Ratcheting torque wrench

A disposable ratcheting device and method is disclosed, which may include a shaft extending axially through at least a shank. The shank also provides a cup or chamber wherein a series of drive bodies reside in a movable fashion. The shank is placed in a body having an inner wall with teeth formed radially, The drive bodies have toes protruding beyond the shank and which, in a locked direction, engage the teeth inside the body.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates to an inline disposable driver tool with plastic gear drive and, in particular, to a disposable medical use torque-limiting driver and ratchet that disengages at a predetermined torque limit.

2. General Background

Torque is a measure of force acting on an object that causes that object to rotate. In the case of a driver and a fastener, this measurement can be calculated mathematically in terms of the cross product of specific vectors:
τ=r×F

Where r is the vector representing the distance and direction from an axis of a fastener to a point where the force is applied and F is the force vector acting on the driver.

Torque has dimensions of force times distance and the SI unit of torque is the Newton meter (N-m). The joule, which is the SI unit for energy or work, is also defined as an N-m, but this unit is not used for torque. Since energy can be thought of as the result of force times distance, energy is always a scalar whereas torque is force cross-distance and so is a vector-valued quantity. Other non-SI units of torque include pound-force-feet, foot-pounds-force, ounce-force-inches, meter-kilograms-force, inch-ounces or inch-pounds.

Torque-limiting drivers are widely used throughout the medical industry. These torque-limiting drivers have a factory pre-set torque to ensure the accuracy and toughness required to meet a demanding surgical environment.

The medical industry has made use of both reusable and disposable torque-limiting drivers. In a surgical context, there is little room for error and these drivers must impart a precise amount of torque.

Reusable drivers require constant recalibration to ensure that the driver is imparting the precise amount of torque. Recalibration is a cumbersome task but must be done routinely. Such reusable devices also require sterilization.

Disposable drivers are an alternative to the reusable drivers. Once the driver has been used, it is discarded.

Disposable drivers are traditionally used for low torque applications. The standard torque values in these applications typically range from about 4 to about 20 inch-ounces. It has, however, been a challenge to develop a reliable disposable driver capable of imparting higher torques for larger applications.

Piecemeal drivetrain systems have been developed to gear-up or otherwise impart greater torque with disposable devices. Such piecemeal systems provide interchangeability of parts to a device, within which torque is transferred from part-to-part of a piecemeal system.

Ratchet is defined in Merriam-Webster dictionary as: a mechanism that consists of a bar or wheel having inclined teeth into which a pawl drops so that motion can be imparted to the wheel or bar, governed, or prevented and that is used in a hand tool (as a wrench or screwdriver) to allow effective motion in one direction only.

Ratcheting medical wrenches are known they are traditional metal catch and metal pawl to impart directional application of force.

DISCLOSURE

Briefly stated, torque devices according to implementations of the present disclosure obviate the shortfalls of piecemeal systems by reducing the number of part-to-part transitions of torque and ratcheting.

Disclosed in some exemplary implementations herein are aspects of a torque-limiting ratchet driver. The driver has a cylindrical body. It may have a handle affixed thereto. The body has an inner annular wall; an upper clutch shank with gear teeth on one side and an annular wall around the periphery on the opposite side forming the peripheral wall of drive body guides; a lower shank having a drive socket on one side and gear teeth on the opposing side; a nut; a spacer; a coil spring between the upper cylindrical shank and the ribbed nut, wherein the spring is configured to apply a force across the upper clutch shank and the lower shank; a shaft having a workpiece-engaging tip and a drive connection engaged within the drive socket of the lower cylindrical shank, the shaft extending axially through the lower shank, the upper clutch shank, and the spring and connected to the nut; a plurality of ratchet teeth formed or molded on the inner annular wall; one or more of movable drive bodies mounted to the upper clutch shank with a toe that protrudes through a passageway beyond the annular wall to engage a ratchet tooth when rotated in the positive lock direction; wherein the upper shank and the lower clutch shank engage for relative rotation, and wherein the upper clutch shank and the lower shank disengage when a predetermined torque limit is exceeded; and, wherein the upper shank and the lower clutch shank move in the reverse direction without imparting torque. In some instance when the plurality of movable drive bodies move in the unlocked direction they do not engage the ratchet teeth.

