Patent attributes
A fastener system for placing screws into bone or tissue structure during a medical procedure is disclosed. The fastener system comprises a drive shaft and driver tip that securely and removeably interlocks with the fastener head and drives the fastener into the surgical site, then disengages the fastener and withdraws. The fastener system comprises a multi-chamber cartridge, which can be either reloadable or a pre-loaded disposable one-use unit. Each chamber holds a fastener using one or more of several alignment systems. Example of alignment systems are cantilevers with springs, spring-clips, or molded features within the chamber to hold the fastener in place until the driver tip engages the fastener head. The fastener head also can latch onto the driver tip. As an example, the fastener head can have hooks that lock into a ridge on the driver, and disengage when the driver tip withdraws.
