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US 5,356,412 AGranted
Sternum buckle with rotational engagement and method of closure
AssigneeUnited States Surgical Corporation
InventorsEllen M. Golds, Ross R. Muth
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A strap assembly to be looped about split portions of human tissue to retain the split portions in adjacent contacting relation to promote healing thereof includes a flexible elongated member and a buckle member. The buckle member includes a frame member and a clamp member rotatably mounted within the frame member from a non-strap securing position to a strap securing position. The clamp member rotates to the strap securing position in response to tensional forces exerted on the strap during tensioning thereof about the tissue portions.
Claims27
A strap assembly for surgical repair of split portions of a human sternum to retain the sternum portions in adjacent contacting relation during healing, which comprises:
- a strap member dimensioned to be passed through intercostal tissue and about split portions of a sternum, said strap member having first and second end portions;
- and
- a buckle member dimensioned to be positioned adjacent the sternum, said buckle member comprising:
- means for receiving at least said first end portion of said strap member and for permitting passage of said first end portion through said buckle member;
- and
- rotatable means within said buckle member for rotating to a strap securing position in response to tensional forces exerted on said strap member during tightening thereof about the sternum portions for securing said strap member in a looped tensioned condition about the split sternum portions, said rotatable means rotatably mounted about a pin disposed within said buckle member.
3 more elements
A strap assembly for surgical repair of split portions of tissue to retain the tissue portions in adjacent contacting relation during healing, which comprises:
- a strap member for looping about split portions of tissue and having first and second end portions;
- and
- buckle means for securing said strap member in a looped tensioned condition about the split tissue portions, said buckle means comprising:
- frame means defining at least one longitudinal passageway extending therethrough for reception and passage of at least said first end portion of said strap member;
- and
- clamp means rotatably mounted within said frame means and rotatable from a non-strap securing position to a strap securing position in response to tensional forces exerted on said strap member during tensioning thereof about the tissue portions, said clamp means rotatably mounted about a pin disposed within said frame means.
3 more elements
A strap assembly for surgical repair of split portions of tissue to retain the tissue portions in adjacent contacting relation during healing, which comprises:
- a strap member;
- and
- buckle means for securing said strap member in a looped tensioned condition about the split tissue portions, said buckle means comprising:
- frame means including at least one longitudinal passageway for reception of said strap member and a bearing surface having a recessed portion, said recessed portion defining a retaining surface extending generally transversely from said bearing surface;
- and
- clamp means rotatably mounted within said frame means, said clamp means rotatable from a non-strap securing position to a strap securing position in response to tensional forces exerted on said strap member during tensioning thereof about the tissue portions, said clamp means defining at least one wedging surface, said at least one wedging surface securely wedging said strap member against said bearing surface of said frame means when said clamp means is in said strap securing position;
- wherein when in said strap securing position of said clamp means said at least one wedging surface is received within said recessed portion of said frame means such that said clamp means is retained in said strap securing position by engagement of at least a portion of said clamp means with said transverse retaining surface defined by said recessed portion.
4 more elements
A strap assembly to be looped about split portions of tissue to retain the portions in adjacent engaged relation to promote healing thereof, which comprises:
- a flexible strap member for looping about split tissue portions and having first and second end portions;
- and
- a buckle member including:
- a frame having a first longitudinal passageway extending therethrough for reception and passage of said first strap end portion and a second longitudinal passageway extending therethrough for reception and passage of said second strap end portion;
- and
- a clamp member disposed between said first and second passageways and rotatably mounted within said frame, said clamp member rotatable from a non-strap securing position to a strap securing position, said clamp member securely engaging said first and second strap end portions when in said strap securing position to retain said strap member in a looped tensioned condition about the tissue portions.
3 more elements
A strap assembly for surgical repair of split portions of tissue to retain the tissue portions in adjacent contacting relation during healing, which comprises:
- a strap member having first and second end portions;
- and
- a buckle member for securing said strap member in a looped tensioned condition about the split tissue portions, said buckle member including:
- a frame member defining first and second generally longitudinal extending channels, said first channel for reception of said first strap end portion, said second channel for reception of said second strap end portion;
- and
- a clamp member disposed within said frame member and having first and second end portions, said clamp member rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation disposed intermediate said first and second end portions of said clamp member and rotatable to a strap securing position in response to tensional forces exerted on said strap member, wherein in said strap securing position said first end portion of said clamp member securely wedges said first strap end portion against a first bearing surface of said frame member and said second end portion of said clamp member securely wedges said second strap end portion against a second bearing surface of said frame member.
3 more elements
A strap assembly for surgical repair of split portions of tissue to retain the tissue portions in adjacent contacting relation during healing, which comprises:
- a strap member for looping about split portions of tissue and having first and second end portions;
- and
- a buckle member for securing said strap member in a looped tensioned condition about the split tissue portions, said buckle member comprising:
- a frame member defining two longitudinal passageways, a first of said passageways extending through an upper portion of said frame member to accommodate said first end portion of said strap member, a second of said passageways extending through a lower portion of said frame member to accommodate said second end portion of said strap member;
- and
- a clamp member rotatably mounted within said frame means and having first and second wedging surfaces, said clamp member rotatable from a non-strap securing position to a strap securing position in response to tensional forces exerted on said strap member during tensioning thereof about the tissue portions, wherein in said strap securing position said first wedging surface securely wedges said first strap end portion against a first bearing surface of said frame member and said second wedging surface securely wedges said second strap end portion against a second bearing surface of said frame member.
3 more elements
A method for repairing split portions of tissue, comprising the steps of:
- providing a strap assembly including a strap member having first and second end portions and buckle means attached to said first end portion of said strap member, said buckle means including frame means defining at least one longitudinal passageway for reception of said strap member and clamp means rotatably mounted within said frame means about a pin, said clamp means rotatable from a non-strap securing position to a strap securing position in response to the tensional forces exerted on said strap member during tensioning thereof about the tissue portions;
- looping said strap member around the tissue portions;
- inserting said second end portion of said strap member through said at least one passageway in said buckle member;
- tightening the looped strap member about the tissue portions in a manner to attach the tissue portions in an adjacent engaged relation;
- and
- securing said strap member to said buckle member.
3 more elements
A method for securing first and second portions of a sternum to retain the portions in adjacent engaged relation during healing, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing at least one strap assembly comprising a flexible strap member having first and second end portions and a buckle member, said buckle member including a frame having a first longitudinal passageway disposed in an upper portion thereof for accommodating said first strap end portion and a second longitudinal passageway disposed in a lower portion thereof for accommodating said second strap end portion, said buckle member further including a clamp member rotatably mounted within said frame for rotating from a non-strap securing position to a strap securing position;
- b) looping said strap member about the sternum portions and through intercostal tissue disposed between a first pair of adjacent ribs;
- c) maneuvering said first and second end portions of said strap member in a criss-cross manner about the sternum portions such that each said end portions passes through intercostal tissue disposed between a pair of next adjacent ribs;
- d) repeating step (c) as desired until a predetermined section of the sternum is enclosed by said strap member;
- e) inserting said first end portion of said looped strap member in said first passageway of said frame;
- f) inserting said second end portion of said looped strap member in said second passageway of said frame;
- g) tightening said looped strap member about the sternum portions in a manner to attach the tissue portions in adjacent engaged relation;
- and
- h) securing said strap member within said buckle member.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.