Patent ID: 7776047

Claim:
A guide device for use with a spinal fixation element having at least one pair of thru bores formed therein, the guide device comprising: an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end of the shaft being positioned at an angle other than 0 with respect to the distal end of the shaft; a guide member coupled to the distal end of the elongate shaft and including first and second pathways having at least a proximal portion at least partially in communication with one another and extending therethrough in a fixed relation to one another, the distal end of the elongate shaft being offset from the first and second pathways; at least one alignment element positioned distal of the guide member, the at least one alignment element being adapted to interact with a spinal fixation element to position the guide member with respect to the spinal fixation element such that the first and second pathways in the guide member are aligned with a pair of corresponding thru bores formed in the spinal fixation element; and opposed first and second cut-out portions formed in the guide member, the first cut-out portion extending from a distal end of the guide member to a proximal end of the guide member, and the second cut-out portion extending from the distal end of the guide member and terminating distal to the proximal end of the guide member.