Surgical screw delivery system and method

A power screwdriver, comprising:

• a handgrip;
• a screwdriver body, the screwdriver body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis;
• a control panel comprising a user input and a light signal;
• and
• a detachable cartridge and shaft module, the detachable cartridge and shaft module comprising:
• a housing configured to be attached to the screwdriver body;
• a shaft assembly coupled with the housing;
• and
• a screw cartridge coupled with the housing, the screw cartridge comprising a cartridge barrel, the cartridge barrel having a plurality of barrel chambers each configured to hold a screw;
• wherein the distal end of the shaft assembly is coaxially aligned with one of the plurality of barrel chambers;
• wherein the housing has a cavity, the screw cartridge and the shaft assembly disposed in the cavity of the housing;
• wherein the cartridge barrel is cylindrically shaped with a barrel centerline generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the plurality of barrel chambers are formed through the cartridge barrel with centerline of each barrel chamber generally parallel to the barrel centerline, and are uniformly angularly distributed within the cartridge barrel;
• wherein the screw cartridge further comprises a cylindrically shaped revolver cam coaxial with the cartridge barrel and a cartridge shaft coaxial with the cartridge barrel, the revolver cam having curved grooves formed thereon, each end of the cartridge shaft removably coupled with a snap feature disposed about the housing;
• and
• wherein the shaft assembly comprises a distal shaft at the distal end and a proximal shaft at the proximal end, the distal shaft having a handle sleeved thereon allowing the distal shaft to rotate therein, wherein a cam-pin is coupled to the handle and engaged with curved grooves on the revolver cam, and wherein moving the handle proximally to a retracted position and then distally to a neutral position causes the cartridge barrel to rotate around the barrel centerline to a position so that the shaft assembly is indexed and coaxially aligned with the next barrel chamber within the cartridge barrel.

A surgical screw delivery apparatus comprising:

• a housing configured to be attached to a powered surgical screwdriver;
• a shaft assembly coupled with the housing, the shaft assembly having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis;
• and
• a screw cartridge coupled with the housing, the screw cartridge comprising a cartridge barrel, the cartridge barrel having a plurality of barrel chambers each configured to hold a screw;
• wherein the distal end of the shaft assembly is coaxially aligned with one of the plurality of barrel chambers;
• wherein the housing has a cavity, and wherein the screw cartridge and the shaft assembly are disposed in the cavity;
• wherein the cartridge barrel is cylindrically shaped with a barrel centerline generally parallel to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the plurality of barrel chambers are formed through the cartridge barrel with centerline of each barrel chamber generally parallel to the barrel centerline, and are uniformly angularly distributed within the cartridge barrel;
• wherein the screw cartridge further comprises a cylindrically shaped revolver cam coaxial with the cartridge barrel, the revolver cam having curved grooves formed thereon;
• wherein the screw cartridge further comprises a cartridge shaft coaxial with the cartridge barrel, each end of the cartridge shaft removably coupled with a securing feature disposed about the housing;
• and
• wherein the shaft assembly comprises a distal shaft at the distal end and a proximal shaft at the proximal end, the distal shaft having a handle sleeved thereon allowing the distal shaft to rotate therein, wherein a cam-pin is coupled to the handle and engaged with curved grooves on the revolver cam, and wherein moving the handle proximally to a retracted position and then distally to a neutral position causes the cartridge barrel to rotate around the barrel centerline to a position so that the shaft assembly is indexed and coaxially aligned with the next barrel chamber within the cartridge barrel.

A power screwdriver, comprising:

• a handgrip;
• a screwdriver body, the screwdriver body having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis;
• a control panel comprising a user input and a light signal;
• and
• a detachable cartridge and shaft module, the detachable cartridge and shaft module comprising:
• a housing configured to be attached to the screwdriver body;
• a shaft assembly coupled with the housing;
• a screw cartridge coupled with the housing, the screw cartridge comprising a cartridge barrel, the cartridge barrel having a plurality of barrel chambers each configured to hold a screw;
• and
• a handle configured to slide in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis between a first position and a second position;
• wherein the distal end of the shaft assembly is coaxially aligned with one of the plurality of barrel chambers, and wherein each time the handle is moved from the first position to the second position the screw cartridge is rotationally indexed from one of the barrel chambers to another of the barrel chambers being aligned with the shaft assembly.