Disclosed in some exemplary implementations herein are aspects of a torque-limiting ratchet driver. The driver has a cylindrical body. It may have a handle affixed thereto. The body has an inner annular wall; an upper clutch shank with gear teeth on one side and an annular wall around the periphery on the opposite side forming the peripheral wall of drive body guides; a lower shank having a drive socket on one side and gear teeth on the opposing side; a nut; a spacer; a coil spring between the upper cylindrical shank and the ribbed nut, wherein the spring is configured to apply a force across the upper clutch shank and the lower shank; a shaft having a workpiece-engaging tip and a drive connection engaged within the drive socket of the lower cylindrical shank, the shaft extending axially through the lower shank, the upper clutch shank, and the spring and connected to the nut; a plurality of ratchet teeth formed or molded on the inner annular wall; one or more of movable drive bodies mounted to the upper clutch shank with a toe that protrudes through a passageway beyond the annular wall to engage a ratchet tooth when rotated in the positive lock direction; wherein the upper shank and the lower clutch shank engage for relative rotation, and wherein the upper clutch shank and the lower shank disengage when a predetermined torque limit is exceeded; wherein the upper shank and the lower clutch shank move in the reverse direction without imparting torque. In some instance the device further includes drive body guides; mounting posts within the drive body guides; a passageway fluidly connecting each drive body guide to the inner annular wall of the body; series of openings fluidly connecting drive body guides having mounting posts formed therein; and, whereby the toes protrude and may engage the ratchet teeth.

In some instance the above implementations may have drive body(s) which include a post guide that mates with the mounting post; a toe, instep; a heel; flexible ankle; a first interior wall; and, wherein the flexible ankle flexes against the first interior wall during ratcheting to allow the body to rotate in the unlocked without imparting torque to the tip.

In some instance the above implementations may have drive body(s) which include a post guide that mates with the mounting post; a toe, instep; a heel; flexible ankle; a first interior wall; and, wherein each heel engages each of the second interior walls as bearing surfaces and locks the toes against the ratchet teeth.

Disclosed in some exemplary implementations herein are aspects of aplastic ratchet mechanism having a cylindrical body with a with an inner annular wall, a cylindrical end, and a cylindrical top; a plurality of ratchet teeth formed or molded on the inner annular wall; a cup shaped cylindrical upper shank (800) smaller than the interior diameter of the cylindrical body and having an annular wall around its periphery said annular wall forming the peripheral wall; drive body guides. In some instance the drive body guides have at least one passageway through the annular wall fluidly connecting each drive body guide to the inner annular wall of the body; at least one mounting post; one or more of movable drive bodies mounted to the cup shaped upper shank via the at least one mounting post; and, each drive body having a toe that protrudes through the passageway beyond the annular wall to engage a ratchet tooth when rotated in the positive lock direction.

Disclosed in some exemplary implementations herein are aspects of aplastic ratchet mechanism having a cylindrical body with a with an inner annular wall, a cylindrical end, and a cylindrical top; a plurality of ratchet teeth formed or molded on the inner annular wall; a cup shaped cylindrical upper shank smaller than the interior diameter of the cylindrical body and having an annular wall around its periphery said annular wall forming the peripheral wall; drive body guides. In some instance the drive body guides have at least one passageway through the annular wall fluidly connecting each drive body guide to the inner annular wall of the body; at least one mounting post; one or more of movable drive bodies mounted to the cup shaped upper shank via the at least one mounting post; and, each drive body having a toe that protrudes through the passageway beyond the annular wall to engage a ratchet tooth when rotated in the positive lock direction; each drive body further comprises: a post guide that mates with the mounting post; a toe, instep; a heel; and, flexible ankle.

In some instances a first interior wall; and, wherein the flexible ankle flexes against the first interior wall during ratcheting to allow the body to rotate in the unlocked without imparting rotation to the shank.

In some instances a first interior wall; and, wherein each heel engages each of the second interior walls as bearing surfaces and locks the toes against the ratchet teeth.

