Lateral access alignment guide and rigid arm

A surgical rigid arm for supporting a surgical instrument comprising:

• a first portion having a continuous substantially constant diameter length from a first outer end to a first inner end, a first outer segment of the first portion extending from the first outer end and a first inner segment of the first portion extending from the first outer segment to the first inner end,
• a second portion having a continuous substantially constant diameter length from a second outer end to a second inner end, a second outer segment of the second portion extending from the second outer end and a second inner segment of the second portion extending from the second outer segment to the second inner end, the first and second outer ends being attachable to a peripheral side of a surgical bed such that the first outer segment and the second outer segment extend from the surgical bed in a first direction,
• wherein a plane passes through an elongate dimension of the first outer segment and an elongate dimension of the second outer segment, and
• wherein the first inner segment becomes further from the plane along a distance from the first outer segment to the first inner end;
• and
• a central plate disposed between the first and second portions, the central plate being offset from the plane and positionable above an interior of the surgical bed, the central plate includes (i) a top support surface configured to connect to the surgical instrument such that a load from the surgical instrument is distributed across the central plate to the first portion and second portion to provide rigid support for the surgical instrument, and (ii) a bottom surface, wherein the first inner end and the second inner end engage the bottom surface.