Patent ID: 8323294

Claim:
A tether tensioning device, comprising: an elongate shaft having proximal and distal ends; a tensioning mechanism positioned at the distal end of the elongate shaft, the tensioning mechanism being adapted to couple to a tether extending along a longitudinal axis between at least two bone anchors implanted in adjacent vertebrae, and the tensioning mechanism being adapted to apply a tensioning force to the tether along the longitudinal axis of the tether; a pusher shaft extending longitudinally along and being slidable in a longitudinal direction relative to the elongate shaft; a pivotable actuator positioned at the proximal end of the elongate shaft and configured to move the pusher shaft longitudinally; and an actuation mechanism movably coupled to a distal end of the pusher shaft and to the tensioning mechanism such that the actuation mechanism is adapted to effect movement of the tensioning mechanism to control the tensioning force applied to the tether.