Disclosed in some exemplary implementations herein are aspects of aplastic ratchet mechanism having a cylindrical body with a with an inner annular wall, a cylindrical end, and a cylindrical top; a plurality of ratchet teeth formed or molded on the inner annular wall; a cup shaped cylindrical upper shank smaller than the interior diameter of the cylindrical body and having an annular wall around its periphery said annular wall forming the peripheral wall; drive body guides. In some instance the drive body guides have at least one passageway through the annular wall fluidly connecting each drive body guide to the inner annular wall of the body; at least one mounting post; one or more of movable drive bodies mounted to the cup shaped upper shank via the at least one mounting post; and, each drive body having a toe that protrudes through the passageway beyond the annular wall to engage a ratchet tooth when rotated in the positive lock direction; each drive body further comprises: a post guide that mates with the mounting post; a toe, instep; a heel; and, flexible ankle; a lower shank affixed to a shaft at its nose; a circumferential rim formed on the back side of the lower shank; and, a circumferential flange extending radially inward within the hollow of cylindrical body6forming a catch for the circumferential rim of the lower shank. In some instance the shaft is attached to a fastener

Disclosed in some exemplary implementations herein are aspects of a plastic ratchet driving method to move a shaft. Placing within a hollow body having catches or teeth placed radially around an inner annular wall are a lower shank and a cup shapedupper shank; affixed to the lower shank is a shaft with a tip at one end; placed within the body is a cup shaped upper shank; place within the cup shaped upper shank are a plurality of movable drive bodies each having a toe protruding radially from the shank towards the inner annular wall of the hollow body; and, connecting the toes to the teeth or catches around the inner annular wall rotating the shaft in a locked direction via rotating the body. In some instances rotating the body in an unlocked direction whereby the shaft does not rotate and the toes pass over the catches or teeth but do not engage. Rather the flexible ankles flex or bend and allow the drive body toe to pass over the catch without engagement. In some instances heels, flexible ankles, and an instep are formed on each drive body and each ankle flexes to allow the instep of the drive body to pass over the deflecting surface when rotating the body in an unlocked direction and the toes do not engage the bearing surface of the ratchet teeth. When rotated in a locking direction the instep of each drive body is placed under load via moving it against a bearing wall in the cup and each toe is also placed under load when it is moved against a bearing surface of a ratchet tooth.

Disclosed in some exemplary implementations herein are aspects of a disposable ratcheting device and method which includes at least a shaft extending axially through at least a shank. The shank also provides a cup or chamber wherein a series of drive bodies reside in a movable fashion. The shank is placed within a body having an inner wall with teeth formed radially, The drove bodies have flexible ankles on one side and toes on the other side. The toes protrude beyond the shank through passageways therein. When rotated in a locked direction the toes engage the teeth inside the body and impart rotation to the shaft. When rotated in an unlocked position the ankles flex allowing the toes to move over the teeth without engaging.

While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the present disclosure that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the present disclosure's teachings will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the appendices, figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. All descriptions and callouts in the Figures are hereby incorporated by this reference as if fully set forth herein.

FURTHER DESCRIPTION

According to one or more exemplary implementations, as shown inFIGS. 1-5torque-limiting ratcheting driver100are provided. Torque-limiting ratcheting driver100may have a generally T-shaped handle or other structure to facilitate use by a user. For example, the handle may by “T-shaped.” The handle may include arms4at one end of an axially extending generally hollow cylindrical body6. Cap2covers the same end of the handle. Cylindrical end18terminates cylindrical body6toward tip12of shaft14. Cap2may be snap-fitted to cylindrical body6, or may be welded, adhered, or attached by any equivalent thereof

