Sternal closure system
AssigneeZimmer Biomet CMF and Thoracic, LLC
InventorsSaddy Rodolfo Garcia, Bryan Wilcox, Benjamin Witten
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system including a bone punch tool and a needle guide. The bone punch tool can include a support arm having a support arm proximal portion and a support arm distal portion, a pivot arm having a pivot arm proximal portion and a pivot arm distal portion, and an arcuate punch configured to punch through bone. The pivot arm distal portion can be pivotably coupled to the support arm distal portion, such that the pivot arm proximal portion is configured to be moved away from the support arm proximal portion to extend the arcuate punch into a punch position to punch an arcuate hole through bone. The needle guide can be configured to guide a needle through the arcuate hole.
Claims20
A sternal closure system, comprising:
- a bracket including a plurality of bracket apertures, the bracket configured to be secured to first and second sternal bone portions;
- and
- a guide unit comprising a plurality of fastener guides, wherein each fastener guide of the plurality of fastener guides is configured to releasably hold a fastener, each fastener guide having a proximal opening and a distal opening,
- wherein the distal opening of the fastener guide is configured to be aligned with a bracket aperture of the plurality of bracket apertures, and
- wherein the fastener is configured to be driven through the distal opening of the fastener guide into the bracket aperture and into the first sternal bone portion or the second sternal bone portion.
A sternal closure system, comprising:
- a plate including a plurality of plate apertures, the plate configured to be secured to first and second sternal bone portions on left and right sides of a sternum, respectively;
- and
- a guide unit configured to be aligned with the plate, the guide unit comprising:
- a plurality of fastener guides, each fastener guide of the plurality of fastener guides extending longitudinally from a fastener guide proximal opening to a fastener guide distal opening, each of the plurality of fastener guides oriented and spaced in the guide unit so as to align with a plate aperture of the plurality of plate apertures when the guide unit is placed atop the plate;
- and
- at least one fastener, wherein the at least one fastener is configured to be driven out of the distal opening of the fastener guide and into the plate aperture and either the first or second sternal bone portion.
A method of closing a severed sternum, the method comprising:
- providing or receiving a bracket having bracket apertures sized to receive a fastener;
- providing or receiving a guide unit having elongated fastener guides sized to releasably hold the fastener, each of the fastener guides having a proximal opening for driving the fastener and a distal opening for discharging the fastener;
- positioning the bracket over a first sternal bone portion and a second sternal bone portion;
- positioning the guide unit over the bracket such that the distal opening of each of the fastener guides is aligned with a corresponding bracket aperture;
- driving each fastener out of each fastener guide and into the bracket aperture and the first sternal bone portion or the second sternal bone portion;
- and
- withdrawing the guide unit from the bracket.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.