Patent ID: 8640573

Claim:
A ratchet wrench for use in connection with medical instruments comprising: a longitudinally extending handle comprised of first and second plates, the first and second plates being spaced apart and extending in parallel defining an interior space between the first and second plates, the interior space having open sides extending between peripheries of the first and second plates, and exposing the interior space of the handle, an opening extending through the first and second plates adjacent a first end of the handle; a drive element mounted in the opening, the drive element including a ratchet mechanism extending into the space between the first and second plates, the ratchet mechanism having a plurality of teeth; a locking finger rotatably mounted in the interior space between the first and second plates for rotation about a pivot point, the locking finger having a tip on a first side of the pivot point engaging a tooth of the plurality of teeth on the ratchet mechanism; and an elongated leaf spring having a first end engaging the finger at a point thereon on a second side of the pivot point, a second end of the spring element coupled to a bolt fixed with respect to the first and second plates at a second end of the handle, the spring exposed to the open sides of the wrench.