Sternal closure clamp device

• US 20070043371A1
• Filed: 08/18/2006
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KLS-Martin, L.P.
• Original Assignee: KLS-Martin, L.P.
• Inventors: Teague, Michael, Burke, Shawn
• Granted Patent: US 7,803,176 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/71
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/8076 for the ribs or the sternum
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3404 having separate material adjustment means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3431 Plural clasps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/3493 Pivoted

Abstract

A sternal closure clamp device for securing and retaining longitudinally divided halves of a sternum, the device having four laterally extending engagement members that are positioned in inter-rib spaces on both sides of the sternum. The engagement members are connected to a centralized main body in a manner that allows the engagement members to be shortened or contracted such that the sternal halves may be pressed together and held in abutting relation. Each of the engagement members contracts in a direction non-perpendicular to the sternal incision, and the engagement members on a given side are non-parallel to each other such that device has a generally X-shaped configuration.

Claims

1. A sternal closure clamp device comprising:

a central body;

four engagement members, two of said engagement members mounted on a first side of said central body and the other two of said engagement members mounted on a second side of said central body, wherein said two engagement members on said first side of said central body are positioned non-parallel to each other and said two engagement members on said second side of said central body are positioned non-parallel to each other;

wherein said engagement members are retractable toward said central body.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising engagement member locking means to secure said engagement members in a fixed retracted position relative to said central body.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said two engagement members on said first side of said central body are disposed at a ninety degree angle to each other and said two engagement members on said second side of said central body are disposed at a ninety degree angle to each other.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said engagement members are slidingly received by said central body.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising engagement member pivoting means wherein the angle of each of said engagement members is adjustable relative to said central body.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said engagement members each comprise an arm member and a projection member.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising engagement member contracting means wherein said engagement members are drawn toward said central body by operation of said contracting means.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising engagement member length adjusting means, said length adjusting means comprising mechanical fixation constructs disposed on said central body and said engagement members.

9. The device of claim 2, further comprising engagement member length adjusting means, said length adjusting means comprising mechanical fixation constructs disposed on said central body and said engagement members.

10. The device of claim 5, further comprising engagement member length adjusting means, said length adjusting means comprising mechanical fixation constructs disposed on said central body and said engagement members.

11. The device of claim 2, further comprising engagement member pivoting means wherein the angle of each of said engagement members is adjustable relative to said central body.

12. The device of claim 9, further comprising engagement member pivoting means wherein the angle of each of said engagement members is adjustable relative to said central body.

13. The device of claim 1, said device being generally X-shaped.

14. The device of claim 6, wherein upon retraction of said engagement members toward said central body the separation distance between said projections members on said first side of said central body is reduced and the separation distance between said projection members on said second side of said central body is reduced.

15. A sternal closure clamp device securing a sternum longitudinally divided into first and second sternal halves in abutting relationship, said device comprising:

a central body;

four engagement members slidingly received by said central body in a manner whereby said engagement members can be retracted toward said central body, said engagement members comprising arm members and projection members extending generally perpendicularly from said arm members, two of said engagement members mounted on a first side of said central body and the other two of said engagement members mounted on a second side of said central body, wherein said two engagement members on said first side of said central body are positioned non-parallel to each other and with said projection members disposed on opposite sides of a rib of said first sternal half, and wherein said two engagement members on said second side of said central body are positioned non-parallel to each other and with said projection members disposed on opposite sides of a rib of said second sternal half.

16. The device of claim 15, further comprising engagement member locking means to secure said engagement members in a fixed retracted position relative to said central body.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein said two engagement members on said first side of said central body are disposed at a ninety degree angle to each other and said two engagement members on said second side of said central body are disposed at a ninety degree angle to each other.

18. The device of claim 15, further comprising engagement member pivoting means wherein the angle of each of said engagement members is adjustable relative to said central body.

19. The device of claim 15, further comprising engagement member contracting means wherein said engagement members are drawn toward said central body by operation of said contracting means.

20. The device of claim 15, further comprising engagement member length adjusting means, said length adjusting means comprising mechanical fixation constructs disposed on said central body and said engagement members.

21. The device of claim 16, further comprising engagement member length adjusting means, said length adjusting means comprising mechanical fixation constructs disposed on said central body and said engagement members.

22. The device of claim 18, further comprising engagement member length adjusting means, said length adjusting means comprising mechanical fixation constructs disposed on said central body and said engagement members.

23. The device of claim 16, further comprising engagement member pivoting means wherein the angle of each of said engagement members is adjustable relative to said central body.

24. The device of claim 21, further comprising engagement member pivoting means wherein the angle of each of said engagement members is adjustable relative to said central body.

25. The device of claim 15, wherein upon retraction of said engagement members toward said central body the separation distance between said projections members on said first side of said central body is reduced and the separation distance between said projection members on said second side of said central body is reduced.