Patent ID: 7226453

Claim:
A screwdriver for a polyaxial screw having a head portion movably mounted to a shaft portion, the screwdriver comprising: a body assembly defining an axially extending inner passageway and including a plurality of retractable tabs for selectively engaging recesses on the polyaxial screw and a tip defining a plurality of alignment protrusions for mating with a rod-receiving opening on the polyaxial screw to align the screwdriver with the polyaxial screw; an inner shaft for applying distraction between the head portion and the shaft portion to rigidify the screw, the inner shaft being movably disposed within the passageway; a threaded rotatable collar surrounding the body assembly and having a threaded inner surface; and a coupling pin extending from the inner shaft and interfering with the threaded inner surface of the collar to couple the inner shaft to the threaded collar.