Clamp and cable

A cable (100) for use with a bone clamp (1,200,300) in fixation of a fractured bone or prevention of fracture of a bone, the bone clamp (1,200,300) comprising a pair of handles (2a,2b) joined together at a pivot point (5), the handles (2a,2b) each having an arcuate jaw (4a,4b), each arcuate jaw (4a,4b) comprising a first end (7a, 7b) having an opening at a proximal end (12a, 12b) of the jaw (4a,4b) in communication with a second end (8a,8b) having an opening at a distal end (14a, 14b) of the jaw (4a,4b), the first end (7a, 7b) and second end (8a,8b) in communication via a channel (6a,6b), in which the channel (6a,6b) is configured to accommodate said cable, a wire, a suture, a band or other suitable flexible material, and characterised in that the channel (6a,6b) is open continuously along its entire length and which runs uncovered continuously along its entire length through an internal face (10a, 10b) of each arcuate jaw (4a,4b), wherein the channel (6a) is not covered by the surface of the internal face (10b) and the channel (6b) is not covered by the surface of the internal face (10a) when the arcuate jaws (4a,4b) are in an engaged position intended to engage a bone, and wherein the channel (6a,6b) of the arcuate jaws (4a,4b) substantially forms an ellipse along its entire length when the arcuate jaws (4a,4b) are in the engaged position intended to engage a bone;

• wherein the cable (100) comprises a body (101) and a tip (102), characterised in that the tip (102) is stiffened and has a bevelled end point (102a), wherein the tip (102) is curved, and wherein the tip (102) has a cross-sectional shape adapted to engage with the channel (6a,6b) of the bone clamp (1,200,300) having a similar cross-sectional shape.

A method for fixing a fracture or preventing fracture of a bone, the method comprising:

• affixing a bone clamp (1,200,300) comprising a pair of handles (2a,2b) joined together at a pivot point (5), the handles (2a,2b) each having an arcuate jaw (4a,4b), each arcuate jaw (4a,4b) comprising a first end (7a, 7b) having an opening at a proximal end (12a, 12b) of the jaw (4a,4b) in communication with a second end (8a,8b) having an opening at a distal end (14a, 14b) of the jaw (4a,4b), the first end (7a,7b) and second end (8a,8b) in communication via a channel (6a,6b), in which the channel (6a,6b) is configured to accommodate a cable, a wire, a suture, a band or other suitable flexible material, and characterised in that each channel (6a,6b) is open continuously along its entire length and which runs uncovered continuously along its entire length through an internal face (10a, 10b) of each arcuate jaw (4a,4b) to a bone to reduce a bone fracture or prevent a fracture wherein the channel (6a) is not covered by the surface of the internal face (10b) and the channel (6b) is not covered by the surface of the internal face (10a) when the arcuate jaws (4a,4b) are in an engaged position intended to engage a bone, and wherein the channel (6a,6b) of the arcuate jaws (4a,4b) substantially forms an ellipse along its entire length when the arcuate jaws (4a,4b) are in the engaged position intended to engage a bon;
• passing a cable (100) comprising a body (101) and a tip (102), characterised in that the tip (102) is stiffened and has a bevelled end point (102a), wherein the tip (102) is curved, and wherein the tip (102) has a cross-sectional shape adapted to engage with the channel (6a,6b) of the bone clamp (1,200,300) having a similar cross-sectional shape through the channels (6a,6b) of the bone clamp (1,200,300);
• applying a crimp to the cable (100);
• tightening the cable (100);
• and
• crimping the crimp to fasten the cable (100) in place.