Patent ID: 8028608

Claim:
A driver shaft for coupling to a handle of a fastener driver for driving an orthopedic fastener into bone, consisting essentially of: a one-piece metal shaft having proximal and distal ends, and an elongate middle portion therebetween, said distal end defining a driver tip with a non-circular cross-sectional shape for driving engagement with the orthopedic fastener, said driver tip subject to mechanical failure at a first torque, said proximal end including, a first connector provided with an at least partially circumferential recess and a flat to couple said shaft to the handle of the fastener driver, a second connector provided with an at least partially circumferential recess and a flat, a first bearing surface and a second bearing surface, a frangible segment located between said first and second connectors and located between said first and second bearing surfaces, said frangible segment subject to mechanical failure at a second torque less than said first torque, wherein said second connector is adapted to couple said shaft to the handle of the fastener driver only once said first connector and at least a portion of said frangible segment are removed from said proximal end.