Pelvic cable solution

Abstract

A device for treating bone fractures, comprises an actuating mechanism removably coupleable to a clamping mechanism including a clamp defining a cable receiving channel extending therethrough and a compression member coupled to the clamp for movement relative thereto, movement of the compression member relative to the clamp in a first direction moving the clamping mechanism into a clamping configuration in which at least a portion of the clamp is compressed into the channel to fix a cable received therein relative to the clamping mechanism. The actuating mechanism includes a first member and a second member removably engagable with a clamping mechanism so that, when engaged, relative movement between the first and second members causes relative movement between the clamp and the compression member to move the clamping member between the clamping configuration and a release configuration, the actuating mechanism further including a tensioning mechanism.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A clamp, comprising:
 a head including a head distal end shaped to conform to a surface of bone against which it is to be applied and a head proximal end;   a body including a body distal end coupled to the head proximal end and extending to a body proximal end, the body proximal end divided by longitudinal slots into spaced portions configured to press against a cable received in the clamp, the body proximal end including threading configured to engage corresponding threading of a compression member of a tensioning apparatus such that rotational movement of the clamp in a clamping direction relative to the compression member draws the clamp into the compression member crushing the spaced portions against the cable received in the clamp to fix the cable within the clamp, wherein the longitudinal slots are sized and positioned to engage an inner sleeve of the tensioning apparatus preventing relative rotation between the inner sleeve and the clamp as the clamp is drawn into the compression member; and   a cable receiving channel extending through the head and the body shaped and configured to receive the cable therethrough.   
     
     
         19 . The clamp of  claim 18 , wherein the clamp is moveable along a longitudinal axis of the compression member toward the body proximal end when the compression member is rotated in the clamping direction. 
     
     
         20 . The clamp of  claim 19 , wherein, when the clamp is moved along the longitudinal axis of the compression member toward the body distal end, the cable received within the cable receiving channel slides longitudinally therethrough. 
     
     
         21 . The clamp of  claim 18 , wherein the longitudinal slots include two longitudinal slots substantially orthogonal to one another dividing the proximal end into four evenly spaced portions. 
     
     
         22 . The clamp of  claim 18 , wherein the body proximal end is tapered to engage a correspondingly tapered surface of the compression member. 
     
     
         23 . The clamp of  claim 22 , wherein the body proximal end has a cross sectional area greater than that of a proximal end of a clamp receiving channel of the compression member configured to receive the body proximal end therein. 
     
     
         24 . The clamp of  claim 23 , wherein the rotational movement in the clamping direction causes the larger body proximal end to engage the reduced diameter proximal end of the clamp receiving channel such that the spaced portions are crushed radially into the cable receiving channel against the cable. 
     
     
         25 . The clamp of  claim 18 , wherein the head is spherically shaped to conform to the surface of bone against which it is to be applied. 
     
     
         26 . The clamp of  claim 18 , wherein the body is tapered such that a diameter of the body distal end is greater than a diameter of the body proximal end. 
     
     
         27 . The clamp of  claim 18 , wherein the cable receiving channel extends along a longitudinal axis of the clamp. 
     
     
         28 . The clamp of  claim 18 , wherein the spaced portions are biased towards a released configuration in which the spaced portions do not compress the cable. 
     
     
         29 . A clamp extending longitudinally from a distal end to a proximal end, the clamp, comprising:
 a cable receiving channel extending through the clamp from the distal end to the proximal end, the channel configured to receive a cable therethrough; and   a compressible portion at the proximal end, the compressible portion comprising longitudinal slots extending along a portion of a length of the clamp to divide the proximal end to separated portions, wherein the compressible portion is configured to move between a released configuration in which the separated portions do not compress the cable, and a clamping configuration in which the separated portions are moved radially into the channel to fix a cable received therein.   
     
     
         30 . The clamp of  claim 29 , wherein the proximal end of the clamp is configured to engage a compression member such that movement of the clamp into the compression member moves the separated portions into the clamping configuration. 
     
     
         31 . The clamp of  claim 29 , wherein the proximal end of the clamp includes threading configured to engage corresponding threading of the compression member such that rotational movement of the clamp in a clamping direction relative to the compression member draws the clamp into the compression member to apply a radial force moving the separated portions into the clamping configuration. 
     
     
         32 . The clamp of  claim 30 , wherein, when the clamp is moved into the compression member, the cable received within the channel slides longitudinally therethrough. 
     
     
         33 . The clamp of  claim 32 , wherein the proximal end of the clamp has a cross sectional area greater than that of a proximal end of a clamp receiving channel of the compression member configured to receive the proximal end of the clamp therein. 
     
     
         34 . The clamp of  claim 29 , wherein the separated portions are biased towards the released configuration. 
     
     
         35 . The clamp of  claim 29 , wherein the longitudinal slots include two longitudinal slots substantially orthogonal to one another dividing the proximal end into four evenly spaced portions. 
     
     
         36 . The clamp of  claim 29 , wherein the cable receiving channel extends along a longitudinal axis of the clamp. 
     
     
         37 . The clamp of  claim 29 , wherein the proximal end is tapered to engage a correspondingly tapered surface of the compression member.