METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMPUTERIZED SURGERY
An implant for use in spinal surgery comprises a resilient element having an inflatable cavity. It is formed of a biologically compatible material and is arranged for placement between end plates of adjacent vertebra. The implant may also include a wound disc replacement element. A method of performing spinal surgery on a patient comprises securely mounting a patient onto a patient support table; imaging a spinal region of the patient; building up a three-dimensional image file of the spinal region of the patient; storing the image file; and utilizing the image file for planning and carrying out computer controlled spinal surgery on the patient utilizing the implant. A computer-controlled surgical implant system comprises a steerable endosurgical implanting assembly operative to install the implant at a desired location in a patient; and a computerized controlled, which operates the steerable endosurgical implanting assembly.
1 . A method of treating scoliosis comprising vertebra end plate reconstruction and including the steps of employing a surgical vehicle, a hand and a pair of forceps tools to insert a bone graft into engagement with a machined surface of a vertebra end plate.
2 . A method of treating scoliosis according to claim 1 where in said bone graft is in the form of a wedge which is attached at a seat and secured in a channel machined into said vertebra end plate.
3 . A method of treating scoliosis according to claim 1 wherein, following attachment of the bone graft, a top surface of the bone graft is machined to be flush with the remainder of top surface of said end plate.
4 . A method of treating scoliosis comprising the steps of inserting a disc replacement coil intermediate adjacent vertebra.
5 . A method of treating scoliosis according to claim 4 , wherein said disc replacement coil is in the form of a wedge which is attached at a seat and secured to at least one vertebra end plate.