Patent ID: 7335208

Claim:
An instrument for tightening bone screws into a patient during orthopedic surgery, comprising: a first body and a second body, said first and second bodies sharing a common axis of rotation; said fast body having a distal end; said second body having a reservoir therein, said second body having a distal end having a profile to engage a bone screw; and a shear pin with an end section, said shear pin being inserted through said first and second bodies with said end section positioned at least partially in the reservoir of said second body, whereby the reservoir can receive said end section when said shear pin breaks, wherein said first and second bodies have a longitudinal side; wherein said second body has a second passage that opens between the reservoir and the longitudinal side of said second body; wherein said first body has a first passage that opens between the second passage in said second body and the longitudinal side of said first body; and wherein said shear pin is inserted through the first and second passages; and further including a third body that is fixedly secured on the longitudinal side of said first or second body; said third body having a third passage therethrough that opens into said first and second passages; and wherein said shear pin is received inside the third passage.