Expandable vertical prosthetic rib

A prosthetic rib comprising:

• a prosthetic rib shaft having a lateral prosthetic rib shaft end and a medial prosthetic rib shaft end;
• a prosthetic rib sleeve, said prosthetic rib sleeve having a lateral prosthetic rib sleeve end, a medial prosthetic rib sleeve end, and a channel opening at said medial prosthetic rib sleeve end for telescopically receiving said rib shaft at its said medial prosthetic rib shaft end;
• prosthetic rib shaft stabilizing means affixed to said lateral prosthetic rib shaft end and oriented for securing said prosthetic rib shaft to a first rib of a recipient of said prosthetic rib in an orientation substantially perpendicular to the length of said first rib by loosely encircling said first rib;
• prosthetic rib sleeve stabilizing means affixed to said lateral prosthetic rib sleeve end and oriented for securing said prosthetic rib sleeve to a second rib of a recipient of said prosthetic rib in an orientation substantially perpendicular to the length of said second rib by loosely encircling said second rib;
• said prosthetic rib shaft stabilizing means and said prosthetic rib sleeve stabilizing means for securing said prosthetic rib without effecting a constrictive force on either said first rib or said second rib.

A prosthetic rib comprising:

• a prosthetic rib shaft having a lateral prosthetic rib shaft end and a medial prosthetic rib shaft end;
• a prosthetic rib sleeve, said prosthetic rib sleeve having a lateral prosthetic rib sleeve end, a medial prosthetic rib sleeve end, and channel opening at said medial prosthetic rib sleeve end for telescopically receiving said rib shaft at its said medial prosthetic rib shaft end;
• a first pair of rods extending from said lateral prosthetic rib shaft end;
• a second pair of rods extending from said lateral prosthetic rib sleeve end;
• said prosthetic rib shaft and said prosthetic rib sleeve having a similar concavity along their respective lengths whereby said prosthetic rib shaft and said prosthetic rib sleeve jointly define an arc of a substantially constant radius of curvature regardless of the degree to which said prosthetic rib shaft is received within said channel of said prosthetic rib sleeve.

A prosthetic rib comprising:

• a prosthetic rib shaft having a lateral prosthetic rib shaft end and a medial prosthetic rib shaft end;
• a prosthetic rib sleeve, said prosthetic rib sleeve having a lateral prosthetic rib sleeve end, a medial prosthetic rib sleeve end, and a channel opening at said medial prosthetic rib sleeve end for telescopically receiving said rib shaft at its said medial prosthetic rib shaft end;
• a first pair of rods extending from said lateral prosthetic rib shaft end, said rods being made from titanium, having a substantially circular cross sectional shape, and having a diameter of approximately 2 mm;
• a second pair of rods extending from said lateral prosthetic rib sleeve end, said rods being made from titanium, having a substantially circular cross sectional shape, and having a diameter of approximately 2 mm;
• said prosthetic rib shaft and said prosthetic rib sleeve having a similar concavity along their respective lengths whereby said prosthetic rib shaft and said prosthetic rib sleeve jointly define an arc of a substantially constant radius of curvature regardless of the degree to which said prosthetic rib shaft is received within said channel of said prosthetic rib sleeve;
• said prosthetic rib shaft and said first pair of rods being of unitary construction and forming a first single piece of titanium and said prosthetic rib sleeve and said second pair of rods being of unitary construction and forming a second single piece of titanium;
• said prosthetic rib shaft and said prosthetic rib sleeve each having a plurality of complementarily spaced holes passing fully therethrough perpendicular to their respective lengths, said holes for receiving locking means therethrough for securing said prosthetic rib shaft and said prosthetic rib sleeve in a plurality of fixed relative positions.

A prosthetic apparatus comprising:

• a shaft member comprising first and second rib members movable with respect to each other whereby said shaft member is adjustable in length;
• stabilizing means for respectively securing said first and second rib members to first and second distinct, spatially separated skeletal components of a recipient of said prosthetic device, said stabilizing means comprising a plurality of rods, at least one said rod being affixed at respective outer ends of said first and second rib members, said rods being of a malleable material and of a length whereby said rods may be manipulated to encircle a natural rib of said recipient and thereby secure said prosthetic device within said recipient;
• and
• locking means operably associated with said first and second rib members for reversibly locking said shaft member to one of a plurality of substantially fixed lengths which are selectible both before and after implantation of said prosthetic rib.

A method for providing prosthesis in substitution for missing or damaged natural human ribs comprising the steps of surgically accessing healthy, undamaged existing natural ribs anterior and posterior to said missing or damaged ribs of a recipient and respectively, loosely attaching first and second ends of a prostatic rib to said natural ribs which are anterior and posterior to said missing or damaged ribs, said prosthetic rib comprising:

• a shaft member comprising a plurality of members movably attached to each other in a manner whereby said shaft member is adjustable in length, said shaft member comprising first and second rib members, a portion of said first prosthetic rib member being telescopically received within a portion of said second prosthetic rib member;
• and
• stabilizing means for securing said prosthetic rib to said natural ribs of a recipient of said prosthetic rib in an orientation substantially perpendicular to the orientation of said natural ribs to which said prosthetic rib is attached;
• and
• locking means operably associated with said first and second rib members for reversibly locking said shaft member to one of a plurality of substantially fixed lengths which are selectible both before and after implantation of said prosthetic rib.