US 5,139,498 A · Device for closing sternum in heart surgery

Abstract

A device for closing an opening (12) performed in the sternum during heart surgery and for fixing the breast bone halves (13, 14) in relation to each other is described, said device consisting of (a) a plate (1) comprising two flat, longitudinal, parallel anchoring members (2, 3), which are spaced a distance from each other and provided with through-holes (11), and spaced apart, transverse, flat connection pieces (4, 5, 6) which are connected to the anchoring members to form a rigid unit therewith, and (b) a plurality of attachment wires (15) to be inserted into the breast bone halves from below and into said holes (11), the pairs of end portions of said attachment wires being twisted together to the plate. According to the invention the holes (11) in each anchoring member (2, 3) are disposed in a continuous row from the one end to the other of the anchoring member (2, 3) with a uniform distance between the holes (11) in each row of 2-3 mm, each individual attachment wire (15) being inserted through only one breast bone half (13 or 14) at two positions thereof spaced apart to form a loop (16) which is located in a plane parallel to said opening (12), and each wire end portion of each pair of protruding free wire end portions (17, 18) being arranged to be inserted through that hole in the row of holes (11) which is located opposite or nearly opposite the wire end portion (17 or 18).

Claims20

Dependent claims

A device for closing an elongated opening in a severed sternum, for fixing the sternum portions on either side of the opening together, comprising:

an elongated plate comprising first and second flat, thin, longitudinal, parallel, uniform anchoring strips which are held together in parallel relationship and are spaced from each other a predetermined distance;
means defining a plurality of through-extending holes formed in said anchoring strips, said holes disposed in continuous rows from one end to the other of each of said elongated strip, with a uniform distance between the holes in each row of about 2-3 millimeters;
and
wherein said anchoring strips are held parallel to each other by a plurality of parallel spaced apart, transverse, flat connecting elements, which are connected to said anchoring strips to form said plate as a rigid unit.

1 more element

A method for closing a severed sternum, having first and second portions separated by an elongated opening, utilizing an elongated plate having first and second flat, thin, longitudinal, parallel, uniform anchoring strips which are spaced a predetermined distance from each other and held rigidly in parallel position by a plurality of spaced transverse flat, thin, connecting pieces, the anchoring strips having a plurality of aligned uniformly spaced holes formed therein and in substantial alignment with corresponding holes on the other anchoring strip, said uniform distance between said holes in each row is 2-3 millimeters;

said method comprising the steps of substantially sequentially:
(a) placing the first anchoring strip in operative association with the first portion of the sternum;
(b) inserting a wire through a pair of holes in the first anchoring strip and closing the free ends of the wires so that a first closed loop of wire is formed which extends generally parallel to the dimension of elongation of the first anchoring strip and the opening in the sternum;
(c) placing the second attaching strip into contact with the second portion of the sternum;
and
(d) repeating step (b) for holes in the second anchoring strip, the holes in the second anchoring strip through which the wire extends being substantially in alignment with the holes in the first anchoring strip through which the first closed wire loop extends.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Device for closing sternum in heart surgery

Life of this patent

Device for closing sternum in heart surgery

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20