An exemplary implementation shows, at least in part, at cylindrical end18, lower shank700provided, having an annularly tapering body and nose cone8along its length. Lower shank700may have a plurality of support flanges10that add strength while saving material. At one end, lower shank700tapers to drive socket9at the end of the nose cone8molded to engage drive connection16of shaft14. An exemplary implementation shows, at least in part, shaft14provided, at one end, with work piece-engaging tip12, adapted for engagement with an associated workpiece, such as a fastener or the like. The tip may also be a resector or other blade instrument. Work piece-engaging tip12is shown to be a socket wrench, but could be a screwdriver, wrench, or any other tool arrangement. During use as a torque limiting device the tip is connected to a fastener or the work piece. The tip can only be rotated by apply force visa vie rotating the body and the associated upper and lower shanks acting as a clutch within. During use as a ratchet only the device the tip is connected to a fastener or the work piece. The tip can only be rotated by apply force visa vie rotating the body and the associated ratcheting mechanism described below. At an opposite end, lower shank700has a plurality of gear82arranged in a crown gear formation8, with circumferential rim34extending radially outward and an internal axial bore to accommodate at least a portion of shaft14extending there through.

According to aspects of one or more exemplary implementations, inside cylindrical body6a clutch and ratchet assembly is disposed. The clutch assembly includes upper clutch shank800for forcibly engaging lower shank700. Upper clutch shank800has a bottom face that has a plurality of teeth82arranged in a crown gear formation around shaft guide88and a circumferential rim83extending radially outward and on the opposite side a plurality of drive body guides202each formed by an annular side wall90, having passageways200, a first interior wall205and second interior wall207. The upper shank is cylindrical and of a size and shape to slide into the body6and rotate freely.

According to one or more exemplary implementations, upper clutch shank800includes at least a plurality of passageways200through the annular side wall90of the upper clutch shank through which drive body300may extend. The annular side wall90encircles the periphery of the upper clutch shank opposite the gear teeth and is the peripheral wall of each the drive body guide.

In assembly, drive connection16of shaft14is received into drive socket9of lower shank700. Washer35maybe provided between circumferential rim34of lower shank700and circumferential flange33extending radially inward within the hollow of cylindrical body6forming a catch for the circumferential rim of the lower shank. Washer35may be of a polymer or other material having low coefficient of friction. Alternatively, circumferential rim34of lower shank700may be provided flush against circumferential flange33of cylindrical body6. The opposite side of circumferential flange33receives circumferential rim83of upper clutch shank800, allowing gear teeth82of lower shank700to engage gear teeth82of upper clutch shank800when a torque is applied.

FIG. 2shows aspects of the inner annular wall of the body6. Formed or molded as part of the inner annular wall402of the cylindrical body6are teeth405each protruding from the inner annular wall4024inner. Each tooth has at least a bearing surface410and a deflecting surface415. The deflecting surface of each tooth is angled in the same direction to form ramps from the inner annular wall402toward the bearing surface410.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 4show aspects of an upper clutch shank800exploded, assembled and mounted. The upper clutch shank800also forms the body of a ratchet device within the body6. The upper clutch shank800has gear teeth82forming a spiral crown gear on one side and a cylindrical cup shape, with guide openings, on the other side formed by an annular side wall90. The cup is a open chamber with additional openings in the annular wall to allow toes to protrude and move within. The annular wall has a series of openings fluidly connected to drive body guides202having mounting posts204formed therein. The drive body guides202open through passageways200in the annular side wall90. Movably mated to each mounting post204is a drive body300. Each drive body300is an elongated device divided roughly by a guide hole; it is multi-surfaced and each surface has a function. The posts guide302mates to the mounting posts204to movably attach the drive body300. A toe303is at the most distal end of the drive body. An instep305is an angled wall adjacent to the toe. The heel306is a bearing surface adjacent to the instep305. And an ankle308is on the opposite side of the post204then the toe. If the toe is at the distal end of the drive body the ankle is at the proximal end. The body guide is comprised of several walls which engage different portions of the drive body. In positive lock use as shown inFIG. 4, the toe303engages a bearing portion410of the ratchet tooth405and the heel306is a bearing surface against the second interior wall207. In the unlocked state the instep engages the deflecting surface415and the ankle308is urged against a first interior wall205, whereby the ankle308formed of a size and thickness to have a predetermined amount of flex allows the drive body to move from a first position with the heel306against the second interior wall207, to a second position at least partially remote from the interior wall, thereby rotating around the mounting post204. When the instep passes over the ratchet tooth405, the flexible ankle308returns from the second position which is an under-load position, to the first at-rest position, thereby placing the toe in the proper orientation to engage a tooth's bearing surface410when the device is rotated in the locked direction, in this example indicated as a clockwise direction. The movable drive body or bodies in the cup shaped shank each have a toe303protruding radially from the shank towards the inner annular wall402.

