Modular active spine tool for measuring vertebral load and position of load

A measurement system for comprising:

• a spinal instrument having a handle and a shaft;
• a plurality of removable sensored heads configured to couple to a distal end of the shaft where sensored heads of different height are provided and where each removable sensored head includes a plurality of load sensors;
• and
• an electronic assembly configured to provide quantitative data from the plurality of load sensors where the electronic assembly is housed in a module, where the module includes an electrical interface, where the module fits in a cavity of the handle of the spinal instrument, and where the cavity of the handle includes an electrical interface.

A method of measuring a spinal region comprising the steps of:

• selecting one of a plurality of removable sensored heads;
• coupling a first removable sensored head to a distal end of a shaft of a spinal instrument where the first removable sensored head is electrically coupled to interconnect in the shaft;
• and
• coupling a module having an electronic assembly to a handle of the spinal instrument where the electronic assembly is electrically coupled to the interconnect in the shaft of the spinal instrument.