Method and apparatus for locking a drill guide in a polyaxial hole

A method of locking a drill guide in a hole, comprising:

• inserting the drill guide into the hole, wherein the drill guide comprises:
• a hollow outer body extending from a proximal end to a distal end and having a slot disposed proximate the proximate end, wherein the distal end is configured as a reverse collet having a plurality of prongs;
• an inner body having a central channel extending therethrough;
• and
• a lever extending through the slot and coupled to the inner body, wherein the slot is shaped such that rotation of the lever results in the inner body moving along a central axis of the drill guide;
• moving the distal end of the hollow outer body beyond a shoulder of the hole provided in a plate, wherein the shoulder pushes the plurality of prongs radially inwardly upon contact, and wherein the plurality of prongs return to a resting position after the distal end is pushed beyond the shoulder;
• and
• rotating the lever to move the inner body to a lowermost position in which a distal end of the inner body is disposed between the plurality of prongs to prevent radially inward deflection of the plurality of prongs.

A drill guide, comprising:

• a hollow outer body extending from a proximal end to a distal end and having a slot disposed proximate the proximal end, wherein the distal end is configured as a reverse collet having a plurality of prongs;
• an inner body having a central channel extending therethrough;
• a spring disposed within the hollow outer body and beneath a portion of the inner body, wherein the spring biases the inner body in a direction away from the plurality of prongs;
• a cap coupled to the proximal end of the hollow outer body and having a through hole disposed through an upper portion of the cap in communication with the central channel, wherein the through hole is configured to allow passage of a drill bit into the central channel;
• a handle coupled to the hollow outer body to allow a user to grip the drill guide;
• and
• a lever coupled to the inner body through the slot, wherein the slot is shaped such that rotation of the lever results in the inner body moving along a central axis of the drill guide, and wherein a distal end of the inner body is configured to prevent radially inward deflection of the plurality of prongs when a distal end of the inner body is moved into a distal end portion of the hollow outer body.