Patent ID: 7416553

Claim:
A spinal fixation kit, comprising: a spinal fixation plate having a proximal portion with at least one bore formed therein for receiving a fixation device effective to mate the proximal portion to a first vertebrae, and a distal portion with at least one bore formed therein for receiving a fixation device effective to mate the distal portion to a second, adjacent vertebrae; and a guide device having an elongate support member, a first arm having a proximal end mated to the elongate support member and a distal end with at least one guide member coupled thereto, the guide member being configured for juxtaposition on the proximal portion of the spinal fixation plate, and a second arm having a proximal end mated to the elongate support member and a distal end with at least one guide member coupled thereto, the guide member being configured for juxtaposition on the distal portion of the spinal fixation plate, wherein at least one of the first and second arms is slidably movable along the elongate support member to adjust a distance between the first and second arms such that at any position along the elongate support member the spacing between the first and second arms remains substantially constant at any distance along the first and second arms, and wherein the guide member on each arm comprises a first barrel having a distal end and a proximal end mated to the distal end of the arm and a second barrel mated to a base plate, and wherein the base plate is mated to the distal end of the first barrel.