Apparatus and method for sternal closure

A sternal closure fixation device, said device comprising:

• a first sternum implant sized and structured to be disposed within an interior cavity of a cortical bone of a first half of a severed sternum such that the first implant contacts at least opposing anterior and posterior faces of an interior wall of the first half cortical bone of the severed sternum first half, the severed sternum first half having a first severance face produced by severance of the sternum, the first implant comprising at least one pointed tine structured and operable to at least one of contact and penetrate a costal margin face of the interior wall of the cortical bone of the first half of the severed sternum when the first implant is disposed within the interior cavity of the first half of the severed sternum;
• a second sternum implant sized and structured to be disposed within an interior cavity of a cortical bone of a second half of the severed sternum, opposing the first implant, such that the second implant contacts at least opposing anterior and posterior faces of an interior wall of the second half cortical bone of the severed sternum second half, the severed sternum second half having a second severance face produced by severance of the sternum, the second implant comprising at least one pointed tine structured and operable to at least one of contact and penetrate a costal margin face of the interior wall of the cortical bone of the second half of the severed sternum when the second implant is disposed within the interior cavity of the second half of the severed sternum;
• and
• a cylindrical rigid fixation pin having a constant diameter along a length thereof that is sized and structured to be disposed within an internal bore of the first implant and within an internal bore of the second implant, whereby when the first and second halves of the severed sternum are joined to bring the first and second severance faces into contact with each other, the first and second halves of the sternum are prevented from shear movement in any direction along a plane of the contacting first and second severance faces, wherein the first and second implants each comprise at least two legs that define the respective internal bore, and wherein each internal bore is tapered toward a distal end such that when the fixation pin is disposed within the internal bores the legs of each respective implant will be forced radially outward such that each respective implant firmly contacts the opposing faces of the interior wall of the respective cortical bone.