The drive bodies and drive body guides should be complementary size and shape. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that it is within the scope of this disclosure that direction is a selectable feature and the ratchet teeth405may be reversed as well as the drive body guides202. Moreover, the size and shape of the drive body, toe, ankle, instep and drive body guides may be varied.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that a disposable all-plastic ratchet is disclosed herein, the indication of its use with a torque limiting device is an exemplary implementation believed to be novel. The use of the ratcheting device with a non-torque limiting device is also within the scope of this disclosure. A non torque limiting device would be formed be permanently affixing the lower and upper shanks together thereby eliminating the gear82to gear82interaction and thereby providing a plastic disposable ratchet device to impart rotation to a shaft. One advantage of such a fixed torque configuration would be to allow removal of the spring22and supporting washers which add weight and cost. In such a configuration the shaft14is affixed in the nose8and the lower shank is inserted through cylindrical end18and the in the cylindrical body top19the upper shank is inserted. The lower and upper shanks are permanently affixed to one another yet remain rotatable within the body.

FIG. 2shows ratchet teeth405oriented with the ramp function providing counterclockwise rotation of drive toe305whereby the toe does not engage the bearing surface410and therefore prevents a positive lock of the toe303at the bearing surface. Reversing the direction of both the deflecting surface would place the bearing surface in position for a positive lock in the counterclockwise direction if the drive bodies300were also mounted in a reverse orientation.

According to aspects of one or more exemplary implementations, force is applied across lower shank700and upper clutch shank800via the coil spring22within cylindrical body6. Inside cylindrical body6, shown inFIG. 1spacer20and washer21are provided between upper clutch shank800and spring22. Spacer20and washer21transfer pressure from spring22over the top face of upper shank800. At an end of spring22opposite upper clutch shank800, washer23and shoulder nut25hold spring22in a relatively compressed state. Washer23may be provided between nut25and spring22to facilitate relative rotation of nut25and spring22. Nut25is formed of material softer than shaft14, nut25has an unobstructed open center26with a diameter smaller than the diameter of shaft14and a smooth surface malleable enough to be deformed by the rotational insertion to said open center26of the threading17at an end of shaft14.

According to one or more exemplary implementations, shaft14having threading17at an end opposite workpiece-engaging tip12engages a complementary threading within nut25, thereby imparting pressure between the respective teeth82of lower shank700and upper clutch shank800. Spring22and nut25provide the proper tensioning and biasing for the clutch assembly and, generally, the nut25is adjustable relative to shaft14to provide proper tension and calibration.

According to aspects of one or more exemplary implementations, various materials may be used for the components of driver100. According to some exemplary implementations, at least one of body6, nut25, lower shank700, and upper clutch shank800is of a plastic material or a composite including plastic. Plastic and other economical equivalents improve cost efficiency of production while providing high tensile strength, resistance to deformation, etc. Effective materials include plastics, resins, polymers, imides, fluoropolymers, thermoplastic polymers, thermosetting plastics, and the like as well as blends or mixtures thereof. According to aspects of one or more exemplary implementations, at least one of lower shank700and upper shank800is of or includes at least one material that lubricous or otherwise reduces friction. The presence of a friction-reducing material allows geometric aspects of the engagement between lower shank700and upper shank800to govern whether teeth engage or disengage, thereby improving precision of the device.

According to aspects of one or more exemplary implementations, materials and components of drive100are resistant to sterilization, cleaning, and preparation operations. For example, drive100and parts thereof are configured to withstand sterilization by methods including radiation (e.g., gamma rays, electron beam processing), steam (e.g., autoclave), detergents, chemical (e.g., Ethylene Oxide), heat, pressure, inter alia. For example, materials for drive100may be selected according to resistance to one or more selected sterilization techniques.

