Patent ID: 9216047
Filing Date: 2015-12-22
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A cable tensioning system comprising: an elongate shaft assembly extending along a longitudinal axis and having proximal and distal end portions; a proximal cable guide device connected to the proximal end portion of the shaft assembly and configured to hold the cable and to be shiftable along the shaft assembly longitudinal axis; a plurality of distal cable guide devices for being connected to the distal end portion of the shaft assembly wherein each distal cable guide device has an unlocked configuration that permits the cable to be connected to the distal cable guide device and a locked configuration that secures the cable to the distal cable guide device; a pivotal lever of each of the distal cable guide devices that is pivotable between unlocked and locked positions to reconfigure the distal cable guide device from the unlocked configuration to the locked configuration; a detachable connection between the distal end portion of the shaft assembly and each of the plurality of distal cable guide devices so that with one of the plurality of distal cable guide devices attached to the shaft assembly, the lever of the distal cable guide device can be pivoted to the locked position to cause the distal cable guide device to clamp the cable, and the distal cable guide device can be detached from the shaft assembly to maintain tension in the cable so that another one of the plurality of distal cable guide devices can be attached to the shaft assembly for tensioning another cable; a drive rod of the elongate shaft assembly for being shifted along the longitudinal axis and being connected to the proximal cable guide device for generating tension in a cable held by the proximal cable guide device; a friction drive mechanism for the drive rod, the friction drive mechanism having a collar portion having a ring configuration to extend about a collar portion axis and the drive rod; and a lever actuator of the friction drive mechanism connected to the collar portion, the lever actuator extending below the shaft assembly and pivotably connected thereto at a pivot connection therebetween such that pivoting the lever actuator from an inoperable position with the collar portion extending about the drive rod without driving frictional engagement therebetween, to an operable position, causes the collar portion axis to be reoriented to extend obliquely to the longitudinal axis so that the collar portion is tilted into driving frictional engagement with the drive rod and shifts the drive rod longitudinally in a proximal direction toward the proximal end of the shaft assembly to generate tension in the cable.