Screwdriver for bone screws

{
  "publication_number": "US2005115368A1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A1",
  "title": "Screwdriver for bone screws",
  "abstract": "A screwdriver for bone screws, especially for compression screws and locking screws, has a handle and shaft extending out centrally from the handle. The shaft has a screw-driving tool on its free end. The shaft, includes a flexible shaft portion, wherein the shaft has two rigid, solid portions on both sides of the flexible portion. The flexible shaft portion has a flexible element for the transmission of a torque, and at least the flexible shaft portion is surrounded by an elastic protection hose or a rubber or plastic elastomeric tubular cover.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A screwdriver for bone screws, especially for compression screws and locking screws, comprising: a handle; a shaft extending out from the handle, which has a screw-driving tool on an end thereof; the shaft having a flexible shaft portion, said shaft has two rigid portions on both sides of the flexible portion; the flexible shaft portion has a flexible element for the transmission of a torque; and at least the flexible shaft portion is surrounded by an elastic protection hose.",
    "2. The screwdriver according to claim 1, wherein the flexible shaft portion has a holding portion on each of its ends, respectively, the flexible element being held between the holding portions.",
    "3. The screwdriver according to claim 1, wherein the flexible element consist of a helically coiled wire.",
    "4. The screwdriver according to claim 1, wherein the flexible element consist of a flexible tube element.",
    "5. The screwdriver according to claim 4, wherein the flexible tube element is provided with slits, which run transversely to the longitudinal direction.",
    "6. The screwdriver according to claim 1, wherein the protection hose consists of a biocompatible material, particularly of silicone.",
    "7. The screwdriver according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the shaft in the flexible portion is larger than in the rigid portions.",
    "8. The screwdriver according to claim 1, wherein in that the diameter of the shaft between the handle and the flexible portion increases towards the flexible portion in a conical form.",
    "9. The screwdriver according to claim 1, wherein the diameter of the shaft between the tool and the flexible region tapers towards the tool in a conical form.",
    "10. The screwdriver according to claim 1, wherein the handle has an essentially circular diameter with a flattened side, the flattened side indicating the orientation of the screw-driving tool.",
    "11. The screwdriver according to claim 1, wherein the flexible portion has a length which accounts for less than half of a total length of the screwdriver (A+B+C+D).",
    "12. The screwdriver according to claim 1, wherein the flexible portion has a length which accounts for more than one third of a total length of the screwdriver (A+C+B+D).",
    "13. The screwdriver according to claim 1, wherein the rigid shaft portion with the screw-driving tool is shorter than the second rigid shaft portion.",
    "14. The screwdriver according to claim 1, wherein the screw-driving tool is formed in one piece on a free end of the rigid shaft portion.",
    "15. The screwdriver according to claim 1, wherein a holding portions and the elastic hose have a diameter of approximately 10 mm.",
    "16. The screwdriver according to claim 1, wherein the hose has a wall thickness of approximately 2 mm.",
    "17. A surgical instrument comprising: a handle at a first end and a tool portion at a second end; a flexible shaft portion extending at least partially between said first and second ends; and a flexible elastomeric cover surrounding said flexible shaft.",
    "18. The surgical instrument set forth in claim 17, wherein the flexible shaft portion has a holding portion on each of its ends, respectively, the flexible element being held between the holding portions.",
    "19. The surgical instrument set forth in claim 17, wherein the handle has an essentially circular diameter with a flattened side, the flattened side indicating the orientation of the screw-driving tool.",
    "20. The surgical instrument set forth in claim 17, wherein the flexible portion has a length which accounts for less than half of a total length of the screwdriver.",
    "21. The surgical instrument as set forth in claim 20 wherein the flexible shaft has a length greater than one third of the total length of the screwdriver.",
    "22. The surgical instrument as set forth in claim 17 wherein said elastomeric cover is made of silicone rubber."
  ],
  "cpc": [
    "A61B 17/8875",
    "A61B 2017/2905"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "STRYKER TRAUMA GMBH"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2004-11-16",
  "publication_date": "2005-06-02",
  "priority_date": "2003-11-24",
  "application_number": "US-99024304-A",
  "family_id": "34436462",
  "citations": [
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  ]
}