Sternum Reinforcing Device to be Used After a Sternotomy or a Sternal Fracture
First Claim
1. A sternum reinforcing device to be used after a sternotomy or a sternal fracture, which device comprises at least an elongated member apt to be used as a unit of a reinforcing group, which member is designed to be located on a surface portion of an anterior longitudinal lateral edge of a sternum and is provided with a first and a second connection parts, said first connection part of said elongated member being adapted to join with a second connection part of a preceding elongated member of the reinforcing group along the longitudinal lateral edge of the sternum, said second connection part of said elongated member being adapted to join with a first connection part of a following elongated member of the group along the same longitudinal lateral edge of the sternum, said elongated member being further provided with a projecting portion designed to be fitted in an intercostal space adjacent to the longitudinal lateral edge of the sternum.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sternum reinforcing device to be used after a sternotomy or a sternal fracture, made of a biocompatible material, comprises an elongated modular member (10) with a pair of legs (20, 30), that are joined each other by a body portion (4), and a pair of arms (6, 7). The legs (20, 30) can be fitted in an intercostal space of the thorax of a patient, laterally to the sternum, and can be bent in a mutually opposite direction, on the internal side of the thorax, after being fitted therein. The arms (6, 7), extending from one side to the other of the body portion (4) and orthogonally to the pair of legs (20, 30), constitute a male part and a female part, respectively, of a prismatic type coupling for consecutive modular members.
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Citations
14 Claims
- 1. A sternum reinforcing device to be used after a sternotomy or a sternal fracture, which device comprises at least an elongated member apt to be used as a unit of a reinforcing group, which member is designed to be located on a surface portion of an anterior longitudinal lateral edge of a sternum and is provided with a first and a second connection parts, said first connection part of said elongated member being adapted to join with a second connection part of a preceding elongated member of the reinforcing group along the longitudinal lateral edge of the sternum, said second connection part of said elongated member being adapted to join with a first connection part of a following elongated member of the group along the same longitudinal lateral edge of the sternum, said elongated member being further provided with a projecting portion designed to be fitted in an intercostal space adjacent to the longitudinal lateral edge of the sternum.
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14. A method for reinforcing a sternum after a sternotomy or a sternal fracture, comprising the step of applying a reinforcing group made of a plurality of elongated members, wherein each member is located on a surface portion of an anterior longitudinal lateral edge of the sternum and is provided with a first and a second connection parts, said first connection part of said elongated member joining with a second connection part of a preceding elongated member of the reinforcing group along the longitudinal lateral edge of the sternum, said second connection part of said elongated member joining with a first connection part of a following elongated member of the group along the same longitudinal lateral edge of the sternum, said elongated member being further provided with a projecting portion fitting in an intercostal space adjacent to the longitudinal lateral edge of the sternum.
Specification