According to aspects of one or more exemplary implementations, shaft14is of a rigid material. For example, shaft14may be of a metal, such as stainless steel. According to some exemplary implementations, high torque capabilities of drive100are, at least in part, provided by features that maintain an effective engagement between drive connection16of shaft14and drive socket9of lower shank700. For example, some exemplary implementations are provided to improve the ability of drive100to maintain its grip on shaft14up to a greater range of torque.

According to aspects of one or more exemplary implementations, a single integrated shaft14spans the distance between workpiece-engaging tip12and an engagement point with nut25. This configuration enables greater torque capabilities than a piecemeal or fragmented set of interconnected components. This reduces the number of interconnections between a source of a torque and a location to which the torque is transferred.

According to one or more exemplary implementations, shaft14having drive connection16between opposing extensions stabilizes drive connection16within drive socket9. Placement of drive connection16at a medial segment of shaft14—rather than at an end thereof—facilitates a more stable engagement between drive connection16and drive socket9, thereby increasing the ability of engagement to transfer high amounts of torque.

According to one or more exemplary implementations, an engagement of drive connection16within drive socket9is maintained by the connection of the integrated portion of shaft14that extends to nut25. According to some exemplary implementations, both threading17and drive connection16are of a single integrated structure (i.e., shaft14). A force applied by spring22to nut25is directly transferred along shaft14from threading17to drive connection16. This force securely maintains drive connection16within drive socket9. This engagement enables transfers of greater amounts of torque from lower shank700(i.e., via drive socket9) to shaft14(i.e., via drive connection16).

According to aspects of some exemplary implementations, drive connection16and drive socket9have complementary geometries. One or more of a variety of configurations may be provided for engaging drive connection16within drive socket9. For example drives and associated connections may include triangular, square, hexagonal, rectangular, etc. According to aspects of one or more exemplary implementations, a substantially square drive connection16and drive socket9provide high torque transfer capabilities. Out of a variety of drive types, experimental results demonstrated that square drives and connections were among the most successful at transferring high torque without failure. Drive connection16and drive socket9may have rounded corners and edges to reduce or distribute stress risers.

According to aspects of one or more exemplary implementations, driver100capable of transferring higher torque may be provided with spring22having a greater spring constant (i.e., force constant) or otherwise be calibrated with spring22exerting greater forces in an initial (rest) state. A more robust spring22increases the probability of a friction grip relative to washer21. Provision of additional spacer20provides counter clockwise rotation without increasing spring tension when the drive toes are disengaged from the load bearing surface410.

According to aspects of one or more exemplary implementations, the plurality of teeth82are formed on the top face of lower shank700and the bottom face of upper clutch shank800to forcibly engage to impart torque from the handle to the workpiece when a torque is applied.

According to aspects of one or more exemplary implementations, teeth82are circumferentially spaced in a crown gear formation of the top face and bottom face of lower shank700and upper clutch shank800, respectively. Teeth82are preferably configured in a spiral formation. Each face of lower shank700and upper clutch shank800has an inner radius and an outer radius and teeth82spiral around the inner radius resulting in a larger tooth detail when viewing the tooth from the outer radius relative to the tooth detail when viewing the tooth from the inner radius. The spiral configuration of teeth82can also be defined as having a longer inclined face66at the edge of the tooth on or near the outer radius relative to inclined face66at the edge of the tooth on or near the inner radius of lower shank700and upper shank800. Results have shown that teeth arranged in said spiral configuration provide an increased reliability and/or precision in torque consistency when compared to non-spiral counterparts.

According to aspects of one or more exemplary implementations, the extent to which threading17of shaft14is threaded into nut25controls the amount of compression or preload on spring22which, subsequently, controls the limiting torque required to effect relative rotation of lower shank700and upper clutch shank800. If shaft14is more deeply threaded into nut25, then a higher torque will be required to disengage teeth82of lower shank700and upper clutch shank800. If shaft14is less deeply threaded into nut25, then a lower torque will be required. Accordingly, a predetermined torque limit is selectively programmable. The predetermined torque limit may correspond to a predefined threshold of a workpiece (e.g., a fastener) having a desired level of torque-based installation not to be exceeded.

