Lock and release mechanism for a sternal clamp
First Claim
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1. A sternal clamp device comprising:
- a first clamp member and a second clamp member slidingly engaged such that the overall length of said sternal clamp device may be shortened or lengthened by relative movement of said first and second clamp members, each said clamp member comprising at least one leg members to abut the sides of a sternum;
engagement means controlling relative movement of said first and second clamp members; and
status control means to select one of three operating statuses for said sternal clamp device, said operating statuses consisting of an open status, a closing status and a locked status;
whereby in said open status said sternal clamp device may be lengthened or shortened, in said closing status said sternal clamp device may be shortened but not lengthened, and in said locked status said sternal clamp may be neither lengthened nor shortened.
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Abstract
An engagement mechanism for a sternal clamp, the mechanism allowing for an open status where the clamp may be lengthened or shortened, a closing status where the clamp may only be shortened, and a locked status where the clamp cannot be lengthened or shortened.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A sternal clamp device comprising:
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a first clamp member and a second clamp member slidingly engaged such that the overall length of said sternal clamp device may be shortened or lengthened by relative movement of said first and second clamp members, each said clamp member comprising at least one leg members to abut the sides of a sternum;
engagement means controlling relative movement of said first and second clamp members; and
status control means to select one of three operating statuses for said sternal clamp device, said operating statuses consisting of an open status, a closing status and a locked status;
whereby in said open status said sternal clamp device may be lengthened or shortened, in said closing status said sternal clamp device may be shortened but not lengthened, and in said locked status said sternal clamp may be neither lengthened nor shortened. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A sternal clamp device comprising:
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a first clamp member and a second clamp member to engage the sides of a sternum;
sliding means joining said first and second clamp members together whereby said sternal clamp can be lengthened or shortened;
engagement means to restrict relative motion of said first and second clamp members;
status control means to control said engagement means, said status control means being operable in a locked status, a closing status and an open status;
whereby said status control means disposed in said locked status precludes relative movement of said first and said second clamp members, disposed in said closing status allows relative movement of said first and said second clamp members together so as to shorten said sternal clamp but precludes relative movement of said first and second clamp members apart so as to lengthen said sternal clamp, and disposed in said open status allows relative movement of said first and said second clamp members both together and apart. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A sternal clamp device for securing two severed halves of a sternum in abutting relation, said device comprising:
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a first clamp member comprising a main body and at least one leg member;
a second clamp member comprising a main body and at least one leg member, said second clamp member joined to said first clamp member in a sliding manner whereby said sternal clamp device may be lengthened by relative movement of said first and second clamp members away from each other and whereby said sternal clamp device may be shortened by relative movement of said first and second clamp members toward each other, such that said sternal clamp device is lengthened and positioned on said sternal halves such that said sternal halves are between said leg members of said first and second clamp members, and said sternal clamp device is shortened to force said sternal halves together;
engagement means to control relative movement of said first and said second clamp members;
status control means to control said engagement means, whereby said engagement means is set in one of three operating statuses, a locked status wherein relative movement of said first and said second clamp members is precluded, a closing status wherein relative movement of said first and said second clamp members toward each other is allowed but relative movement away from each other is precluded, and an open status wherein relative movement of said first and said second clamp members in either direction is allowed. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification