External fixator deformity correction systems and methods
In some embodiments, a synthetic (virtual) orthopedic treatment device (e.g. a virtual external fixator representing a physical fixator attachable to a patients anatomic structure) is displayed concurrently in two views (e.g. anterior-posterior and lateral) along corresponding digital medical images (e.g. X-rays), and rotation/translation user input received along one of the images is used to concurrently control both displays of the orthopedic treatment device to reflect the rotation/translation user input.
1. A computer-implemented method comprising employing at least one processor to execute instructions to:
generate a display of an ellipse superimposed on a display of at least one digital medical image, the at least one digital medical image displaying a view of a patient's bone and an external fixator attached to the patient's bone, the ellipse being a graphical representation of a first ring of the external fixator attached to the patient's bone, the external fixator including a second ring connected to the first ring by a plurality of struts;
receive ring position user input entered graphically on the display of the ellipse, the ring position user input controlling translation and/or rotation of the ellipse;
in response to receiving ring position user input, generate a display of an updated ellipse superimposed on the display of the at least one digital medical image, the updated ellipse reflecting the translation and/or rotation of the ellipse, the updated ellipse matching a position and orientation of the first ring in the at least one digital medical image.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the rotation of the ellipse is one of azimuthal rotation of the ellipse or axial rotation of the ellipse.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the rotation of the ellipse is the other of azimuthal rotation of the ellipse or axial rotation of the ellipse.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising employing the at least one processor to receive ring identification user input entered graphically on the display of the ellipse superimposed on the display of the at least one digital medical image, the ring identification user input identifying at least two points defining the ellipse.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising employing the at least one processor to, in response to receiving the ring position user input, calculate a 3D position of the ellipse reflecting the translation and/or rotation of the ellipse.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the display of the at least one digital medical image comprises a first digital medical image and a second digital medical image, the first digital medical image and second digital medical image displaying views from different angles of the patient's bone.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising employing the at least one processor to execute instructions to perform a relative scaling of the first digital medical image and the second digital medical image.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein one or more size markers included within the first digital medical image and the second digital medical image are used to perform the relative scaling.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising employing the at least one processor to generate a display of a first line segment extending along an axis of a first bone segment of the patient's bone shown in the display of the at least one digital medical image by detecting locations of corresponding bone segment graphical user input.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the bone segment graphical user input includes mouse clicks at opposite ends of the first bone segment shown in the display of the at least one digital medical image.
11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising employing the at least one processor to, for each of the plurality of struts, receive strut attachment point user input representing a first actual point of attachment of the strut to the first ring and a second actual point of attachment of the strut to the second ring.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first actual point of attachment of the strut to the first ring is a hole in the first ring.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first actual point of attachment of the strut to the first ring is via an intermediary piece of hardware coupled to the first ring.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the intermediary piece of hardware is a ring drop device adapted to position a corresponding one of the plurality of struts a predefined distance from the first ring.
15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising employing the at least one processor to generate a strut line segment for each of the plurality of struts and display the strut line segment on the display such that the strut line segment overlies a corresponding one of the plurality of struts in the digital medical image.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising employing the processor to generate a bone deformity correction plan specifying, for each of the plurality of struts, a sequence of strut lengths to be used in a bone deformity correction treatment.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the display of the ellipse superimposed on the display of the at least one digital medical image is displayed simultaneously with the strut line segments.
18. The method of claim 9 , wherein the display of the ellipse superimposed on the display of the at least one digital medical image is displayed simultaneously with the first line segment extending along the axis of the first bone segment.