Patent ID: 8133235

Claim:
A tool for tensioning a surgical cable around a bone comprising: a housing; a shaft; a drum configured to rotate in a first winding direction to wind the surgical cable around the drum and in a second unwinding direction to unwind the surgical cable from the drum, the drum defining at least first and second internal channels configured to receive the surgical cable therein, the drum including a first guide wall that angles downward into the first internal channel and a second guide wall that angles downward into the second internal channel, the first and second guide walls intersecting along a peak such that, on a first side of the peak, the surgical cable is guided into the first internal channel by the first guide wall and, on a second side of the peak, the surgical cable is guided into the second internal channel by the second guide wall; a lock mechanism that prevents the drum from rotating in the second unwinding direction; and an actuator mechanism that rotates the drum in the first winding direction.