US Patent 7153309 Guide system for bone-repair devices

A system, including methods, apparatus, components, and kits, for guiding a hole-forming tool and/or a fastener through a bone and then to a bone-repair device that is connected to the bone. In some embodiments, the system may include a guide device including (1) a coupling portion configured to be connected to the bone-repair device adjacent a first surface of a bone; and (2) a guide portion connected to the coupling portion and configured to be disposed adjacent a second surface of the bone that generally opposes the first surface on the bone. The guide portion is configured to guide the at least one hole-forming tool and fastener into the bone and then to a predefined position of the bone-repair device.