visualisation device comprises a rod holder to hold the spinal rod.

26 . The rod shape visualisation device according to claim 20 , wherein the sterile case is a box, container, envelope, bag, or pouch.