Patent ID: 8403934

Claim:
An alignment guide for preparing a bone element for receiving an implant comprising: a first component fixable to the bone element comprising: a first bore that accommodates a first ball head fastener; and a second bore that accommodates a second ball head fastener, wherein the first component serves as a fixed rigid body; a second component moveable with respect to the first component comprising: a first ball socket that accommodates a first ball of the first ball head fastener; a second ball socket that accommodates a second ball of the second ball head fastener; and a third ball socket that accommodates a third ball of a third ball head fastener; and a third component moveable with respect to the second component and the first component, the third component comprising: a third bore that accommodates the third ball head fastener; and at least one guide that accommodates a surgical instrument, wherein the first ball head fastener and the second ball head fastener are working in parallel to perform adjustments in up to two degrees of freedom so as to result in up to two degrees of freedom alignment of the at least one guide for preparing the bone element for the implant, and wherein the third ball head fastener adjusts a third additional degree of freedom so as to result in three degrees of freedom alignment of the at least one guide for preparing the bone element for the implant.