Taper disengagement tool

1. A method of disassembling a first and second component of a prosthesis used in joint arthroplasty, the method comprising:

using the first component of the prosthesis having a male taper;

using the second component of the prosthesis having an internal bore with a female taper, the first component and second component being engaged via the male and female tapers;

inserting a disassembly tool into an inner bore of the second component, the disassembly tool having a body having an internal bore at one end and being tapered inwardly towards its opposite end, the disassembly tool further having an expandable portion, the expandable portion being an expandable ring having a tapered internal bore;

coupling the body to the first component;

engaging, through a frictional force the expandable portion and an inner diameter of the second component;

partially dethreading a threaded internal bore of the disassembly tool from the first component; and

expanding the expandable portion and the inner diameter of the second component by moving the tapered portion of the body within the tapered internal bore of the expandable portion, applying a radial force to the body, causing the body to expand to engage the second component, allowing an axial force to be applied through the body against the first component relative to the second component, disengaging the first component from the second component,

wherein the coupling the body to the first component comprises threading an internal bore of the body onto a threaded post of the first component.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein partially dethreading the threaded internal bore of the disassembly tool comprises disengaging the expandable portion from the body.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein expanding the expandable portion comprises exerting a force against an inner wall of the expandable portion.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the expanding the expandable portion comprises causing the expandable portion to split into at least two pieces.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein inserting the disassembly tool into the inner bore of the second component comprises inserting the expandable portion separately from inserting the body.

6. A kit comprising:

a first component having a male taper;

a second component having an internal bore with a female taper, the first component and second component being engageable via the male and female tapers; and

a disassembly tool having a body having an internal bore at one end and being tapered inwardly towards its opposite end, the disassembly tool further having an expandable portion separable from the body, such that the expandable portion has an initial outer diameter equal to the inner diameter of the internal bore of the second component, wherein the expandable portion being an expandable ring having a tapered internal bore, so that, when the tapered portion of the body is moved within the tapered internal bore of the ring, a radial force is applied to the ring which causes it to expand radially to engage the second component, allowing an axial force to be applied through the body against the first component relative to the second component, wherein the first component includes a threaded post.

7. The kit of claim 6 , wherein internal bore of the body is a threaded bore, adapted to engage the threaded post of the first component.

8. The kit of claim 6 , wherein the expandable portion includes serrated edges along its outer diameter, adapted to grip the inner diameter of the internal bore of the second component.

9. The kit of claim 6 , wherein the body includes a hex-shaped top portion adapted for engaging tools.