Sternum closure device
AssigneePfizer Hospital Products Group, Inc.
InventorsLloyd A. Sutherland, Alfred V. Vasconcellos
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sternum closure device for closing the sternum of a patient comprising a head portion, tail portion and flexible spine portion. The head portion includes a locking tang to prevent backward movement of the spine portion once it is received and engaged in the head portion. The spine is made of a biocompatible metal coated with a biocompatible polymer along part of its length. One end of the spine is sharpened to serve as a needle. The tang pierces the polymer and locks against a serration of the spine. A method of using the sternum closure device is also disclosed.
Claims9
A sternum closure device comprising:
- a head portion;
- a flexible spine portion;
- and a tail portion;
- said head portion being adapted to receive said tail and spine portion, said head portion having locking means to engage said spine portion such that when the spine portion is received in the head portion the spine portion is prevented from backward movement therein;
- said spine portion being a biocompatible metal coated with a biocompatible polymer along a portion of its length, said locking means including means for piercing said biocompatible polymer to lock said closure device, said spine portion having upper and lower edges with serrations located therebetween;
- and
- said tail portion having a sharpened needle integral with the spine portion to pierce intercostal tissue and said head portion being adapted for location in the intercostal space.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.