Device and accessories for limiting flexion

Abstract

A device may be used to limit flexion of the spine without substantially limiting extension of the spine. Various accessories, instruments, and methods may be used to help deploy the flexion limiting device, manipulate, and adjust it.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for adjusting tension in a surgical tether structure, said method comprising:
 providing an implantable surgical tether structure having a tether and a locking mechanism coupled thereto;   inserting a portion of the tether into the locking mechanism;   tightening the tether structure by actuating a tightening instrument thereby pulling the tether through the locking mechanism;   maintaining tension in the tether structure with a braking component frictionally coupled to the tightening instrument; and   locking the tether into the locking mechanism by actuating a locking instrument thereby drawing the tether into the locking mechanism, and wherein the braking component permits retraction of the tether into the locking mechanism during actuation of the locking mechanism while maintaining tension in the tether structure.