Patent ID: 8137356

Claim:
A system for implantation of a spinal stabilization system comprising: an implant guide including a handle and a shaft extending from the handle, a distal end of the shaft configured for engagement with a head portion of a vertebral anchor, the shaft having flexibility characteristics allowing the shaft to flexibly bend between a first equilibrium configuration and a second deflected configuration; and an insert slidably disposed along the shaft of the implant guide to subject the shaft to the second configuration, wherein the insert inhibits the shaft from bending from the second configuration to the first configuration; and wherein the shaft of the implant guide includes a first leg spaced from a second leg, wherein the insert is slidably disposed between the first leg and the second leg; and wherein the insert includes a first rail slidably engaged with a slot extending along the first leg of the shaft, and the insert includes a second rail slidably engaged with a slot extending along the second leg of the shaft.