Patent ID: 8016830

Claim:
A medical device comprising: a flexible elongated element with a first end and a second end; an attachment member that extends around a section of the elongated element with the first and second ends extending outward from opposing sides, the attachment member comprising: an outer member that includes a hollow interior; an inner member sized to fit within the hollow interior of the outer member, the inner member being displaceable longitudinally in first and second directions relative to the outer member, the inner member further having a longitudinal channel that extends a length of the inner member for the element to pass through the inner member, the inner member also including a lateral opening into the channel; an enlarged flange on the inner member that includes a width greater than the hollow interior of the outer member, the enlarged flange including a central opening for the element to pass through; and a locking element disposed at least partly within the lateral opening and movable with respect thereto; displacement of the inner member in the first direction with the locking element contacting against the outer member forces the locking element inward toward the channel to lock the attachment member to the element with the enlarged flange spaced a first distance from the outer member; displacement of the inner member in the second direction allows the locking element to be outwardly displaced away from the channel to unlock the attachment member from the element for the attachment member to move along the element with the enlarged flange a greater distance than the first distance from the outer member.