Paragraph Number

102

FIGS. 23-25 depict another illustrative example of a fastener 500 according to one example of the present disclosure in which the rigid body 104 of fastener 100 has been replaced with a flexible member 502. The fastener includes first and second legs 504, 506. The flexible member 502 connects to axially spaced first and second connectors on the first leg 504 and passes through a receiver on the second leg 506 in sliding relationship to permit the angle between the fastener legs to be varied between arbitrary angles and to facilitate equal tensioning of the flexible member 502. In the illustrative example of FIGS. 23-25, the flexible member 502 is attached at a first location 508 on the first leg 504, extends to the second leg 506, passes through a first passage 510 in the second leg, extends axially along a portion of the second leg, passes through a second passage 512 in the second leg, and returns to the first leg 504 where it is attached at a second location 516. The flexible member 502 is able to slide freely within the passages 510, 512 in the second leg to allow the fastener legs 504, 506 to be variably angled relative to one another and so that tension in the flexible member is distributed equally throughout the flexible member 502. The fastener 500 may include a tensioning device operable to shorten the portion of the flexible member 502 that extends outwardly from the first leg 504. In the illustrative example of FIGS. 23-25, the first leg 504 includes a tensioning member operable to shorten the flexible member, such as for example by pressing the flexible member into the socket 524. For example, a tensioning screw 520 may be engaged with the threaded portion 522 of the socket 524. The flexible member 502 is attached to the first leg 504 so that it passes through the threaded portion 522 distal to the tensioning screw 520. Advancing the tensioning screw 520 presses the flexible member distally into the socket causing a portion of the flexible member 502 to be pulled into the first leg 504 and thus shortening the portion of the flexible member 502 that extends outwardly from the first leg 504. In use, for example, holes may be formed in the bone using a hole guide as in the preceding examples. The legs 504, 506 may be attached to a driver, for example like that of FIG. 15, and inserted into the bone holes. Tensioning screw 520 may then be inserted and advanced to shorten the flexible member and compress the bone.

Added by DJM 12 2021