Patent ID: 8882775

Claim:
A fixation assembly comprising: a driver having a driver body, a first protrusion that extends radially outward from the driver body distal to a proximal end of the driver body, a second protrusion having external threads and that extends radially outward from the driver body at a location distal to the first protrusion, and a coupling supported by the driver body, the coupling configured to engage a fixation element coupling defined by a fixation element such that rotation of the driver drives the fixation element into an underlying implant; a holding sleeve having a proximal portion, a distal portion, a holding sleeve body and a channel that extends through the holding sleeve body, the channel being configured to receive the driver, the proximal portion of the holding sleeve having internal threads, the holding sleeve further including a distal thread that is configured to temporarily mate with a thread of the fixation element such that as the driver rotates the fixation element, the fixation element is driven into the underlying implant and disengages from the holding sleeve; and an alignment mechanism extending from the holding sleeve, the alignment mechanism including a mating member configured to engage a blocking plate so as to maintain alignment of the blocking plate relative to the underlying implant as the fixation element is driven into the underlying implant to thereby affix the blocking plate to the underlying implant; wherein the first and second protrusions are separated by a distance that limits the translation of the driver within the holding sleeve, and the external threads of the second protrusion are configured to engage the internal threads of the holding sleeve to thereby couple the driver to the holding sleeve.