Patent ID: 7749251

Claim:
A system for stabilizing a facet joint comprising: a screwdriver, itself comprising: an elongated shaft having proximal and distal ends and defining a first axis; a torque generator disposed at the proximal end of the shaft; a torque projecting head disposed at the distal end of the shaft and defining and rotatable about a second axis, wherein the first and the second axes are defined by a fixed angle therebetween; a torque transmitter coupled between the torque generator and the torque projecting head, such that rotation of the torque generator about the first axis rotates the torque projecting head about the second axis; a self-tapping screw defining a screw head and a threaded screw shaft, the screw being integrally formed as a single piece with the torque projecting head of the screwdriver; and wherein the screwdriver is sized to be insertable into a posterolateral surgical opening, and the screw is sized to be insertable into said facet joint.