Apparatus and method for closing a severed sternum
First Claim
1. A sternum clamp comprising:
- a first elongate clamp member including a substantially planar body portion and turned over flange portions on opposite sides thereof defining a pair of longitudinally extending recesses; and
a second elongate clamp member including a substantially planar body portion slidingly received in the recesses of said first clamp member so as to overlie at least a part of the body portion of said first clamp member;
said first and second clamp members each including a pair of clamping hooks at one end thereof, said pairs of clamping hooks, in use, engaging opposed sides of the severed sternum, and each of said pairs of clamping hooks being spaced apart to define means for enabling engagement with the respective jaws of a pair of pliers so that the two members can be brought into tighter engagement when said clamping hooks are in place in the sternum, said hooks being generally U-shaped in cross-section, the free ends of the U-shaped hook lying in a plane substantially parallel to the planes of the planar body portions of said first and second clamp members and being rounded at the tips thereof, said clamping members being fabricated of stainless steel having a grain which extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the clamping members.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sternum clamp is provided which comprises a first elongate planar clamping member having turned over, opposed lateral flanges defining guide groove members slidingly received in said guide grooves and movable longitudinally relative to the first clamping member. The clamping members each include pairs of opposed clamping hooks for engaging the opposite sides of a severed sternum. The spacing between the pairs of hooks enables the clamping members to be engaged with the opposed jaws of a pair of pliers to thereby tighten the engagement between the clamping members. The sternum clamp is fabricated of a material such that when the lateral flanges are crimped, the second clamping member is lockingly retained by these flanges. In a method for closing a severed sternum with the sternum clamp, the following steps are carried out: drawing the severed sternum together; burning opposed, matching pairs of holes through each side of the severed sternum; pushing the hooks of one clamping member through one of the pairs of holes and the hooks of the clamping member through the other pair of holes; pushing the clamping members further into engagement until the severed sides of the sternum are correctly positioned; and crimping the lateral flanges to lock the clamping members together.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A sternum clamp comprising:
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a first elongate clamp member including a substantially planar body portion and turned over flange portions on opposite sides thereof defining a pair of longitudinally extending recesses; and a second elongate clamp member including a substantially planar body portion slidingly received in the recesses of said first clamp member so as to overlie at least a part of the body portion of said first clamp member; said first and second clamp members each including a pair of clamping hooks at one end thereof, said pairs of clamping hooks, in use, engaging opposed sides of the severed sternum, and each of said pairs of clamping hooks being spaced apart to define means for enabling engagement with the respective jaws of a pair of pliers so that the two members can be brought into tighter engagement when said clamping hooks are in place in the sternum, said hooks being generally U-shaped in cross-section, the free ends of the U-shaped hook lying in a plane substantially parallel to the planes of the planar body portions of said first and second clamp members and being rounded at the tips thereof, said clamping members being fabricated of stainless steel having a grain which extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the clamping members. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for closing a severed sternum with a sternum clamp comprising a first elongate clamp member including a substantially planar body portion and turned over, lateral flange portions defining a pair of longitudinally extending recesses;
- and a second elongate clamp member including a substantially planar body portion slidingly received in the recess of said first clamp member so as to overlie at least a part of the body portion of said first clamp member;
said first and second clamp members each including at least one clamping hook at one end thereof, said method comprising the steps of;drawing the severed sternum together; providing a pair of opposed aligned holes through the adjacent portions of the severed sternum; pushing the at least one hook of the first clamping member through one of the holes, and the at least one hook of the second clamping member through the other hole; using forces exerted at the opposite ends of the clamp to bring said clamping members into engagement such that the severed portions of the sternum are positioned with respect to each other so as to close the sternum; and crimping the turned over, lateral flanges of the first clamping member so as to lock the clamping members in engagement. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- and a second elongate clamp member including a substantially planar body portion slidingly received in the recess of said first clamp member so as to overlie at least a part of the body portion of said first clamp member;
Specification