Staple for the suture of the sternum

• US 20060111721A1
• Filed: 08/08/2003
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cesare Puricelli, Gianni Ponte
• Original Assignee: Cesare Puricelli, Gianni Ponte
• Inventors: Ponte, Gianni, Puricelli, Cesare
• Application Number:
  US10/524,453
• Publication Number:
  US 20060111721A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/75
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0642 for bones, e.g. for osteosynthesis or connecting tendon to bone
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0643 with separate closing member, e.g. for interlocking with staple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32053 Punch like cutting instruments, e.g. using a cylindrical or oval knife A61B17/326 takes precedence; trepans A61B17/1695; for use on the cornea A61F9/007
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/823 for the sternum
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0646 for insertion into cartillege, e.g. meniscus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0647 having one single leg, e.g. tacks

Abstract

A staple for the suture of the sternum having a central body with right and left threaded ends in which two teeth are screwed able to be introduced into suitable holes made astride a median sternotomy performed on a patient. Rotating the central body draws the teeth together or apart, thus tightening the two halves of the sternum with appropriate tension. The staple is suitable to be tightened by means of an apparatus provided with friction, to give the correct tightening tension. Also described are a method for the suture of the sternum and punch cutter forceps suitable to be used in such operation.

Claims

1. Staple for the suture of a sternum, including a central body (1) having at least two threaded parts (2, 2′

) with opposite threads and at least two teeth (3, 3′

), each having a threaded end (4, 4′

) able to engage one of the threaded parts of the central body.

2. Staple as in claim 1 wherein said central body is a hollow cylinder and the two opposite threads are internal threads situated at the two ends of the central body.

3. Staple as in claim 1 wherein each tooth has one leg (5, 5′

), having an axis forming a right or acute angle with the threaded end (4, 4′

).

4. Staple as in claim 3 wherein said angle is between 70°

and 85°

.

5. Staple as in claim 3 wherein the edges of the tip (7) of each leg are rounded.

6. Staple as in claim 1 made of biocompatible and diamagnetic material.

7. Staple as in claim 1 wherein the external surface (9) of the central body is knurled.

8. Staple according to claim 3 wherein the legs of the teeth have a length of between 10 and 20 mm.

9. Punch cutter forceps able to pierce a sternum, including a first jaw (20) having a punching tip (15) having an axis (24), a second jaw (16), means (17, 18) able to move the tip, according to a rectilinear trajectory, closer to the second jaw, a portion (21) of surface of the second jaw forming an acute angle with the axis of the punching tip.

10. Forceps as in claim 9 wherein said angle is between 70°

and 85°

.

11. Forceps as in claim 9 or 10 wherein on the second jaw (16) there is a protuberance (23) facing the first jaw.

12. Surgical kit including:

one or more staples for the suture of a sternum, said staples including a central body (1) having at least two threaded parts (2, 2′

) with opposite threads and at least two teeth (3, 3′

), each having a threaded end (4, 4′

) able to engage one of the threaded parts of the central body; and

an apparatus equipped with clutch able to rotate the cylindrical body of a staple whose teeth are held in holes made in a bone, up to a preset tension of the staple.

13. Surgical kit as in claim 12 including one or more punch cutter forceps able to make holes, in a sternum, of diameter suitable for one or more staples included in the kit.

14. Surgical kit as in claim 13 including one or more punch cutter forceps, said forceps-including a first jaw (20) having a punching tip (15) having an axis (24), a second jaw (16), means (17, 18) able to move the tip, according to a rectilinear trajectory, closer to the second jaw, a portion (21) of surface of the second jaw forming an acute angle with the axis of the punching tip.