Patent ID: 7255703

Claim:
A surgical driver for use with an implant, the driver comprising: a) an attachment piece having mounting structure configured to engage an implant; b) a shaft connected to the attachment piece by a coupling arrangement, the coupling arrangement being configured to: i) transfer torque from the shaft to the attachment piece; and ii) permit the shaft to pivot relative to the attachment piece in a range of axial orientations relative to a longitudinal axis of the attachment piece in response to a side torque being applied to the shaft; c) wherein the coupling arrangement includes a recess formed in the attachment piece, the recess being configured to receive a distal end of the shaft, and further wherein the attachment piece includes a retaining member, at least a portion of the retaining member being positioned within the recess to detachably connect the shaft to the attachment piece; and d) a snap ring arranged to capture the retaining member within a bore formed in the attachment piece, the retaining member being moveable against the bias of the snap ring; e) wherein the retaining member is spring-loaded by the snap ring that biases the retaining member to project into the recess to contact the distal end of the shaft; f) wherein the retaining member is a ball.