Patent ID: 8109934

Claim:
An apparatus for guiding medical instruments used in attaching a cervical plate, the cervical plate having a receptacle, the apparatus comprising: a handle comprising a handle shaft; an alignment stand affixed to the handle shaft and configured to interface with the receptacle, wherein a first end of the alignment stand comprises an angle-limiting post, the angle limiting post having a neck portion and a flared distal end, the angle-limiting post configured to be seated within the receptacle to permit the alignment stand to interface with the receptacle at a range of angles such that when the angle-limiting post is seated in the receptacle, the alignment stand can be tilted relative to the cervical plate through the range of angles, and wherein the flared distal end of the angle-limiting post is configured to limit the angle by abutting the receptacle when the angle equals a maximum angle; and an instrument guide tube coupled to the alignment stand and having a lumen therethrough; wherein when the first end of the alignment stand is in communication with the receptacle in the cervical plate, the instrument guide tube is positioned over a bone screw receiving hole in the cervical plate and an axial centerline of the instrument guide tube passes through the bone screw receiving hole.