Parallel guide for access needle

A parallel spacer for parallel spacing of a plurality of guiding elements during surgery, comprising:

• a parallel spacer body having a proximal surface and a distal surface, the body defining:
• a first guide aperture extending through the parallel spacer body between an opening in the proximal surface and an opening in the distal surface and defined by an internal wall, the first guide aperture being sized to receive a first guiding element in a first orientation with respect to the parallel spacer body and hold the guiding element at the first orientation;
• and
• a second guide aperture extending through the parallel spacer body between an opening in the proximal surface and an opening in the distal surface and defined by internal walls, sized to receive an access needle;
• a first external positioning protrusion extending distally from the distal surface of the parallel spacer body, with the first guide aperture extending through the first external positioning protrusion;
• and
• a second external positioning protrusion extending distally from the distal surface of the parallel spacer body, with the second guide aperture extending therethrough;
• wherein an inner surface of the second guide aperture defines the second guide aperture;
• and
• wherein the second guide aperture is open from a proximal end of the parallel spacer body to a distal end of the second external positioning protrusion and is configured to receive or extract therefrom the second access needle.