Spinal distraction tool for load and position measurement

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

• inserting a sensored head of a spinal instrument into a spinal region;
• locally and electronically measuring a load applied by the spinal region on the sensored head while the spinal region is distracted by the sensored head to a first height, and if the measured load is outside a predetermined load range indicating that the measured load is outside the predetermined load range;
• measuring a position of the measured load on the sensored head;
• and
• adjusting the spinal instrument to distract the spinal region to a second height where an electronic load measurement at the second height falls within the predetermined load range.

A method of tracking alignment and orientation of a spinal region comprising the steps of:

• placing a receiver in proximity to a wand where the receiver is in a fixed position and in a line of sight of the wands, where the receiver includes at least two sensors that are configured to measure and transit ultrasonic signals, where the wand includes at least two sensors that are configured to measure and transmit ultrasonic signals;
• moving the wand to an anatomic feature on a spine and registering the anatomic feature with respect to the receiver;
• retrieving a 3D spine model of the spine having orientation and dimensions corresponding to the registered anatomic feature;
• and
• identifying the location of the registered anatomic feature on the 3D spine model.