Instruments and methods for tensioning a spinal tether
AssigneeDePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
InventorsChristopher Mickiewicz, John R. Hawkins
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various methods and devices are provided for tensioning a tether. In one embodiment, a tether tensioning device is provided and includes an elongate shaft adapted to be positioned adjacent to a bone anchor implanted in bone, and a tensioning mechanism pivotally associated with the elongate shaft and adapted to couple to a tether seated across the bone anchor and to pivot relative to the elongate shaft to apply a tensioning force to the tether.
Claims19
A tether tensioning device, comprising:
- an elongate shaft adapted to be positioned adjacent to a bone anchor implanted in bone;
- and
- a tensioning mechanism having a first portion pivotally associated with the elongate shaft and a second portion adapted to couple to a tether seated across the bone anchor, wherein the tensioning mechanism is positionable such that the first portion is disposed on one side of the elongate shaft and at least a portion of the tensioning mechanism is disposed on an opposite side of the elongate shaft;
- wherein the tensioning mechanism is adapted to move from a first position in which the second portion of the tensioning mechanism is pivoted away from the elongate shaft, to a second position in which the second portion of the tensioning mechanism is pivoted toward and through the elongate shaft such that the at least a portion of the tensioning mechanism is disposed on an opposite side of the elongate shaft as the first portion to apply a tensioning force to the tether.
A tether tensioning device, comprising:
- an elongate shaft having a tensioning mechanism pivotally associated therewith at a pivot point and adapted to couple to a tether such that the tensioning mechanism applies a tensioning force thereto in a proximal direction;
- and
- an overload mechanism coupled to the tensioning mechanism and adapted to allow the pivot point of the tensioning mechanism to move in a distal direction relative to the elongate shaft along an axis of the elongate shaft in response to a threshold tensioning force applied to the tether.
A method of applying a tensioning force to a tether extending along a spinal column, comprising:
- coupling a tether seated across a bone anchor implanted in bone to a first portion of a tensioning mechanism, the tensioning mechanism having a second portion pivotally associated with an elongate shaft;
- and
- pivoting the first portion of the tensioning mechanism such that the second portion of the tensioning mechanism is disposed on a first side of the elongate shaft and at least a portion of the tensioning mechanism is disposed on a second, opposite side of the elongate shaft, thereby applying a tensioning force to the tether;
- wherein pivoting the first portion of the tensioning mechanism includes moving the tensioning mechanism from a first position in which the first portion of the tensioning mechanism is pivoted away from the elongate shaft, to a second position in which the first portion of the tensioning mechanism is pivoted past a longitudinal axis of the elongate shaft and the at least a portion of the tensioning mechanism is disposed on the second, opposite side of the elongate shaft to apply the tensioning force to the tether.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.