Patent ID: 8888791

Claim:
A medical instrument comprising: a base comprising a bone contacting surface that in use contacts at least one bone; a first device, at least part of the first device movable with respect to the base to tension at least one flexible suture extending around at least a portion of the at least one bone, and a second device physically mounted to the base and comprising a flexible suture retaining structure arranged to retain at least a portion of the at least one flexible suture, at least a part of the second device rotatable with respect to the base to apply a plurality of twists to the at least one flexible suture to encircle at least the portion of the at least one bone with the at least one flexible suture when the at least part of the second device is rotated with respect to the base, and wherein the base comprises a threaded portion and an open slot, the open slot arranged to intercept the bone contacting surface, and the open slot of the base extends through the threaded portion of the base, and wherein the second device comprises a threaded portion threadedly coupled to the threaded portion of the base, the threaded portion of the second device including a respective open slot extending therethrough, the respective open slots of the base and the second device each of which only partially surround the at least one flexible suture during use.