A crimping tool for crimping a crimp onto a cable includes a crimping unit, a housing unit, and a tensioning unit. The crimping unit includes an inner crimping tube having a distal end configured to receive the cable; and an outer crimping tube mounted around the inner crimping tube. The housing unit is configured to receive the outer crimping tube, and includes a housing having an open lower portion; a trigger-handle; and a first hinge connecting the trigger-handle to the housing. The tensioning unit is mounted to the housing, and is configured to apply tension to the cable. The trigger-handle releasably engages the open lower portion of the housing by rotation about the first hinge; and the outer crimping tube is configured to move in an axial direction relative to the inner crimping tube to crimp the cable when actuated by the trigger-handle.

An orthopedic attachment system includes a first bone anchor, a second bone anchor, and a flexible connector. The flexible connector is connected between the first bone anchor and the second bone anchor. The flexible connector includes a sliding loop, a tensioning end and a fixed end. The sliding loop is connected to a sling loop bone anchor, and the fixed end is connected to the fixed end bone anchor. The tensioning end is slidably connected and lockable to the fixed end. A flexible connector, a method for attaching a flexible connector between at least two bone anchors in a patient's body, and a method of making a flexible connector are also disclosed.

An apparatus for stabilization of a bone fracture site, including a wire that is configured to be positioned through corresponding holes of a first bone and an adjacent second bone; and a tension washer coupled to a first end of the wire, the tension washer rotatable about the first end of the wire, wherein the wire is configured to be positioned through the corresponding holes of the first and the second bone, the tension washer is configured to be positioned proximate a first surface of the second bone, wherein the tension washer includes a first surface having a length longer than a diameter of the corresponding holes of the first and the second bones, wherein the tension washer is configured to rotate such that the first surface of the tension washer abuts the first surface of the second bone.

Disclosed is a surgical instrument for tightening a bone fixation member around bone. The instrument comprises a body with a gripping portion extending from the body and configured to be grasped by a hand, a clamp for clamping a bone fixation member and a clamp carrier connected to and movably guided relative to the body. The clamp is connected to and movably guided relative to the clamp carrier. The instrument further comprises an actuator connected to and movably guided relative to the body, and configured to be operated by a hand, wherein the actuator is configured to move the clamp carrier via the clamp.

Tether tensioning instruments, such as instruments used to tension and/or lock a tether about a spinal feature to assist in spinal fixation, and related methods and systems. In some embodiments, the instrument may comprise a handle, a tensioner base coupled with the handle, at least a portion thereof being movably coupled to the handle, and a tether coupling member coupled with the tensioner base and configured to fixedly engage a tether. The instrument may further comprise a tensioner tip movably coupled with the tensioner base, wherein at least a portion of the tensioner base is biased away from the tensioner tip, and wherein the instrument is configured to allow for step-wise movement of the tensioner tip away from the tensioner base to increase tension between the tether and an element of the spinal fixation system.

A tether tensioner includes a handle assembly, an elongate member extending distally from the handle assembly, and an engaging portion. The handle assembly includes a stationary member, a trigger pivotably coupled to the stationary member, and a spool rotatably supported on the stationary member. The spool is configured to wrap a tether thereabout. The spool is operatively coupled with the trigger such that pivoting of the trigger relative to the stationary member causes rotation of the spool. The elongate member includes a channel configured to slidably receive a tether therethrough. The engaging portion is configured to receive a head portion of a bone screw such that a tether extends from the head portion disposed in the engaging portion to the spool through the channel of the elongate member.

The disclosure is related to a suture that is configured to connect two or more tissue portions. The suture includes an elongate body. The elongate body can include a capture section extending along a longitudinal axis with a radial dimension sized to extend through an opening through tissue, and a proximal and distal capture elements protruding radially at the ends of the capture section. The capture elements can have a capture element radial dimension that is sufficiently larger than the filament radial dimension to prevent the capture elements from sliding into the opening to thereby capture the tissue therebetween on the capture filament section for suturing the tissue.

A method of evaluating a human knee joint, includes: cutting away a proximal portion of the tibia; inserting the gap tensioner between the tibia and the femur; extending the gap tensioner urging the tibia and the femur apart and applying tension to the medial and lateral collateral ligaments; associating at least two tracking markers with the knee joint; providing an electronic receiving device operable to determine a position and orientation of each of the tracking markers relative to the electronic receiving device; moving the knee joint through at least a portion of its range of motion; while moving the knee joint, using the electronic receiving device to collect position data from the tracking markers; processing the collected position data to produce a geometric model of at least a portion of the knee joint; and computing one or more tool paths passing through the knee joint.

A band tensioner includes a shank, a head, and a tensioning mechanism disposed within the head. The shank is configured to secure the band tensioner to a first bony element and the head is secured to an end of the shank. The tensioning mechanism is configured to lengthen and shorten a flexible implant relative to the head of the band tensioner.

A sheath is provided. The sheath includes a core channel, and the core channel is configured to receive a tensioning element. The tensioning element is configured to circumscribe a bone, and the sheath is configured to be placed around a bone when the tensioning element received in the core channel circumscribes the bone. The sheath is configured to prevent direct contact between the tensioning element and the bone as the tensioning element is tensioned.