US 12,004,754 B2
Torque transmitting ball joint driver having a rigid fixation mechanism
Matt Fenn, West Chester, PA (US); Jared Schoenly, West Chester, PA (US); Dave Evans, West Chester, PA (US); and Michael White, Basel (CH)
Assigned to DePuy Synthes Products, Inc., Raynham, MA (US)
Filed by DePuy Synthes Products, Inc., Raynham, MA (US)
Filed on May 13, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/743,925.
Application 17/743,925 is a continuation of application No. 16/207,823, filed on Dec. 3, 2018, granted, now 11,331,106.
Application 16/207,823 is a continuation of application No. 13/547,540, filed on Jul. 12, 2012, abandoned.
Prior Publication US 2022/0297272 A1, Sep. 22, 2022
Int. Cl. A61B 17/70 (2006.01); A61B 17/16 (2006.01); A61B 17/17 (2006.01); A61B 17/88 (2006.01); B25B 23/00 (2006.01); B25B 23/10 (2006.01); F16D 3/207 (2006.01)
CPC A61B 17/162 (2013.01) [A61B 17/1757 (2013.01); A61B 17/7076 (2013.01); A61B 17/8875 (2013.01); B25B 23/0035 (2013.01); B25B 23/10 (2013.01); F16D 3/207 (2013.01); A61B 17/7082 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A driver having a ball-in-socket joint, comprising:
a driver tip having a spherical head;
a retention cap having a domed surface to mate with the spherical head;
an input shaft;
a spring disposed in an end of the input shaft and in a recess of the retention cap opposite that of the domed surface; and
a housing that receives the input shaft, the spring, the retention cap and the spherical head,
wherein the housing has a tapered end to positionally retain the spherical head therein, and
wherein the spherical head has a plurality of grooves defined in a surface thereof, the housing defines a plurality of holes, and each of the holes receives a pin that passes through the housing and is received within a respective groove of the spherical head, and
wherein torque applied at the input shaft is transmitted to the housing and to the driver tip by action of the pins within the grooves of the spherical head.