Push-off driver and method for inserting bone screws

1. A method of releasing a driver from a bone screw, the method comprising the steps of:

assembling a driver including a driver sleeve connectable at its distal end to the bone screw, and an inner driver moveable inside the driver sleeve having a drive structure to drive the bone screw, inserting the inner driver through a central channel of the driver sleeve such that a cross-pin provided at a distal end of the inner driver is accessible when the inner driver is coupled to a bone screw;

attaching the bone screw to the driver sleeve and inner driver;

inserting the bone screw into a patient; and

detaching the driver from the bone screw by unthreading the driver sleeve from the bone screw.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein assembling the driver comprises:

inserting the inner driver through the central channel of the driver sleeve such that the inner driver extends out a proximal end of the driver sleeve.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein assembling the driver further comprises:

coupling a proximal end of the inner driver to a base portion of the driver, the base portion of the driver coupled to a handle.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein assembling the driver further comprises:

rotatably fixing the inner driver with respect to the driver base portion.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein assembling the driver further comprises:

engaging an outer sleeve associated with the base portion with the inner driver thereby coupling the inner driver to the outer sleeve, the inner driver received within a central channel of the outer sleeve, where the outer sleeve is engaged with the inner driver by at least one of a direct or indirect connection.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein engaging the outer sleeve with the inner driver includes engaging an engagement element with a corresponding engagement feature provided on the inner driver.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the corresponding engagement feature provided on the inner driver includes a recess provided on a surface of the inner driver.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein engaging the outer sleeve with the inner driver includes transitioning the outer sleeve between a release position and an engaged position.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein transitioning the outer sleeve between the release position and the engaged position includes moving the outer sleeve in an axial direction along a longitudinal axis of the driver.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein transitioning the outer sleeve between the release position and the engaged position includes operating a button associated with the outer sleeve to engage/disengage an engagement element associated with the outer sleeve with a corresponding engagement feature of the inner driver.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein attaching the bone screw to the driver sleeve comprises threading the driver sleeve onto a head of the bone screw, the driver sleeve including a threaded distal end.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein attaching the bone screw to the inner driver includes engaging the cross-pin provided at the distal end of the inner driver with a head of the bone screw to prevent rotation of the bone screw when attaching to the driver.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein inserting the bone screw into the patient comprises rotating the inner driver within the driver sleeve.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein detaching the driver from the bone screw further includes unthreading the driver sleeve from a head of the bone screw, the driver sleeve including a threaded distal end, wherein the unthreading of the driver sleeve disengages the inner driver from the bone screw.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein detaching the driver from the bone screw further includes contacting the driver sleeve with a base portion of the driver to prevent axial movement of the driver sleeve as it is unthreaded from the bone screw, where the base portion of the driver is coupled to a proximal end of the inner driver.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein as the driver sleeve is prevented from moving axially towards a proximal end of the driver, the drive structure of the inner driver is detached from the bone screw.

17. The method of claim 1 , further comprises disassembling the driver including the steps of:

releasing a proximal end of the inner driver from a base portion of the driver, the base portion coupled to a handle;

removing the inner driver from the base portion; and

removing the inner driver from the driver sleeve by sliding the inner driver out through a central channel provided in the driver sleeve.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein releasing the inner driver from the base portion of the driver includes:

releasing the inner driver from an outer sleeve associated with the base portion, where the inner driver is received within a central channel of the outer sleeve when assembled.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein releasing the inner driver from the outer sleeve includes disengaging an engagement element of the outer sleeve with a corresponding recess provided on a surface of the inner driver.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein releasing the inner driver from the outer sleeve includes:

operating a button associated with the outer sleeve to disengage an engagement element associated with outer sleeve with a corresponding engagement feature of the inner driver, and

transitioning the outer sleeve between an engaged position and a released position by moving the outer sleeve in an axial direction along a longitudinal axis of the driver.