Cable plug

Abstract

Disclosed herein are cable plugs for securing surgical cable to a bone plate. The cable plugs each have a cable retaining member and a fastening member. The cable retaining members each have a receiving portion adapted to receive a portion of the surgical cable therein. The cable retaining members are first coupled to the fastening members prior to securing the cable plug to the bone plate. The cable retaining member may rotate with respect to the fastening member about 270° along a longitudinal axis of the cable plug when the cable retaining member is coupled to the fastening member. When securing the surgical cable to the bone plate, the cable retaining member is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the cable plug until an axis of the receiving portion is parallel to an axis of the surgical cable. The surgical cable is then placed within the receiving portion, tightened, and crimped to secure the bone plate to the bone.

1 . A cable plug comprising:
 a cable retaining portion for receiving a surgical cable therein; and   a fastening portion disposed from the cable retaining portion along a longitudinal axis of the cable plug, the fastening portion having an exterior surface broken by one or more slots, the exterior surface having a thread such that the fastening portion can be threaded into a hole in a bone plate.   
     
     
         2 . The cable plug of  claim 1 , wherein the cable retaining portion has a base surface and at least one cable receiving member projecting upwardly from the base surface. 
     
     
         3 . The cable plug of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one cable receiving member comprises at least one channel formed therein, the at least one channel being adapted to receive a portion of a cable therein. 
     
     
         4 . The cable plug of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior surface of the fastening portion is broken by first and second slots defining first and second exterior surface portions configured to move toward and away from the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         5 . The cable plug of  claim 4 , wherein the first and second surface portions each have a portion of the thread. 
     
     
         6 . The cable plug of  claim 4 , wherein movement of the first and second exterior surface portions with respect to the longitudinal axis allows the cable plug to be press-fit or threaded into the hole of the bone plate. 
     
     
         7 . The cable plug of  claim 1 , wherein the fastening portion permits rotation of the cable plug with respect to the bone plate in a first or opposite second rotational direction about the longitudinal axis when the cable plug is in the hole of the bone plate. 
     
     
         8 . The cable plug of  claim 1 , wherein the cable retaining portion is integral with the fastening portion. 
     
     
         9 . The cable plug of  claim 1 , wherein the cable retaining portion has an engagement recess adapted to receive an insertion tool. 
     
     
         10 . A cable plug comprising:
 a cable retaining portion for receiving a surgical cable therein; and   a fastening portion disposed from the cable retaining portion along a longitudinal axis of the cable plug, the fastening portion having a deflectable sidewall and a thread on an exterior surface of the sidewall such that the fastening portion can be threaded into a hole in a bone plate.   
     
     
         11 . The cable plug of  claim 10 , wherein the deflectable sidewall and the thread are broken by one or more slots such that at least one portion of the sidewall is moveable relative to at least another portion of the sidewall. 
     
     
         12 . The cable plug of  claim 11 , wherein each of the one or more slots define a plane that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cable plug. 
     
     
         13 . The cable plug of  claim 10 , wherein the fastening portion forms a hollow annulus about the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         14 . The cable plug of  claim 10 , wherein the deflectable sidewall and the thread are broken by a plurality of slots so as to define a plurality of sidewall portions, each sidewall portion being configured to move toward and away from the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         15 . The cable plug of  claim 10 , wherein the cable retaining portion is integral with the fastening portion. 
     
     
         16 . The cable plug of  claim 10 , further comprising at least one cable receiving member projecting upwardly from a base surface of the cable retaining portion so as to receive a portion of a cable therein. 
     
     
         17 . A method for assembling a cable plug with a bone plate having a hole, the cable plug having a cable receiving portion disposed from a fastening portion along a longitudinal axis, the method comprising the steps of:
 placing a fastening portion of the plug adjacent the hole, the fastening portion having a broken sidewall with a plurality of sidewall portions and at least a portion of a thread on an exterior surface of each sidewall portion; and   applying a force to the cable receiving portion of the cable plug to thread the fastening portion into the hole.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein an interior surface of the hole is threaded, the method further comprising applying a rotational force to the cable receiving portion so as to unthread the fastening portion out of the hole. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising receiving a portion of an insertion tool in an engagement recess formed in the cable retaining portion. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the steps of:
 contacting a bone with the bone plate;   wrapping a cable having a longitudinal axis around the bone and the bone plate;   rotating the cable plug about the longitudinal axis of the cable plug until a cable retaining member formed on a base surface of the cable retaining potion is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the cable;   receiving the cable in the cable retaining member;   tightening the cable until the bone plate is secured to the bone; and   crimping first and second ends of the cable to secure the cable.