Methods and Templates for Shaping Patient-Specific Anatomical-Fixation Implants

An anatomical implant template, comprising:

• a template body having a first terminal end surface and a second terminal end surface spaced from the first terminal end surface, the template body configured to bend at one or more bending locations between the first terminal end surface and the second terminal end surface so as to change the template body from a first configuration, whereby the template body extends from the first terminal end surface to the second terminal end surface along a first path, to a second configuration, whereby the template body extends from the first terminal end surface to the second terminal end surface along a second path, different from the first path, the second path conforming more closely to a curvature of at least one anatomical body than the first path;
• and
• at least one device coupled to the template body between the first terminal end surface and the second terminal end surface, the at least device configured to output at least one signal having information from which a shape of the anatomical implant template in the second configuration can be ascertained,
• wherein the anatomical implant template is configured to communicate the at least one signal to a computing device.