Cable tensioning device

• US 6,364,885 B1
• Filed: 05/27/1999
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pioneer Surgical Technology Incorporated (Surgalign Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pioneer Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Songer, Matthew N., Kilpela, Thomas S., Korhonen, Francis J., Songer, Rober J.
• Primary Examiner(s): REIP, DAVID OWEN
• Application Number:
  US09/320,879
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 606/79, 606/72, 606/60, 606/86, 606/103
• US Class Current: 606/74
• 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

A cable tensioning device comprises tubular shaft having an outer threaded portion, and a handle member surrounding a portion of the shaft, with the shaft and handle member being connected in screw-threaded relation. The shaft moves longitudinally relative to the handle as the handle rotates, driven by the screw threaded connection. A gripping member is carried on the shaft distal to the handle member for holding a replaceable bit, which, in turn, may carry a cable crimp. A cable lock is positioned typically proximal of the handle member to hold the ends of cables extending through the tubular shaft. Rotation of the handle member can cause the shaft to move longitudinally to lengthen the distance between the cable lock and a crimp held by a bit which, in turn, is held by the gripping member, to impose a tension on the cable. A meter is present for measuring the amount of tension applied to the cable.

Claims

1. A cable tensioning device which comprises:

a tubular shaft having an outer, threaded portion;

a manually rotatable member having an inner, threaded bore surrounding a portion of said shaft, said manually rotatable member carrying internal threads to engage said shaft in a threadedly engaged manner permitting rotation and causing said shaft to move longitudinally relative to said manually rotatable member as the manually rotatable member rotates;

a retaining member carried on said device distal to said manually rotatable member;

a cable crimp engaging said retaining member;

a cable carried by said cable crimp and extending through and within said tubular shaft; and

a cable lock positioned to hold said cable extending through said tubular shaft, whereby rotation of said manually rotatable member can cause said shaft to move longitudinally to lengthen the distance between said cable lock and said cable crimp engaging said retaining member, to impose a tension on said cable, said cable tensioning device comprising a meter having a longitudinally sliding portion relative to said manually rotatable member, a spring positioned to resist sliding of said sliding portion, and an indicator of the amount of said sliding as cable within said shaft is tensioned, said manually rotatable member defining a bore with an internally threaded section of no more than about 180 degrees extent around said bore, said tubular shaft defining external threads that normally engage said internally threaded section, and a member for temporarily moving said internally threaded section out of engagement with the external threads to permit the shaft to freely slide in the bore of said manually rotatable member.

2. The cable tensioning device of claim 1 in which said cable lock is positioned proximally of said manually rotatable member.

3. The cable tensioning device of claim 2 in which said shaft is unitary and integral along its entire length.

4. The cable tensioning device of claim 3 in which said cable lock does not rotate with the manually rotatable member.

5. The cable tensioning device of claim 1 in which said shaft is unitary and integral along its entire length.

6. The cable tensioning device of claim 1 in which said cable lock does not rotate with the manually rotatable member.

7. A cable tensioning device which comprises:

a tubular shaft having an outer, threaded portion;

a manually rotatable member having an inner, threaded bore surrounding a portion of said shaft, said manually rotatable member carrying internal threads to engage said shaft in a threadedly engaged manner permitting rotation and causing such shaft to move longitudinally relative to said manually rotatable member as the manually rotatable member rotates;

a retaining member carried on said device distal to said manually rotatable member;

a cable crimp adjacent said retaining member;

a cable carried by said cable crimp and extending through and within said tubular shaft; and

a cable lock positioned to hold said cable extending through said tubular shaft, whereby rotation of said manually rotatable member can cause said shaft to move longitudinally to lengthen the distance between said cable lock and said cable crimp engaging said retaining member to impose a tension on said cable, the cable tensioning device further comprising a meter having an indicator of the amount of longitudinal movement of the shaft as cable within said shaft is tensioned.

8. The cable tensioning device of claim 7, in which said meter has a longitudinally sliding portion relative to said manually rotatable member, and a spring positioned to resist sliding of said sliding portion.

9. The cable tensioning device of claim 7, in which said cable lock is positioned proximally of said manually rotatable member.

10. The cable tensioning device of claim 7, in which said shaft is unitary and integral along its entire length.

11. The cable tensioning device of claim 7, in which said cable lock does not rotate with the manually rotatable member.

19. The cable tensioning device of claim 8 in which said cable lock holds a portion of said cable by at least two surfaces pressing oppositely against said cable.

20. The cable tensioning device of claim 19 in which said cable lock does not rotate with the manually rotatable member.

21. The cable tensioning device of claim 7 in which said retaining member is carried on said shaft.

22. The cable tensioning device of claim 7 in which said meter is positioned proximal to said manually rotatable member.

23. The cable tensioning device of claim 7 in which said retaining member surrounds said shaft.

12. A cable tensioning device which comprises:

a tubular shaft having an outer, threaded portion;

a manually rotatable member having an inner, threaded bore surrounding a portion of said shaft, said manually rotatable member carrying internal threads to engage said shaft in a threadedly engaged manner permitting rotation and causing such shaft to move longitudinally relative to said manually rotatable member as the manually rotatable member rotates;

a cable crimp;

a cable carried by said cable crimp and extending through and within said tubular shaft; and

a cable lock positioned to hold said cable extending through said tubular shaft, whereby rotation of said manually rotatable member can cause said shaft to move longitudinally to lengthen the distance between said cable lock and said cable crimp engaging said retaining member to impose a tension on said cable.

13. The cable tensioning device of claim 12 which comprises a meter having an indicator of the amount of shaft movement as cable within said shaft is tensioned.

14. The cable tensioning device of claim 13, in which said meter has a longitudinally sliding portion relative to said manually rotatable member and a spring positioned to resist sliding of said sliding portion.

15. The cable tensioning device of claim 12, in which said cable lock is positioned proximally of said manually rotatable member.

16. The cable tensioning device of claim 12, in which said shaft is unitary and integral along its entire length.

17. The cable tensioning device of claim 12, in which said cable lock does not rotate with the manually rotatable member.

18. The cable tensioning device of claim 12 in which said cable lock holds a portion of said cable by at least two surfaces pressing oppositely against said cable.

24. The cable tensioning device of claim 18 in which said cable lock does not rotate with the manually rotatable member.

25. The cable tensioning device of claim 12 in which said retaining member is carried on said shaft.

26. The cable tensioning device of claim 12 in which said meter is positioned proximal to said manually rotatable member.

27. The cable tensioning device of claim 12 in which said retaining member surrounds said shaft.