Patent ID: 7278997

Claim:
An instrument guide comprising: a) a handle having an outer surface and an annular cylindrical cavity therethrough; b) a cannula having an outer diameter and an inner diameter and a proximal end and a distal end and an internal opening therethrough that has its centroidal axis coincident with the centroidal axis of said annular cylindrical cavity of said handle, wherein said cannula is inserted through said annular cylindrical cavity such that said distal end of said cannula protrudes outwardly from said handle; and c) an engaging device connected to said distal end of said cannula, wherein said engaging device further comprises a base and a tag, said tag having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said proximal end of said tag is attached to said base and said base is coupled to said distal end of said cannula, and wherein said distal end of said tag releasably engages a complementary hole in an implant, wherein said distal end of said cannula contacts said implant at an anterior surface thereof at a bone fastener through-hole therein, wherein said engaging device further comprises a means for varying the angulation of said cannula with respect to said implant, and wherein said distal end of said cannula further comprises a convex partially spheroidal section having a maximum outside diameter that is slightly less than said outer diameter of said cannula.