Patent ID: 8430868

Claim:
A wrench for coupling a set screw to a medical device comprising: a handle housing; a shaft comprising an interface section having a proximal end disposed within the handle housing and a distal end that is configured to be received in a set screw depression defined on a head of a set screw and an internal section disposed within the handle housing, the internal section of the shaft configured to engage the interface end of the shaft, the shaft defining an axis of the wrench; a first mating structure coupled to the internal section of the shaft; a second mating structure coupled to an interior surface of the handle housing, wherein the first and second mating structures are configured to engage one another, except when an axial force exceeding a first threshold is applied to the handle housing, the first mating structure disengages from the second mating surface allowing the handle housing to rotate with respect to the shaft; a first slip structure configured to engage the internal section of the shaft; and a second slip structure configured to engage the proximal end of the interface section of the shaft, wherein the first and second slip structures are configured to engage one another, except when torque applied to the handle housing exceeds a second threshold the first and second slip structures disengage allowing the handle housing to rotate with respect to the internal shaft.