Patent ID: 8753379

Claim:
A guide body for receiving fixation elements to be anchored in bone, the guide body comprising: a plate having a top surface, a bottom surface for contacting bone, and a number of openings between the top and bottom surfaces; and at least one connecting piece for insertion into one of the openings, the at least one connecting piece having a bore therein for receiving a surgical fixation element, and comprising internal threading and external threading, wherein each connecting piece is configured and dimensioned to be received in one of the openings and retained therein by frictional or positive engagement, and the combination of plate openings and connecting pieces provides transverse paths for guiding surgical fixation elements into bone; wherein the plate further comprises an edge portion and a number of holes disposed in the edge portion, an axis of each of the holes intersecting the top and bottom surfaces; and wherein the holes have smaller diameters than the openings.