Abstract: Instruments, tools, and methods assist in assembling components of a surgical construct, for example, a press-on rod to a pedicle screw. A includes an elongate driving rod having a distal tip adapted to engage and transfer a rotational force to a surgical screw and a driver connection at a proximate end thereof, a first elongate shaft having a distal end, a proximal end, and a generally U-shaped channel adapted to receive the elongate driving rod therein, and a retention mechanism to retain the elongate driving rod in the generally U-shaped channel. A tool includes an elongate hollow rod having a collapsible distal tip, an elongate shaft slidingly disposed within the elongate hollow rod, the elongate shaft having a distal end comprising a driving feature, and a locking mechanism to prevent the distal end of the elongate shaft from being inadvertently removed from the distal tip of the elongate hollow rod.

Abstract: An orthopedic device includes an implant member with a thru-bore having an entry diameter, an intermediate diameter, and an exit diameter. According to one embodiment the intermediate diameter of the thru-bore is larger than both the entry diameter and the exit diameter. Additionally, the orthopedic device includes a screw assembly configured to be coupled to the thru-bore, including a thread portion and a selectively expandable head portion. The selectively expandable head portion includes both an expandable ring and a pull-lock pin configured to selectively expand the expandable ring as the pull-lock pin is pulled from said screw assembly.

Abstract: According to one exemplary embodiment, an expandable ring is provided including a continuous ring member having no splits or breaks. According to one exemplary embodiment, the expandable ring is a compliant mechanism configured to expand and contract due to a relative movement of related sections of the continuous ring member.

Abstract: A coupling assembly for use in surgical constructs comprises a first body and a second body. One of the first body and the second body includes a male member and an other of the first body and the second body includes a female member. The male member is sized and shaped to be received within the female member and the female member has an internal bore sized and shaped to receive the male member therein. A raised portion is formed on or attached to the male member. An area of decreased diameter is associated with the internal bore of the female member. The first and second bodies are coupleable to one another by an interference fit when the raised portion of the male member is positioned within the area of decreased diameter associated with the internal bore of the female member.

Abstract: An orthopedic device includes an implant member with a thru-bore having an entry diameter, an intermediate diameter, and an exit diameter. According to one embodiment the intermediate diameter of the thru-bore is larger than both the entry diameter and the exit diameter. Additionally, the orthopedic device includes a screw assembly configured to be coupled to the thru-bore, including a thread portion and a selectively expandable head portion. The selectively expandable head portion includes both an expandable ring and a pull-lock pin configured to selectively expand the expandable ring as the pull-lock pin is pulled from said screw assembly.