| abstract |
A system and a method of aligning a surgical instrument with a target region of a patient are provided. The system comprises a rigid support affixed relative to a patient table, a rigid template having a location element, a surgical instrument having a rigid guide tube and a surgical insert disposed within the guide tube, and a clamp configured for alternately mounting the template and surgical instrument to the rigid support, such that the location element and guide tube both coincide with a target region. The method comprises mounting a rigid template having a location element to a clamp associated with a rigid support affixed relative to a patient table, adjusting the clamp along a rigid support until the location element aligns with the target region, firmly securing the clamp to the rigid support, removing the template from the clamp, and mounting the surgical instrument to the clamp. |