Tension band clip

• US 6,656,185 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2001
• Issued: 12/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Spineology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Spineology Incorporated
• Inventors: Peterson, Francis, Gleason, Joseph E.
• Primary Examiner(s): REIP, DAVID OWEN
• Application Number:
  US10/041,951
• Publication Number:
  US 20020116013A1
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 606/60, 606/65, 606/72, 606/73, 606/74, 606/103, 606/201, 606/203, 606/232, 241/35.R, 241/36.R, 241/36.B, 241/63.R, 241/68, 241/15.R, 242/78, 244/81, 244/84, 24/20.LS
• US Class Current: 606/74
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0487 Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/7053 with parts attached to bones or to each other by flexible wires, straps, sutures or cables
• 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 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening lateral eyelet for attaching suture to needle A61B2017/06019
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/044 with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0453 threaded elements, e.g. set screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/08 Muscles; Tendons; Ligaments sutures A61B17/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0811 Fixation devices for tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0829 without deformation of anchor parts, e.g. fixation screws on bone surface, extending barbs, cams, butterflies, spring-loaded pins
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0852 Fixation of a loop or U-turn, e.g. eyelets, anchor having multiple holes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/0888 Anchor in or on a blind hole or on the bone surface without formation of a tunnel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3958 Screw clamp

Abstract

A clip for holding two ends of a flat surgical cable includes an outer portion with female threads and an inner male portion having mating male threads.

Claims

1. A surgical fastener for use in fastening cable, said fastener comprising:

a) a female portion having a body defining an opening between a proximal and a distal end, said opening being threaded and tapering from a largest diameter at the proximal end to the distal end, said distal end including a radius against which cable may be placed; and

b) a male portion constructed and arranged to mate with said female portion, said male portion having a proximal and a distal end, with threads therebetween and radii at the crest and root of said threads, said proximal end including a mechanism by which external rotational force may be applied to said male portion to turn said male portion in and out of said female portion.

2. The surgical fastener of claim 1 wherein said mechanism at said proximal end of said male portion is a hex head.

3. The surgical fastener of claim 1 wherein said threads of said male and female portion are tapered at an angle of about 10°

.

4. The surgical fastener of claim 3 wherein said male and female threads have similar radii when threaded together to maximize holding power and minimize cable stress points when a cable is held therebetween.

5. The surgical fastener of claim 1 wherein said threads incorporate a substantial radius at the root and crest.

6. The surgical fastener of claim 1 wherein said threads at said distal end of said female portion have a substantial exit radius.

7. The surgical fastener of claim 1 wherein the body of said female portion includes an outer surface treatment constructed and arranged for bone engagement.

8. The surgical fastener of claim 7 wherein the outer surface of the female portion is tapered.

9. The surgical fastener of claim 7 wherein the outer surface of the female portion is threaded or knurled.

10. A surgical fastener system comprising:

a) a female portion having a body defining an opening between a proximal and a distal end, said opening being threaded and tapering from a largest diameter at the proximal end to the distal end, said distal end including a radius against which cable may be placed;

b) a male portion constructed and arranged to mate with said female portion, said male portion having a proximal and a distal end, with threads therebetween and radii at the crest and root of said threads, said proximal end including a mechanism by which external rotational force may be applied to said male portion to turn said male portion in and out of said female portion; and

c) a cable.

11. The surgical fastener system of claim 10 wherein said cable has two ends and a flat braided polyethylene cable.

12. The surgical fastener system of claim 11 wherein said cable is formed from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene.

13. A surgical fastener for securing a cable therewithin, the fastener comprising:

a) a female portion having an opening therethrough between a top and a bottom of said female portion, said opening tapering from a largest diameter at the top and a smaller diameter at the bottom end, said opening being threaded;

b) a male portion having a top and a bottom portion and external threads therebetween, said male portion being constructed and arranged to taper at the same angle as the taper of the female portion opening and having threads constructed and arranged to mate with said female portion threads when said male portion is threaded into said opening of said female portion, each of the threads of said male and female portion being radiused to lower stress and weakening of a cable inserted between said threads prior to tightening of said male portion into said female portion.

14. The surgical fastener of claim 13 wherein said male portion includes a mechanism at its top through which external rotational force may be applied.

15. The surgical fastener of claim 14 wherein said mechanism is a female shaped opening to fit a male driver having a mating head.