Patent ID: 8608742

Claim:
A method for fixing bone elements, comprising: looping a flexible cable around a bone, the flexible cable having a first end, a second end, a width, and an enlargement at the first end greater than the width of the cable; providing a crimp member including: a first hole having a length, a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a slot running along the length of the hole, the proximal portion of the first hole including a cavity configured and dimensioned to accept the enlargement at the first end of the cable, the slot configured and dimensioned to permit the width of the cable to pass through the slot, and the distal portion of the first hole configured and dimensioned to permit the width of the cable to pass through the distal portion of the first hole and prevent the enlargement from passing through the distal portion of the first hole, and a second hole having a length, the second hole configured and dimensioned to permit insertion of the second end of the cable through the second hole; inserting the enlargement at the first end of the cable into the first hole of the crimp member and the width of the cable through the slot in the first hole of the crimp member; pulling the flexible cable through the first hole of the crimp member so that the flexible cable emerges from the distal portion of the first hole and the enlargement remains within the first hole; passing the second end of the flexible cable through the second hole of the crimp member; and tensing the flexible cable to secure the bone.