ONE-WAY BEARING CABLE TENSIONING TOOL

• US 20110087225A1
• Filed: 10/09/2009
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zimmer Incorporated (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Zimmer Incorporated (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fritzinger, Daniel Duane
• Granted Patent: US 8,133,235 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/53
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/82 for bone cerclage apparatus for manipulating wires or straps A61B17/8861; wires, bands or straps other than cerclage A61B17/842
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8861 Apparatus for manipulating flexible wires or straps devices for inserting Kirschner wires A61B17/1697
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8869 Tensioning devices

Abstract

An orthopedic tool having a one-way lock bearing and a one-way actuator bearing for tensioning surgical cables around a bone and a method for using the same.

Claims

1. A tool for tensioning a surgical cable around a bone comprising:

a housing;

a shaft;

a drum coupled to the shaft for rotation therewith relative to the housing, the shaft configured to rotate in a first winding direction to wind the surgical cable around the drum and in a second unwinding direction to unwind the surgical cable from the drum;

a lock bearing coupled to the shaft and configured to prevent the shaft from rotating in the second unwinding direction relative to the housing; and

an actuator bearing coupled to the shaft and configured to rotate the shaft in the first winding direction.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein the lock bearing permits the shaft to rotate in the first winding direction.

3. The tool of claim 1, wherein the lock bearing comprises an inner bearing race coupled to the shaft for movement therewith and an outer bearing race.

4. The tool of claim 3, wherein the outer bearing race locks relative to the inner bearing race to prevent the shaft from rotating in the second unwinding direction.

5. The tool of claim 3, further comprising a locking ring coupled to the outer bearing race of the lock bearing for movement therewith.

6. The tool of claim 5, wherein the locking ring is selectively coupled to the housing to prevent rotation of the outer bearing race relative to the housing.

7. The tool of claim 1, wherein the actuator bearing comprises an inner bearing race coupled to the shaft for movement therewith and an outer bearing race, the outer bearing race locking relative to the inner bearing race to rotate the shaft in the first winding direction.

8. The tool of claim 7, further comprising an actuating lever coupled to the outer bearing race of the actuator bearing for movement therewith.

9. The tool of claim 1, wherein the lock bearing is substantially identical to the actuator bearing.

10. The tool of claim 1, wherein the drum defines a plurality of internal channels configured to receive the surgical cable therein.

11. The tool of claim 10, wherein the drum includes a plurality of openings into the plurality of internal channels that are radially spaced across an outer circumference of the drum.

12. A tool for tensioning a surgical cable around a bone comprising:

a drum configured to rotate in a first winding direction to wind the surgical cable around the drum and in a second unwinding direction to unwind the surgical cable from the drum, the drum defining a plurality of internal channels configured to receive the surgical cable therein;

means for preventing the drum from rotating in the second unwinding direction; and

means for rotating the drum in the first winding direction.

13. The tool of claim 12, wherein the drum includes a plurality of openings into the plurality of internal channels that are radially spaced across an outer circumference of the drum.

14. The tool of claim 12, wherein the plurality of internal channels intersect within the drum.

15. The tool of claim 12, wherein the drum comprises tapered entrance walls extending toward the plurality of internal channels to direct the surgical cable into the plurality of internal channels.

16. The tool of claim 12, wherein the plurality of internal channels are spaced apart from a center of the drum.

17. A method for tensioning a surgical cable around a bone comprising the steps of:

providing a tensioning tool comprising a shaft, a drum coupled to the shaft, a lock bearing coupled to the shaft, and an actuator bearing coupled to the shaft;

wrapping the surgical cable around the bone;

operating the actuator bearing to rotate the shaft in a first winding direction to wind the surgical cable onto the drum; and

locking the lock bearing to prevent the shaft from rotating in a second unwinding direction to unwind the surgical cable from the drum.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the operating step comprises allowing the shaft to rotate in the first winding direction relative to the lock bearing.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of inserting an end of the surgical cable into an internal chamber of the drum.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of releasing the lock bearing to permit the shaft to rotate in the second unwinding direction to unwind the surgical cable from the drum.