Articulating surgical tools

An articulating tool configured to facilitate placement of fasteners during a medical procedure, the articulating tool comprising:

• an elongate outer housing comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen, and a longitudinal axis, the elongate outer housing configured to engage with a handpiece comprising a motor, the elongate outer housing connected to a wheel, wherein rotation of the wheel causes the elongate outer housing to rotate;
• a torque transmission mechanism comprising:
• a first shaft that extends through the lumen of the elongate outer housing;
• an articulating torque transmission unit having a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to a distal portion of the first shaft;
• and
• a driver head adapter that is positioned at the second end of the articulating torque transmission unit, the driver head adapter configured to removably engage with a bit and to rotate the bit around a bit axis, the bit configured to engage with a fastener;
• wherein the torque transmission mechanism is configured to transmit torque from the motor to the driver head adapter and the bit, and wherein rotating the elongate outer housing is configured to rotate the torque transmission mechanism around the longitudinal axis;
• and
• an orientation mechanism that is separate from the torque transmission mechanism, the orientation mechanism comprising:
• a second shaft extending through the lumen of the elongate outer housing;
• and
• a controller connected to a proximal portion of the second shaft, the controller configured to rotate the second shaft, wherein the driver head adapter is connected to the distal portion of the second shaft, and wherein the rotation of the second shaft rotates the driver head adapter around a transverse axis, wherein the transverse axis is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

An articulating tool configured to facilitate placement of fasteners during a medical procedure, the articulating tool comprising:

• an elongate outer housing comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen, and a longitudinal axis, the elongate outer housing configured to engage with a handpiece comprising a motor;
• a torque transmission mechanism comprising:
• a first shaft that extends through the lumen of the elongate outer housing;
• an articulating torque transmission unit having a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to a distal portion of the first shaft;
• and
• a driver head adapter that is positioned at the second end of the articulating torque transmission unit, the driver head adapter configured to removably engage with a bit and to rotate the bit around a bit axis, the bit configured to engage with a fastener;
• wherein the torque transmission mechanism is configured to transmit torque from the motor to the driver head adapter and the bit, and wherein rotating the elongate outer housing is configured to rotate the torque transmission mechanism around the longitudinal axis;
• and
• an orientation mechanism that is separate from the torque transmission mechanism, the orientation mechanism comprising:
• a second shaft extending through the lumen of the elongate outer housing;
• a first bevel gear fixedly coupled to the second shaft;
• a second bevel gear coupled to the driver head adapter;
• and
• a controller connected to a proximal portion of the second shaft, the controller configured to rotate the second shaft, wherein the driver head adapter is connected to the distal portion of the second shaft, and wherein the rotation of the second shaft rotates the driver head adapter around a transverse axis, wherein the transverse axis is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

An articulating tool configured to facilitate placement of fasteners during a medical procedure, the articulating tool comprising:

• an elongate outer housing comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a lumen, and a longitudinal axis, the elongate outer housing configured to engage with a handpiece comprising a motor;
• a torque transmission mechanism comprising:
• a first shaft that extends through the lumen of the elongate outer housing;
• an articulating torque transmission unit having a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to a distal portion of the first shaft;
• and
• a driver head adapter that is positioned at the second end of the articulating torque transmission unit, the driver head adapter configured to removably engage with a bit and to rotate the bit around a bit axis, the bit configured to engage with a fastener;
• wherein the torque transmission mechanism is configured to transmit torque from the motor to the driver head adapter and the bit, and wherein rotating the elongate outer housing is configured to rotate the torque transmission mechanism around the longitudinal axis;
• and
• an orientation mechanism that is separate from the torque transmission mechanism, the orientation mechanism comprising:
• a second shaft extending through the lumen of the elongate outer housing;
• and
• a controller connected to a proximal portion of the second shaft, the controller configured to rotate the second shaft, wherein the driver head adapter is connected to the distal portion of the second shaft, and wherein the rotation of the second shaft rotates the driver head adapter around a transverse axis, wherein the transverse axis is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, wherein the elongate outer housing is configured to complete multiple revolutions about the longitudinal axis relative to the controller.