Patent ID: 7691130

Claim:
A method of spacing spinal elements, comprising: creating a first incision in a human body during a first surgical procedure; installing a first spinal implant having a sensor associated therewith during the first surgical procedure; closing the first incision; generating measurement data, by said sensor, indicative of at least one mechanical property of the spine with said first spinal implant installed; selecting a second spinal implant based on said measurement data and a material property of the second spinal implant; thereafter, creating a second incision in the human body during a second surgical procedure; replacing said first spinal implant with said second spinal implant during the subsequent second surgical procedure; wherein said replacing the first spinal implant with the second spinal implant comprises replacing a first insert with a second insert by removing the first insert from a receiver body and joining a second insert to the receiver body; thereafter, closing the second incision.