Multiple member interconnect for surgical instrument and absorbable screw fastener

1. An instrument for inserting an absorbable screw fastener, the instrument comprising:

a distal portion having an elongated outer tube;

a proximal portion having a trigger mechanism; and

a driver/torque subassembly disposed within the outer tube and being movable relative to the outer tube including at least a pair of resilient force transmitting arms extending distally therefrom, wherein the arms provide at least a partial passage for a fastener therethrough, to selectively retain a head of an absorbable screw therebetween, and to transmit both an axial and a rotational force to the absorbable screw.

2. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the outer tube defines a crenellated tip.

3. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the trigger mechanism comprises a ratchet mechanism.

4. The instrument of claim 1 , wherein the outer tube is biased to a distally advanced position.

5. The instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a pilot disposed within the outer tube, the pilot having a tapered surface on its distal end.

6. The instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a fastener retainer dimensioned to receive fasteners.

7. An absorbable screw fastener and instrument for inserting the absorbable screw fastener, comprising:

an instrument having an outer tube on a distal end and a trigger mechanism on its proximal end;

a driver/torque subassembly disposed within the outer tube, the driver/torque subassembly including at least a pair of resilient force transmitting arms extending distally therefrom; and

an absorbable screw fastener having a body portion and a head portion disposed at the proximal end of the body portion, the fastener being inserted on the distal end of the instrument, the head of the absorbable screw fastener having a driver receiving configuration formed in an outer radial side surface of the outer diameter for selective engagement with at least the pair of resilient force transmitting arms of the drive/torque subassembly, wherein the resilient force transmitting arms allow at least a partial passage for the fastener therethrough, wherein the resilient force transmitting arms transmit both linear and rotational motion to the driver receiving configuration of the absorbable screw fastener.

8. The absorbable screw fastener and instrument of claim 7 , wherein the driver receiving configuration further defines a slot formed in the surface of the outer diameter of the head portion, wherein the slot of the screw fastener extends the entire length thereof.

9. The absorbable screw fastener and instrument of claim 8 , wherein the absorbable screw fastener is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of L1, L4, PGA, and PGB.

10. The absorbable screw fastener and instrument of claim 7 , wherein the distal end of the body portion defines a distal surface which is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis.

11. The absorbable screw fastener and instrument of claim 10 , wherein the distal surface of the distal end of the body portion is angled at about 5° to about 15° with respect to an axis which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

12. The absorbable screw fastener and instrument of claim 7 , wherein the head portion defines a distal surface which is angled with respect to the longitudinal axis.

13. The absorbable screw fastener and instrument of claim 12 , wherein the distal surface of the head portion is angled at about 5° to about 15° with respect to an axis which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

14. The absorbable screw fastener and instrument and instrument of claim 13 , wherein the distal surface of the distal end of the body portion is angled at about 5° to about 15° with respect to an axis which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

15. The absorbable screw fastener and instrument of claim 14 , wherein each slot formed in each thread includes at least one of a radiused leading edge and a radiused trailing edge.