Patent ID: 8216245

Claim:
An apparatus for applying sustained tension on a tether in a treatment site, said apparatus comprising: a positioning mechanism having a distal portion operable to engage a target at the treatment site proximate to where the tether is to be secured, said positioning mechanism also having a proximal portion displaced from said distal portion; a gripping mechanism operable to grip the tether and maintain the grip of the tether when the tether is held in tension, the gripping mechanism including a support tube having opposite open distal and proximal end portions and a guide bracket mounted at said distal end portion; a rod extending through said support tube and having proximal and distal end portions beyond said opposite open distal and proximal end portions of said support tube such that said rod and support tube can undergo axial movement in opposite directions relative to one another, said rod having a tether engaging member mounted to said distal end portion of said rod such that said tether engaging member and guide bracket on said support tube undergo relative movement between tether non-gripping and tether gripping relations with one another upon said support tube and said rod undergoing said axial movement in opposite directions relative to one another; and an articulated joint having proximal and distal levers with adjacent ends pivotally connected to each other and remote ends respectively pivotally connected to said proximal end portions of said support tube and rod such that upon movement of said articulated joint between erected and collapsed positions respectively away from and along said support tube and rod said support tube and rod undergo said axial movement in opposite directions relative to one another and said tether gripping member and guide bracket undergo relative movement between tether non-gripping and tether gripping relations with one another; and a pressurized fluid actuated mechanism supported by said proximal portion of said positioning mechanism at a position a fixed distance relative to the treatment site, said pressurized fluid actuated mechanism being operable to apply a controlled tensioning force via said gripping mechanism to the tether independently from the tether displacement and thereby to place the tether under a desired level of sustained tension.