Patent ID: 8790413

Claim:
A sleeve and implant combination comprising: a first implant component having an outer surface and a first engaging portion of a junction; a second implant component separate from the first implant component and having a second engaging portion removably engageable with the first engaging portion of the junction; a sleeve having a first end, a second end, and a sidewall extending from the first end to the second end, the first end of the sleeve removably mounted on the outer surface of the first implant component at a location spaced away from the first engaging portion, the sidewall of the sleeve surrounding at least a portion of the first engaging portion, the sleeve being extendable from a first position in which the sleeve is stowed on the first implant component with the sidewall surrounding at least a portion of the first engaging portion to a second position in which the sidewall of the sleeve defines an elongated protective passageway extending away from the location spaced away from the first engaging portion of the first implant component such that the second implant component may be passed through the passageway to engage the first implant component while the first end of the sleeve is removably mounted on the outer surface of the first implant component at the location spaced away from the first engaging portion, whereby, with the first engaging portion engaged with the second engaging portion, the sleeve may be disconnected from the first implant component, the sleeve having a closed configuration in which the second end of the sleeve is closed and an open configuration in which the second end of the sleeve is open, wherein the second end of the sleeve encloses the first engaging portion of the first implant component when the sleeve is in the closed configuration and receives the second implant component when the sleeve is in the open configuration.