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A system for stabilizing a superior vertebra relative to an inferior vertebra includes a plate having a first surface for mating with the superior and inferior vertebra and a second surface opposite the first surface. The plate has a first hole configured for overlying the superior vertebra and a se

A system for stabilizing a superior vertebra relative to an inferior vertebra includes a plate having a first surface for mating with the superior and inferior vertebra and a second surface opposite the first surface. The plate has a first hole configured for overlying the superior vertebra and a second hole configured for overlying the inferior vertebra. An alignment instrument has a leading portion and a trailing portion. The leading portion has a securing mechanism configured for removable attachment to a fastening mechanism of the plate. The alignment instrument also includes an alignment prong extending past the first surface of the plate when the plate is attached to the fastening mechanism. The alignment prong provides tactile information to the trailing portion of the alignment instrument for use in positioning the plate with respect to the superior and inferior vertebra.

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1. A system for stabilizing a superior vertebra relative to an inferior vertebra, the superior vertebra and inferior vertebra having a spacer positioned therebetween, the system comprising: a plate having a first surface configured for mating with the superior and inferior vertebra, a second surface

1. A system for stabilizing a superior vertebra relative to an inferior vertebra, the superior vertebra and inferior vertebra having a spacer positioned therebetween, the system comprising: a plate having a first surface configured for mating with the superior and inferior vertebra, a second surface generally opposite the first surface, and opposed exterior surfaces on an outer periphery of the plate, the opposed exterior surfaces extending between the first and second surfaces, the plate having a first hole that extends from the first surface to the second surface and a second hole that extends from the first surface to the second surface, the first and second holes being configured to simultaneously overlay the superior vertebra and the inferior vertebra, respectively, the plate further having a third hole disposed between the first surface and the second surface; andan alignment instrument having a leading portion and a trailing portion, the leading portion comprising a securing mechanism configured to be inserted into the third hole along an insertion direction so as to removably attach the alignment instrument directly to the plate,the alignment instrument further including an aiming device that is removably attachable to the leading portion, wherein the aiming device includes a guide groove, the alignment instrument further including a locating guide carrying a pair of opposed alignment prongs that are elongate along a first direction, the locating guide defining a base arm extending between the alignment prongs in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction, the base arm being sized and configured for insertion into the guide groove of the aiming device along the second direction such that an aperture of the base arm is aligned with the securing mechanism and configured to receive the securing mechanism, the alignment prongs extending axially from the leading portion of the alignment instrument such that the alignment prongs extend past the first surface of the plate so as to abut the opposed exterior surfaces when the plate is attached to the securing mechanism, the alignment prongs being configured to extend along the insertion direction into respective slots in the spacer, the alignment prongs providing tactile information to the trailing portion of the alignment instrument for use in positioning the plate with respect to the superior and inferior vertebra. 2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the alignment prongs extend approximately five to ten millimeters (5-10 mm) beyond the first surface of the plate when the plate is attached to the securing mechanism of the alignment instrument. 3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the alignment prongs of the alignment instrument are configured to mate with the respective slots. 4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the pair of opposed alignment prongs comprises first and second alignment prongs each extending approximately five to ten millimeters (5-10 mm) beyond the first surface of the plate when the plate is attached to the securing mechanism of the alignment instrument, the respective slots include first and second slots, and the first and second alignment prongs are configured to mate with the first and second slots, respectively, thereby aligning the plate with the spacer in at least two dimensions. 5. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein aligning the plate with the spacer further aligns the first hole for overlaying the superior vertebra and the second hole for overlaying the inferior vertebra. 6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the alignment instrument includes a shaft removably mountable to both the aiming device and the alignment prongs, such that the alignment prongs are detachably connected to the first aiming device. 7. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising: a second aiming device with a second guide groove, the base arm of the locating guide being selectively mountable in the guide groove and the second guide groove. 8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the alignment instrument includes a removable shaft, where the alignment prongs include a first alignment prong and a second alignment prong. 9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first hole comprises first and second screw holes and the second hole comprises third and fourth screw holes, the plate including a neck between the first and second screw holes. 10. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein: the aiming device includes first, second, third and fourth alignment bores, and a removable shaft; andthe first, second, third and fourth alignment bores are aligned with the first, second, third and fourth screw holes in an insertion position. 11. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein the alignment prongs include first and second alignment prongs, the first and second alignment prongs positioned adjacent a neck of the plate in the insertion position. 12. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first surface of the plate is spaced from the spacer when the spacer is in an implanted position. 13. The system of claim 1, further comprising: the spacer having a distal portion, a proximal portion spaced from the distal portion along the insertion direction between the superior vertebra and the inferior vertebra, a first side surface that extends between the proximal portion and the distal portion, and a second side surface that is opposite the first side surface and extends between the proximal portion and the distal portion, the spacer having a slot disposed in the first side surface, the slot disposed adjacent the proximal portion. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the spacer has a spacer length measured from the proximal portion to the distal portion and a spacer width measured from the first side surface to the second side surface, the spacer length being greater than the spacer width. 15. The system of claim 1, wherein the third hole includes two throughbores disposed between the first and second surface, and wherein the alignment prongs include first and second alignment prongs, the first and second alignment prongs configured to be received in the two throughbores so as to removably couple the alignment instrument directly to the plate. 16. A method for stabilizing a superior vertebra relative to an inferior vertebra in spine surgery through a lateral access channel, the method comprising the steps of a) inserting a spacer along an insertion direction into a disc space between the superior and inferior vertebrae, the spacer having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end is spaced from the proximal end in the insertion direction, the spacer including a first side surface and a second side surface, the first and second side surfaces defining slots formed therein adjacent the proximal end;b) inserting a base arm of a locating guide into a guide groove of an aiming device of an alignment instrument, the locating guide carrying opposed alignment prongs and the base arm including an aperture that is configured to receive a securing mechanism at a leading portion of an elongated shaft of the alignment instrument;c) inserting the leading portion through an opening in the aiming device of the alignment instrument, the opening being aligned with the aperture of the base arm, the aiming device defining first and second bores that extend therethrough, and subsequently inserting at least a portion of the leading portion into an opening in a plate, the plate having a first bone screw hole and a second bone screw hole, such that the first and second bores of the aiming device are aligned with the first and second bone screw holes of the plate;d) inserting at least a portion of the alignment prongs past respective opposed exterior surfaces on an outer periphery of the plate and into at least a portion of the slots of the spacer along the insertion direction so as to align the plate with respect to the spacer in a predetermined orientation;e) inserting a first bone screw through the first bore, through the first bone screw hole, and into the superior vertebra, and inserting a second bone screw through the second bore, through the second bone screw hole, and into the inferior vertebra to fixedly attach the plate to the superior and inferior vertebrae; andf) separating and withdrawing the elongated shaft from the plate. 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein step f) further comprises: f1) removing the elongated shaft from the opening in the plate to separate the aiming device and the locating guide from the plate and removing the alignment prongs from the slots of the spacer to allow withdrawal of the elongated shaft from the plate. 18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the removable shaft of step c) is threadably attached to the plate. 19. The method according to claim 16, wherein the alignment prongs of step e) further include first and second prongs and wherein the slots are comprised of a first slot on the first side surface and a second slot on the second side surface, wherein the first prong is positioned at least partially in the first slot and the second prong is positioned at least partially in the second slot. 20. The method according to claim 16, wherein the aiming device of step c) further includes a pair of extensions that are received at superior and inferior sides of the plate.