Automated pedicle screw rod bender

1. An automated screw rod bender comprising:

a sensing system for sensing a first position of each of a plurality of screws that are inserted into a vertebrae;

a computing system for converting the first positions into geometric coordinates of the screws and generating a corresponding plurality of rod bending parameters; and

a rod bending system for bending a rod based on the rod bending parameters,

said sensing system comprising a plurality of sensing arms, each of said sensing arms comprising:

a sensor measurement ball configured to fit into a socket of one of said screws;

a first shaft coupled to said measurement ball;

a first rotary sensor configured to measure first coordinates of said first shaft;

a second shaft coupled to said first shaft;

a second rotary sensor configured to measure second coordinates of said second shaft;

a sensor block coupled to said second shaft and slidably mounted on at least one linear shaft; and

a linear sensor configured to measure a second position of said sensor block on said shaft.

2. The rod bender of claim 1 , wherein the geometric coordinates comprise an X-axis coordinate, a Y-axis coordinate and a Z-axis coordinate of each of the screws.

3. The rod bender of claim 1 , said rod bending system comprising:

a headstock for gripping the rod;

a first servomotor coupled to said headstock for rotating the rod;

a vertical axis disk; and

a second servomotor coupled to said vertical axis disk for moving said vertical axis disk and bending the rod.

4. The rod bender of claim 3 , said rod bending system further comprising:

a center cam follower coupled to said vertical axis disk; and

an orbital cam follower coupled to said vertical axis disk.

5. The rod bender of claim 3 , said rod bending system further comprising:

a linear slide coupled to said headstock; and

a third servomotor for moving said headstock along said linear slide.

6. The rod bender of claim 1 , said computing system comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to said memory;

wherein said memory stores instructions that, when executed by said processor, cause said processor to calculate said rod bending parameters using a spreadsheet.