Sternum closure device having locking member

Abstract

A sternal closure device including impermanently joined sliding and receiving attachment structures which are adapted for intercostal positioning between at least two corresponding rib pairs and substantially surrounding a patient's sternum with each structure having a cross member, a plurality of integrated legs and foot members, a plurality of sternum engagement surfaces, and an end portion. The receiving structure further incorporates a generally bow-shaped locking member with angularly disposed teeth-like structures positioned to receive and position a plurality of receiving structure projection members when inserted therein. The locking member further serves as a stabilizing structure with stabilization facilitated via an easily removed single screw like structure markedly facilitates quick release. The projection members further embody complimenting positioned teeth-like structures providing for racheting, unidirectional entry and positioning within the receiving attachment structure.

1 . A sternum closure device for positioning between at least two corresponding rib pairs substantially surrounding a patients sternum, the sternum closure device comprising: 
 a sliding attachment structure including: 
 a plurality of projection members with angularly disposed teeth-like structures inwardly positioned on the innermost edges of each the plurality of projection members; and  
 first and second leg portions, each of the first and second leg portions including a sliding attachment structure associated integrated foot portion and a sliding attachment structure associated sternum engagement portion;  
   a receiving attachment structure including: 
 a securing aperture; and  
 third and forth leg portions, each of the third and fourth leg portions including a receiving attachment structure associated integrated foot portion and a receiving attachment structure associated sternum engagement portion; and  
   a generally bow-shaped locking member attached to the securing aperture of the receiving attachment structure and including a first distal end and a second distal end, each of the first distal end and the second distal end including angularly disposed teeth-like structures; and    wherein the generally bow-shaped locking member is resiliently tensioned between the plurality of projection members such that the angularly disposed teeth-like structures of the generally bow-shaped locking member engage the angularly disposed teeth-like structures of the plurality of projection members.    
   
   
       2 . The sternum closure device of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving attachment structure further includes securing means to removable attach the generally bow-shaped locking member to the receiving attachment structure.  
   
   
       3 . The sternum closure device of  claim 1 , wherein the sliding attachment structure further includes a cross member connecting the plurality of projection members with the first and second leg portions.  
   
   
       4 . The sternum closure device of  claim 3 , wherein the cross member includes a cut line to facilitate the separation of the plurality of projection members from the first and second leg portions by a cutting action.  
   
   
       5 . The sternum closure device of  claim 3 , wherein the cross member includes at least one cut hole to facilitate the separation of the plurality of projection members from the first and second leg portions by a cutting action.  
   
   
       6 . The sternum closure device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of projection members is in offset alignment by a predetermined offset with a corresponding first or second leg portion of the sliding attachment structure.  
   
   
       7 . The sternum closure device of  claim 1 , wherein the generally bow-shaped locking member further includes first and second extensions extending from the first and second distal ends, respectively, the first and second extensions to facilitate, wherein squeezing of the first and second extensions facilitates disengagement of the teeth-like structures of the locking member from the teeth-like structures of the plurality of projection members.  
   
   
       8 . The sternum closure device of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of a surface of the sliding attachment structure associated sternum engagement portion is knurled.  
   
   
       9 . The sternum closure device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of projection members includes at least one trim hole to facilitate trimming of the plurality of projection members to a desired length.  
   
   
       10 . The sternum closure device of  claim 1 , wherein the sliding attachment structure and the receiving attachment structure are sized and dimensioned to engage opposite sides of a patient's severed sternum and facilitate the tilting of divided sternal plates while positioned intercostally between at least two corresponding rib pairs.  
   
   
       11 . The sternal closure device of  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of projection members are angularly offset with respect to each other.  
   
   
       12 . The sternal closure device of  claim 1 , wherein the generally bow-shaped locking member may be compressed to facilitate disengagement of the sternal closure device when previously secured intercostally between at least two corresponding positioned rib pairs.  
   
   
       13 . The sternal closure device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one portion of the sliding attachment structure is scored to facilitate disengagement of the sternal closure device when previously secured intercostally between at least two corresponding positioned rib pairs.  
   
   
       14 . The sternal closure device of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving attachment structure further comprises at least one receiving chamber for slidably receiving the plurality of projection members of the sliding attachment structure.  
   
   
       15 . The sternal closure device of  claim 14 , wherein the generally bow-shaped locking member includes a locking member securing aperture substantially centered between the first and second distal ends to facilitate securing of the generally bow-shaped locking member to the at least one receiving chamber of the receiving attachment structure.  
   
   
       16 . The sternal closure device of  claim 1 , wherein each of the sliding attachment structure and the receiving attachment structure include a clamp guide to facilitate clamping together of the sliding attachment structure and the receiving attachment structure.