Total artificial spino-laminar prosthetic replacement

1. A method comprising:

first, measuring dimensions and geometry of a healthy spine portion of a patient;

second, generating a 3-dimensional computer rendition of the healthy spine portion of the patient;

third, physically forming a spinal implant for use in implantation into the patient in particular using the 3-dimensional computer rendition of the healthy spine portion of the patient, wherein physically forming the spinal implant comprises physically forming a body, a bifid spinous process having first and second lobes, a first lamina portion, and a second lamina portion to be similar in shape to the healthy spine portion using the 3-dimensional computer rendition of the healthy spine portion; and

fourth, coupling the spinal implant to a natural spine of the patient in place of the healthy spine portion of the patient.

2. A method comprising:

first, measuring dimensions and geometry of a healthy spine portion of a patient;

second, generating a 3-dimensional computer rendition of the healthy spine portion of the patient; and

third, physically forming a spinal implant for use in implantation into the patient in particular using the 3-dimensional computer rendition of the healthy spine portion of the patient

fourth, implanting the spinal implant into the patient; and

fifth, attaching the spinal implant to the patient's spine via one or more translaminar or facet screws.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the healthy spine portion of the patient is a portion of the patient's cervical spine.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the spinal implant is formed to have the same shape as the healthy spine portion using the 3-dimensional computer rendition of the healthy spine portion.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computerized tomography (CT) imaging techniques to measure dimensions and geometry of the healthy spine portion of the patient.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the spinal implant comprises a total artificial spinous process (spino)-laminar prosthesis (TASP-LP).

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein measuring dimensions and geometry of the healthy spine portion comprises measuring an overall shape, a height, a width, an orientation, and an angulation of the healthy spine portion of the patient.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the spinal implant has the same slope and angulation of portions of a left side of the patient's Thoracic or Lumbar spine and a right side of the patient's Thoracic or Lumbar spine and the spinal implant is coupled to the natural spine of the patient via screws that are not pedicle screws.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is used in conjunction with performing a laminectomy, and wherein the spinal implant is coupled to the natural spine of the patient after the laminectomy.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the spinal implant is coupled to the natural spine of the patient via screws that are not pedicle screws.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the spinal implant is coupled to the natural spine of the patient via one or more translaminar or facet screws.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the spinal implant has an overall shape, a height, a width, an orientation, and an angulation of the healthy spine portion using the 3-dimensional computer rendition of the healthy spine portion of the patient.

13. The method of claim 2 , wherein the method is used in conjunction with performing a laminectomy, and wherein the spinal implant is attached to the patient's spine via one or more translaminar or facet screws after the laminectomy.

14. The method of claim 2 , wherein the one or more translaminar or facet screws comprise multiple translaminar screws.

15. The method of claim 2 , and further comprising:

performing a laminectomy of the healthy spine portion prior to attaching the spinal implant to the patient's spine via one or more translaminar or facet screws.

16. The method of claim 2 , wherein physically forming the spinal implant comprises physically forming a body, a bifid spinous process having first and second lobes, a first lamina portion, and a second lamina portion to be similar in shape to the healthy spine portion using the 3-dimensional computer rendition of the healthy spine portion.

17. A method comprising:

first, measuring dimensions and geometry of a healthy spine portion of a patient;

second, generating a 3-dimensional computer rendition of the healthy spine portion of the patient;

third, physically forming a spinal implant for use in implantation into the patient in particular using the 3-dimensional computer rendition of the healthy spine portion of the patient; and

fourth, coupling the spinal implant to a natural spine of the patient in place of the healthy spine portion of the patient, wherein the spinal implant comprises a first hinged extension that is movable with respect to a portion of the spinal implant and a second hinged extension that is movable with respect to the portion of the spinal implant, wherein the first and second hinged extensions are connected at respective first and second hinges that include respective first and second hinge pins, and wherein the first and second hinge pins are aligned substantially in a rostral-to-caudal direction when the spinal implant is coupled to the natural spine.

18. A method comprising:

first, measuring dimensions and geometry of a healthy spine portion of a patient;

second, generating a 3-dimensional computer rendition of the healthy spine portion of the patient;

third, physically forming a spinal implant for use in implantation into the patient in particular using the 3-dimensional computer rendition of the healthy spine portion of the patient, wherein the spinal implant formed using the 3-dimensional computer rendition comprises first, second, and third portions that are interconnected and movable with respect to one another; and

fourth, coupling the spinal implant to a natural spine of the patient in place of the healthy spine portion of the patient.

19. The method of claim 18 , and further comprising:

moving the first and third portions with respect to the second portion.

20. A method comprising:

first, measuring dimensions and geometry of a healthy spine portion of a patient;

second, generating a 3-dimensional computer rendition of the healthy spine portion of the patient;

third, physically forming a spinal implant for use in implantation into the patient in particular using the 3-dimensional computer rendition of the healthy spine portion of the patient, wherein the spinal implant comprises at least three modules with at least two of the modules formed to have the same shape as the healthy spine portion of the patient, wherein the at least three modules each includes an artificial spinous process and wherein the artificial spinous processes are interconnected left and right modular connecting bridges; and

fourth, coupling the spinal implant to a natural spine of the patient in place of the healthy spine portion of the patient.