Tool for assembling and disassembling implant components

1 . A tool for assembling and disassembling a first implant component and a second implant component, the tool comprising:

a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis;

an elongated force transmission structure for transmitting a force in a direction along the longitudinal axis;

two elongated retaining elements, each retaining element having a distally facing retaining surface at a proximal end thereof;

an actuation mechanism, wherein the actuation mechanism is operable to move the retaining elements between a standby position and a retaining position, wherein in the retaining position the proximal ends of the retaining elements are closer to each other than in the standby position; and

said actuation mechanism wherein an actuation member with a slanted surface that interacts with distal portions of the retaining elements

said elongated force transmission structure including a transmission rod that is rotatable and when rotated after the actuation mechanism has assumed the retaining position interacts with the actuation member to further actuate the actuation mechanism and cause a relative movement of the distally facing retaining surfaces in a distal direction; and

said tool including either an assembly adapter, when said tool is used to assemble the implant components, or a disassembly adapter, when said tool is used to disassemble the implant components, both adapters configured to be attached to the force transmission structure.

2 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the force transmission structure includes a proximally facing contact surface, wherein said further actuation of the actuation mechanism after assuming the retaining position causes said relative movement of the distally facing retaining surfaces towards the proximally facing contact surface.

3 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the retaining elements are configured to perform at their proximal ends a gripping motion towards each other to assume the retaining position and a release motion away from each other to assume the standby position.

4 . The tool of claim 1 , further comprising a base member, wherein the retaining elements are each pivotable about a rotation axis having a fixed position in relation to the base member.

5 . The tool of claim 4 , wherein the actuation mechanism further comprises a biasing means, wherein the biasing means is arranged between the base member and the actuation member and biases the base member and the actuation member away from each other along the longitudinal axis.

6 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the actuation member is arranged between the distal ends of the retaining elements and includes a distally tapered portion provided with the slanted surface, wherein the distal ends of the retaining elements are in contact with the slanted surface of the distally tapered portion.

7 . The tool of claim 6 , further comprising a base member, wherein the actuation member is movable relative to the base member along the longitudinal axis, wherein guided by contact of the distal ends of the retaining elements with the slanted surface, a movement of the tapered portion relative to the base member in a distal direction is configured to cause the distal ends of the retaining elements to move away from each other and configured to cause the proximal ends of the retaining elements to move towards each other.

8 . The tool of claim 1 , wherein the transmission rod is arranged between the retaining elements and the transmission rod has a through hole extending between the distal and proximal ends of the transmission rod for inserting a fastening tool.

9 . The tool of claim 8 , wherein the transmission rod is in a threaded engagement with the actuation member so that a rotation of the transmission rod relative to the actuation member causes a movement of the actuation member along the longitudinal axis relative to the distal ends of the retaining elements.

10 . The tool of claim 8 , wherein the force transmission structure includes a proximally facing contact surface.

11 . The tool of claim 10 , wherein the force transmission structure further comprises an adapter comprising the contact surface at a proximal end of the adapter and a rod coupling portion at a distal end of the adapter,

wherein the adapter is an assembly adapter for being in contact with the first implant component and/or a disassembly adapter for being in contact with assembly screw of the second implant component, and

wherein the rod coupling portion allows for a relative rotation between the adapter and the transmission rod about the longitudinal axis.

12 . A method for preparing a first implant component for assembly to a second implant component using the tool of claim 1 , wherein the tool comprises an actuation mechanism, two elongated retaining elements, a force transmission structure, and an assembly adapter, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

placing the first implant component between proximal ends and onto distally facing retaining surfaces of the retaining elements, wherein the retaining elements are in a standby position for receiving the first implant component; and

actuating the actuation mechanism of the tool for assuming a retaining position by moving the retaining elements closer to each other and by moving the force transmission structure to abut the first implant component with a proximally facing contact surface at the proximal end of the force transmission structure.

13 . A method for disassembling a first implant component and a second implant component using the tool of claim 1 , wherein the tool comprises an actuation mechanism, two elongated retaining elements, and a force transmission structure, and a disassembly adapter, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

loosening an assembly screw that fastens the first implant component to the second implant component;

placing the first implant component between proximal ends and onto distally facing retaining surfaces of the retaining elements, wherein the retaining elements are in a standby position for receiving the first implant component;

actuating the actuation mechanism of the tool for assuming a retaining position by moving the retaining elements closer to each other and by moving the force transmission structure proximally to abut a head of the assembly screw with a proximally facing contact surface at the proximal end of the force transmission structure; and

after the retaining elements assumed the retaining position, continuing with actuating the actuation mechanism for moving the retaining elements distally in order to pull the first implant component away from the second implant component.