When a force beyond the predetermined torque limit is achieved, teeth82of lower shank700and upper shank800will continue to disengage, resulting in rotation of the handle with no further rotation of workpiece-engaging tip12. Thus, the handle will continue to rotate, disengaging teeth82with every rotational movement that will not impart continued force beyond a predefined threshold to the fastener.

According to aspects of one or more exemplary implementations, the disposable torque-limiting ratchet driver of the present disclosure is capable of imparting torques of up to about 120 inch-pounds. For example, the torque output range may be selected between about 70 inch-pounds and about 120 inch-pounds. Typically, the torque requirement is different for different operations and for different implants. For example, applications may include those in the field of orthopedic surgery, construction and emplacement of implants, etc. Therefore, in some instances, the predetermined torque limits maybe at least about 1 inch-pound. In other instances, the predetermined torque limit may be between about 5 inch-pounds and about 150 inch-pounds, depending on an implant's specifications. In other instances, the predetermined torque limit may be between about 70 inch-pounds and about 120 inch-pounds, depending on an implant's specifications.

In some instances, the driver100may be prepackaged with an implant provided for one-time use. Such a methodology matches the driver that will impart a required amount of torque with the implant.

In other instances, the driver100may be reusable. Shaft14may be interchangeably fixed relative to nose cone8for the accommodation of multiple workpiece-engaging tips12. It is also to be appreciated that the handle of the driver is not limited to a T-shape and may be provided in any other suitable configuration.

It should also be understood that a variety of changes may be made without departing from the essence of the disclosure. Such changes are also implicitly included in the description. They still fall within the scope of this disclosure. It should be understood that this disclosure is intended to yield a patent covering numerous aspects of the disclosure both independently and as an overall system and in both method and apparatus modes.

Further, each of the various elements of the disclosure and claims may also be achieved in a variety of manners. This disclosure should be understood to encompass each such variation, be it a variation of an implementation of any apparatus implementation, a method or process implementation, or even merely a variation of any element of these.

Particularly, it should be understood that as the disclosure relates to elements of the disclosure, the words for each element may be expressed by equivalent apparatus terms or method terms—even if only the function or result is the same.

Such equivalent, broader, or even more generic terms should be considered to be encompassed in the description of each element or action. Such terms can be substituted where desired to make explicit the implicitly broad coverage to which this disclosure is entitled.

It should be understood that all actions may be expressed as a means for taking that action or as an element which causes that action.

Similarly, each physical element disclosed should be understood to encompass a disclosure of the action which that physical element facilitates.

Any patents, publications, or other references mentioned in this application for patent are hereby incorporated by reference. In addition, as to each term used it should be understood that unless its utilization in this application is inconsistent with such interpretation, common dictionary definitions should be understood as incorporated for each term and all definitions, alternative terms, and synonyms such as contained in at least one of a standard technical dictionary recognized by artisans and the Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, latest edition are hereby incorporated by reference.

Finally, all referenced listed in the Information Disclosure Statement or other information statement filed with the application are hereby appended and hereby incorporated by reference; however, as to each of the above, to the extent that such information or statements incorporated by reference might be considered inconsistent with the patenting of this/these disclosure(s), such statements are expressly not to be considered as made by the applicant(s).

In this regard it should be understood that for practical reasons and so as to avoid adding potentially hundreds of claims, the applicant has presented claims with initial dependencies only.

Support should be understood to exist to the degree required under new matter laws—including but not limited to United States Patent Law 35 USC 132 or other such laws—to permit the addition of any of the various dependencies or other elements presented under one independent claim or concept as dependencies or elements under any other independent claim or concept.

To the extent that insubstantial substitutes are made, to the extent that the applicant did not in fact draft any claim so as to literally encompass any particular implementation, and to the extent otherwise applicable, the applicant should not be understood to have in any way intended to or actually relinquished such coverage as the applicant simply may not have been able to anticipate all eventualities; one skilled in the art, should not be reasonably expected to have drafted a claim that would have literally encompassed such alternative implementations.

Such terms should be interpreted in their most expansive forms so as to afford the applicant the broadest coverage legally permissible.