Patent ID: 7887325

Claim:
An implant-driver assembly comprising: an implant, said implant having external threads permitting threaded engagement with a bone structure; a driver having a drive portion at a proximal end, a head at a distal end, and a flange having a sloped surface and positioned between said drive portion and said head; and a coupler that releasably couples said driver to said implant and that permits said driver to impart torque to said implant and that further permits removal of said driver from said implant upon disengagement of said coupler, said coupler comprising: a collar section including a plurality of fingers adapted to engage the sloped surface of said flange of said driver such that radially inward pressure applied to the plurality of fingers of said collar section disengages said driver from said implant; and an implant engaging section positioned proximally to said collar section, wherein said implant engaging section comprises a plurality of fingers each having a protruding portion, said implant being provided with an annular recess such that said protruding portions of said plurality of fingers of said implant engaging section engage the annular recess of said implant to impede relative axial movement between said implant, said driver and said coupler, wherein said plurality of fingers of said implant engaging section of said coupler are released from the annular recess of said implant when radially inward pressure is applied to the plurality of fingers of said collar section of said coupler.