Washer for supporting cable relative to bone

Abstract

A washer for supporting a through-bone cable extending through a pass-through hole in bone includes a bone-engaging surface, a cable-engaging surface opposing the bone-engaging surface, a pass-through aperture extending through the washer along a first axis from the bone-engaging surface to the cable-engaging surface, and a channel extending from proximate the pass-through aperture along a second axis where the second axis is non-parallel to the first axis.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washer for supporting through-bone cable extending through a pass-through hole in bone, the washer comprising:
 a bone-engaging surface;   a cable-engaging surface opposing the bone-engaging surface;   a pass-through aperture extending through the washer along a first axis from the bone-engaging surface to the cable-engaging surface; and   a channel extending from proximate the pass-through aperture along a second axis, wherein the second axis is at least one of non-parallel to or offset from the first axis.   
     
     
         2 . The washer of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the channel is circumferentially closed. 
     
     
         3 . The washer of  claim 1 , wherein the washer comprises multiple channels extending from proximate the pass-through aperture along different axes, each axis being at least one of non-parallel to or offset from the first axis. 
     
     
         4 . The washer of  claim 1 , wherein the washer comprises at least three channels extending from proximate the pass-through aperture in different axes, each axis being at least one of non-parallel to or offset from the first axis. 
     
     
         5 . The washer of  claim 1 , wherein the pass-through aperture has a substantially non-circular cross-section. 
     
     
         6 . The washer of  claim 1 , wherein the bone-engaging surface is contoured to complement a contour of a bone. 
     
     
         7 . The washer of  claim 1 , wherein an angle between the second axis and the first axis is between 45 degrees and 90 degrees. 
     
     
         8 . The washer of  claim 1 , wherein an angle between the second axis and the first axis is less than 45 degrees. 
     
     
         9 . The washer of  claim 1 , wherein an angle between the second axis and the first axis is substantially about 30 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . The washer of  claim 1 , wherein a footprint of the washer is non-circular, the washer further comprising an arm extending outward away from the pass-through aperture, wherein the channel extends from proximate the pass-through aperture through the arm. 
     
     
         11 . The washer of  claim 1 , wherein the channel forms a continuous circumferentially closed passage from the pass-through aperture and extends to a peripheral edge of the cable-engaging surface. 
     
     
         12 . The washer of  claim 1 , further comprising a protruding lip at a peripheral edge of the cable-engaging surface, the protruding lip extending away from the cable-engaging surface, wherein the protruding lip circumferentially encloses at least a portion of the channel, thereby retaining the second portion of the cable. 
     
     
         13 . The washer of  claim 2 , wherein the circumferentially closed portion of the channel is compressible to crimp the cable. 
     
     
         14 . The washer of  claim 1 , wherein a cable is pre-attached to the washer. 
     
     
         15 . A washer for supporting through-bone cable extending through a pass-through hole in bone, the washer comprising:
 a bone-engaging surface;   a cable-engaging surface opposing the bone-engaging surface;   a pass-through aperture extending through the washer along a first axis from the bone-engaging surface to the cable-engaging surface; and   a channel extending from proximate the pass-through aperture along a second axis, wherein the second axis is at least one of non-parallel to or offset from the first axis;   wherein:
 a footprint of the washer is non-circular, the washer further comprising an arm extending outward away from the pass-through aperture, wherein the channel extends from proximate the pass-through aperture through the arm; and 
 at least a portion of the channel is circumferentially closed. 
   
     
     
         16 . The washer of  claim 15 , wherein an angle between the second axis and the first axis is less than 45 degrees. 
     
     
         17 . The washer of  claim 15 , wherein an angle between the second axis and the first axis is substantially about 30 degrees. 
     
     
         18 . A method of using a washer to support through-bone cable extending from a pass-through hole in bone, the method comprising:
 positioning a washer over a hole in a bone such that a bone-engaging surface of the washer engages a surface of the bone adjacent the hole;   passing a cable through the hole in the bone and through a pass-through aperture in the washer extending along a first axis from the bone-engaging surface to a cable-engaging surface; and   positioning the cable in a channel of the washer, wherein the channel extends along a second axis, wherein the second axis is at least one of non-parallel to or offset from the first axis.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein positioning the cable in the channel comprises passing the cable through a circumferentially closed portion of the channel. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising crimping the cable in the circumferentially closed portion of the channel. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising tensioning the cable to a measurable and adjustable tension, to cause a measurable and adjustable compression of the bone by the cable, after passing the cable through the hole in the bone and after positioning the cable in the channel of the washer. 
     
     
         22 . A method of extending a cable through a pass-through hole in bone, the method comprising:
 passing a cable through the pass-through hole in the bone, wherein the cable is pre-attached to a stop; and   tensioning the cable to a measurable and adjustable tension to cause a measurable and adjustable compression of the bone by the cable.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the method further comprises:
 before tensioning the cable, positioning a washer over the pass-through hole in the bone such that a bone-engaging surface of the washer engages a surface of the bone adjacent the pass-through hole;   before tensioning the cable, passing the cable through a pass-through aperture in the washer, the pass-through aperture extending from the bone-engaging surface to a cable-engaging surface; and   seating the stop against a complimentary shape of the cable-engaging surface of the washer.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the stop is a washer and the method further comprises redirecting one or more additional cables or an opposite end portion of the cable along a cable-engaging surface of the washer.