Surgical methods and devices are provided for bending spinal rods. In one embodiment, a handheld tool is provided having an elongate shaft with a lumen formed therein that is configured to accommodate a spinal rod. The tool can include an opening in a proximal end that is configured to permit the loading of the spinal rod into the lumen, and a plurality of openings spaced along a longitudinal axis thereof that intersect the lumen for allowing a user to view and/or grasp a rod extending through the rod-receiving lumen and positioned within one of the plurality of openings. The tool can further be configured to permit a bent spinal rod to be received within the lumen. For example, the tool can include a channel in a lower surface thereof that allows a rod to exit the lumen and to extend laterally away from the tool.

A robotic system may include a robot base and a rod feeding subassembly coupled to the robot base that includes a feeding actuator configured to selectively move a surgical rod. The robotic system may include a brake subassembly coupled to the robot base that includes a brake actuator configured to receive the surgical rod from the rod feeding subassembly, and selectively fix a first portion of the surgical rod with respect to the brake subassembly. The robotic system may include a bending subassembly coupled to the robot base that includes a bending actuator configured to selectively rotate to engage a second portion of the surgical rod and bend the second portion of the surgical rod with respect to the first portion of the surgical rod so that the first portion and the second portion of the surgical rod define a first bend angle.

A robotic system may include a robot base and a rod feeding subassembly coupled to the robot base that includes a feeding actuator configured to selectively move a surgical rod. The robotic system may include a brake subassembly coupled to the robot base that includes a brake actuator configured to receive the surgical rod from the rod feeding subassembly, and selectively fix a first portion of the surgical rod with respect to the brake subassembly. The robotic system may include a bending subassembly coupled to the robot base that includes a bending actuator configured to selectively rotate to engage a second portion of the surgical rod and bend the second portion of the surgical rod with respect to the first portion of the surgical rod so that the first portion and the second portion of the surgical rod define a first bend angle.

At least two spacers in an elongated shape is provided between an internal pipe and an external pipe along the center line of a double pipe. In the cross section of a bent portion as viewed in a direction along the center line of the double pipe, the first spacer is located inwardly relative to the center of the double pipe with reference to the radial direction of the bent portion. The second spacer is located outwardly relative to the center of the double pipe. When a straight line that passes through the center of the radius of the bent portion and through the center of the double pipe is taken as a reference line at least either one of the first spacer or the second spacer overlaps the reference line.

Provided is a method for producing an arm-like structure in which the arm-like structure is produced by: forming an arm precursor member having an external shape of the arm-like structure by, in a state in which a die is closed with a metal pipe member being disposed in a cavity thereof, pressurizing the pipe member with liquid supplied to an inside thereof to cause an external surface of the thus expanded pipe member to be pressed against an inner surface of the cavity; and forming a flange portion to be attached to a driven body by machining at least an end of the formed arm precursor member.

Provided is a method for producing an arm-like structure in which the arm-like structure is produced by: forming an arm precursor member having an external shape of the arm-like structure by, in a state in which a die is closed with a metal pipe member being disposed in a cavity thereof, pressurizing the pipe member with liquid supplied to an inside thereof to cause an external surface of the thus expanded pipe member to be pressed against an inner surface of the cavity; and forming a flange portion to be attached to a driven body by machining at least an end of the formed arm precursor member.

A forming method for a vehicle body member may include a tube making process of forming a steel pipe by welding a steel plate coil; a non-circular tube making process of primary preforming the steel pipe formed in the tube making process so as to have a cross section of a predetermined shape; a bending process of bending and secondarily preforming the steel pipe preformed firstly in the non-circular tube making process; and a hot stamping process of heating the secondarily preformed steel pipe, inserting the heated steel pipe into a mold to form a desired shape, and then, quenching the heated steel pipe to form a vehicle body member, thereby easily forming a vehicle body member having high rigidity.

A forming method for a vehicle body member may include a tube making process of forming a steel pipe by welding a steel plate coil; a non-circular tube making process of primary preforming the steel pipe formed in the tube making process so as to have a cross section of a predetermined shape; a bending process of bending and secondarily preforming the steel pipe preformed firstly in the non-circular tube making process; and a hot stamping process of heating the secondarily preformed steel pipe, inserting the heated steel pipe into a mold to form a desired shape, and then, quenching the heated steel pipe to form a vehicle body member, thereby easily forming a vehicle body member having high rigidity.

A forming machine that produces formed parts of a complex design from straight workpieces from wire or tube includes a computerized numerical control unit; a plurality of workstations including a loading station, a first machining station downstream of the loading station, and at least one second machining station downstream of the first machining station, wherein at least two of the machining stations are forming stations; and a transport system that transports successive workpieces from the loading station to downstream workstations while under control by the control unit.

A forming machine that produces formed parts of a complex design from straight workpieces from wire or tube includes a computerized numerical control unit; a plurality of workstations including a loading station, a first machining station downstream of the loading station, and at least one second machining station downstream of the first machining station, wherein at least two of the machining stations are forming stations; and a transport system that transports successive workpieces from the loading station to downstream workstations while under control by the control unit.