Depuy Synthes Products, Inc.

Stuart Weikel

Robert Frigg

Ross Hamel

Stefan Schwer

Geoffrey Flexner

The present invention is directed to a system and method for performing tissue, preferably bone tissue manipulation. The system and method may include implanting markers on opposite sides of a bone, fractured bone or tissue to facilitate bone or tissue manipulation, preferably in-situ closed fracture reduction. The markers are preferably configured to be detected by one or more devices, such as, for example, a detection device so that the detection device can determine the relative relationship of the markers. The markers may also be capable of transmitting and receiving signals. An image may be captured of the bone or tissue and the attached markers. From the captured image, the orientation of each marker relative to the bone fragment may be determined. Next, the captured image may be manipulated in a virtual or simulated environment until a desired restored orientation has been achieved. The orientation of the markers in the desired restored orientation may then be determined. The desired relationship between markers may then be programmed into, for example, the detection device. Next, actual physical reduction and/or manipulation of the bone may begin. During the manipulation procedure, the orientation of the markers may be continuously monitored and when the markers substantially align with the virtual or simulated orientation of the markers in the desired restored orientation, an indicator signal is transmitted.

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Austin, TX, United States of America

Stuart Weikel