Importance

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Abstract

A driver for use in orthopedic surgery having a generally elongate housing adapted for single-handed gripping operation. The driver includes an engagement mechanism associated with the housing for releasably engaging the proximal end of a longitudinally extending driven member and includes a driven member, such as a flexible drive spindle, for rotatably driving the engagement mechanism. The driver further includes shield that is supportingly connected with an end of the housing so as to extend co-axially with and fully circumscribe the driven member. The distal end of the shield terminates in an end portion adapted to be placed against a surface of a body part into which the member is driven. The driver also includes a mechanism to permit relative movement in an axial direction between the engagement mechanism and the end portion for advancement into and retraction from the surface so that, in use, single-handedly, the driven member is always fully shielded and supported. In the preferred form of the invention the relative movement between the engagement mechanism and end portion is achieved by a longitudinally retracting shield. In other embodiments the shield is fixed and the engagement mechanism is advanced internally within the housing.

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First Claim