Patent ID: 7862570

Claim:
A method for performing a surgical procedure on a patient comprising: (a) providing a platform that includes: (i) a concave surface and a convex surface, wherein the concave surface is configured to be biased against a portion of the patient's anatomy such that at least three points of the concave surface contact the portion of the patient's anatomy; (ii) at least two fasteners configured to secure the platform to the portion of the patient's anatomy, wherein each of the fasteners is configured to be connected to bone of the individual such that at least one of the fasteners is not parallel to at least one other of the fasteners; (iii) a plurality of receptacles that extend between the concave and convex surfaces of the platform, the receptacles configured to receive the fasteners in a plurality of angulations whereby the fasteners are configured to be oriented and positioned to fasten the platform to the portion of the patient's anatomy; and (iv) at least one portal structure extending from the convex surface of the platform, the portal structure including a guiding structure, the guiding structure configured to guide and orient a surgical item in a desired angular relationship with the portion of the patient's anatomy; (b) securing the platform to the portion of the patient's anatomy using the fasteners; (c) guiding the surgical item using the guiding structure; and (d) completing the surgical procedure.