Sternal closure system, method and apparatus therefor

A sternal closure system configured for reapproximating left and right halves of a patient's longitudinally incised sternum during a surgical procedure in the thoracic cavity, the system comprising:

• a first, at least one anchor having an inner axial passage, configured to be disposed inside the left half of the sternum;
• a second, at least one anchor having an inner axial passage, configured to be disposed inside the right half of the sternum;
• and
• at least one rigid fixing element made of a metallic material, said fixing element comprising a staple defined by a body portion and by two legs extending orthogonally from the body portion, said legs being configured for insertion in respective axial passages of said first and second anchors so as upon insertion, to rigidly connect said first, at least one anchor, disposed within the left half of the sternum, to said second, at least one anchor disposed within the right half of the sternum, the body portion of the rigid fixing element configured to externally extend across an incision of the incised sternum between first and second anchors with said legs of the rigid fixing element being removably tightly held within the respective axial passages of the first and second anchors, the rigid fixing element configured to maintain the left half of the sternum and the right half of the sternum in relative position for reapproximation, and
• a fixing apparatus configured for simultaneous linear displacement of the first and second anchors in a direction across the incision of the incised sternum so as to bring the first and second anchors closer together and thus to reapproximate the left half of the incised sternum and the right half of the incised sternum, said fixing apparatus configured to be capable of securing the first and second anchors in their relative positions upon reapproximation of the left and right halves of the incised sternum and said fixing apparatus is configured to removably insert the legs of said rigid fixing element into respective longitudinal passages of said first and second anchors upon bringing the first and second anchors together,
• the legs of said rigid fixing element being configured for subsequent extraction from the respective axial passages so as to facilitate separation of the left and right halves of the sternum when necessary, and for re-insertion of the fixing element therein.