US Patent 7935123 Drill guide with alignment feature

A guide device is provided for use with a spinal plate that has at least one pair of screw bores formed therein. The guide device generally includes an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end. A guide member is coupled to the distal end of the elongate shaft and it includes at least one lumen extending therethrough, and at least one alignment element that is positioned distal of the guide member. Each alignment element(s) is adapted to interact with a spinal plate to position the guide member with respect to the spinal plate such that the each lumen in the guide member is aligned with a corresponding screw bore formed in the spinal plate. The guide member can then be used to guide a tool or implant through each lumen in the spinal plate and into bone.