Surgical cable tensioning system

摘要

A cable tensioning system includes a reaction frame which contains a sliding platform arranged to move linearly within the frame, and a clam-type cleat attached to the sliding platform. The cleat features one or more grooves, each of which comprises two arrays of opposing ridges that converge to form a V-shape groove adapted to receive a length of cable. The ridges of each groove are tilted relative to an axis perpendicular to the groove's longitudinal axis, such that the cable is progressively captured between the ridges of the opposing arrays as it settles into the crotch of the groove when moved in a first direction, and can be disengaged from the cleat by relaxing the axial force on the cable and moving it in the opposite direction. A linear actuator mechanism may be coupled to the sliding platform to move the platform with respect to the reaction frame.

主权项

1. A surgical cable tensioning system, comprising:
a reaction frame; a sliding platform within said reaction frame, said platform arranged to move linearly within said frame along a first axis; a clam-type cleat attached to said sliding platform, said clam-type cleat comprising:
one or more grooves, each of which comprises two arrays of opposing ridges that converge to form a V-shape, each of said V-shaped grooves having a longitudinal axis which is approximately parallel to said first axis and adapted to receive a length of cable such that said received length of cable lies along an axis approximately parallel to said groove's longitudinal axis,the ridges of each groove tilted relative to an axis perpendicular to said groove's longitudinal axis such that said length of cable is progressively captured between the ridges of said opposing arrays as it settles toward the bottom of said V-shaped groove when moved in a first direction relative to said cleat, and such that said length of cable is disengaged from said cleat by relaxing the axial force on the length of cable and moving the length of cable in the direction opposite said first direction; a threading assist device (TAD), comprising:
at least one channel, each channel having a longitudinal axis which is approximately parallel to said first axis and adapted to receive a length of cable; anda wrist joint which couples said TAD to the distal end of said reaction frame such that the distal end of said TAD can pivot up and down around a wrist joint axis which is perpendicular to said first axis; and a linear tension mechanism coupled to said sliding platform and arranged to pull said sliding platform toward the proximal end of said reaction frame when actuated.