Apparatus and Methods for Treating Pectus Excavatum

A pectus bar assembly comprising:

• a first elongated bar having an offset bend between a first end and a second end, at least one aperture near the first end, at least one aperture near the second end, a planar stabilizer extending orthogonally from the elongated bar, a first connector channel, and a pair of opposing rib reveals located between the first end and the planar stabilizer of the first elongated bar;
• a second elongated bar having an offset bend between a first end and a second end, at least one aperture near the first end, at least one aperture near the second end, a planar stabilizer extending orthogonally from the elongated bar, a second connector channel, and a pair of opposing rib reveals located between the first end and the planar stabilizer of the second elongated bar;
• and
• a connector configured to be accepted by the first and second connector channels to thereby provide mechanical coupling of the first elongated bar to the second elongated bar;
• wherein each of the first and second elongated bars includes a tool opening configured to accept a tool adapted to manipulate the first and second elongated into place within a rib cage.

A pectus excavatum treatment method comprising:

• providing access to a rib cage of a patient;
• inserting, within the rib cage, a first elongated bar having an offset bend between a first end and a second end, at least one aperture near the first end, at least one aperture near the second end, a planar stabilizer extending orthogonally from the elongated bar, a first connector channel, and a pair of opposing rib reveals located between the first end and the planar stabilizer of the first elongated bar;
• inserting, within the rib cage, a second elongated bar having an offset bend between a first end and a second end, at least one aperture near the first end, at least one aperture near the second end, a planar stabilizer extending orthogonally from the elongated bar, a second connector channel, and a pair of opposing rib reveals located between the first end and the planar stabilizer of the second elongated bar;
• manipulating, with a pectus bar tool, the first and second elongated bars such that they are correctly positioned and adjacent to each other within the rib cage;
• and
• securing a connector within the first and second connector channels to thereby provide mechanical coupling of the first elongated bar to the second elongated bar.

A pectus excavatum treatment kit comprising:

• a first elongated bar having at least one aperture near the first end, at least one aperture near the second end, a planar stabilizer extending orthogonally from the elongated bar, a first connector channel, and a pair of opposing rib reveals located between the first end and the planar stabilizer of the first elongated bar;
• a second elongated bar having at least one aperture near the first end, at least one aperture near the second end, a planar stabilizer extending orthogonally from the elongated bar, a second connector channel, and a pair of opposing rib reveals located between the first end and the planar stabilizer of the second elongated bar;
• a plurality of connectors, each configured to be accepted by the first and second connector channels to thereby provide mechanical coupling of the first elongated bar to the second elongated bar;
• a plurality of fasteners configured to mechanically secure one or more of the plurality of connectors to the connector channels of the first and second elongated bars;
• and
• a pectus bar tool;
• wherein each of the first and second elongated bars includes a tool opening configured to accept the tool adapted to manipulate the first and second elongated into place within a rib cage.