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: 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: 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: Medical implants and implant components are formed by additive manufacturing processes. The additive manufacturing process used results in the implants or implant components having surfaces having a higher coefficient of friction as opposed to a similar implant manufactured using a different process, such as having a machined surface. The higher coefficient of friction of the relevant surface is particularly useful for multi-component implants that are to have a fixed relationship between the components based at least in part on a frictional engagement between them. While manufacturing via an additive manufacturing process may result in an implant component having slightly less strength for its size when compared with traditional manufacturing methods, the advantage of the increased coefficient of friction may offset any loss of component strength, and may allow for overall reduced implant size while maintaining other desirable implant characteristics.