U.S. patent application number 12/383103 was filed with the patent office on 2009-10-01 for sternal clamp with rib extension.
Invention is credited to Charles Anderson, Shawn Burke, Mike Teague, Axel Walzenegger.
Application Number | 20090248091 12/383103 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41118325 |
Filed Date | 2009-10-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090248091 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Teague; Mike ; et
al. |
October 1, 2009 |
Sternal clamp with rib extension
Abstract
A sternal closure clamp device for securing and retaining
longitudinally divided halves of a sternum, the device having a
pair of body members each having engagement members adapted to abut
the sides of the sternal halves, and at least one rib extension
member having rib retaining means attached to at least one of said
body members, such that the rib extension member can be secured to
a rib to reduce the force being applied directly to the sternal
halves.
Inventors: |
Teague; Mike; (Ponte Vedra
Beach, FL) ; Anderson; Charles; (Gig Harbor, WA)
; Burke; Shawn; (Jacksonville, FL) ; Walzenegger;
Axel; (Muhlheim, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROGERS TOWERS, P.A.
1301 RIVERPLACE BOULEVARD, SUITE 1500
JACKSONVILLE
FL
32207
US
|
Family ID: |
41118325 |
Appl. No.: |
12/383103 |
Filed: |
March 19, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61069982 |
Mar 19, 2008 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
606/324 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 17/823
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
606/324 |
International
Class: |
A61B 17/84 20060101
A61B017/84 |
Claims
1. A sternal closure clamp for holding the sternal halves of a
longitudinally severed sternum in abutting relation, said clamp
comprising: a pair of slidingly interconnected body members whereby
the overall length of said clamp is adjustable and whereby said
body members can be locked into a fixed relative position; at least
one sternal engagement member connected to each said body member,
said sternal engagement members extending to the rear of said body
members and; at least one rib extension member connected to said at
least one of said body members, said rib extension member
comprising means for securing said rib extension member directly
onto a rib; whereby with said sternal engagement members positioned
abutting the sides of a severed sternum, said rib extension members
are securable directly onto a rib in order to reduce the force
applied to a sternum by said sternal engagement members when the
sternal clamp is contracted.
2. The clamp of claim 1, wherein said at least one rib extension
member is angularly adjustable relative to said at least one of
said body members.
3. The clamp of claim 1, further comprising another rib extension
member, wherein each of said rib extension members is connected to
a different said body member.
4. The clamp of claim 3, wherein both of said rib extension members
are angularly adjustable relative to said body members.
5. The clamp of claim 1, comprising a pair of sternal engagement
members connected to each said body member, said sternal engagement
members being spaced apart such that a rib may be received
therebetween.
6. The clamp of claim 5, wherein said at least one rib extension
member is angularly adjustable relative to said at least one of
said body members.
7. The clamp of claim 5, further comprising another rib extension
member, wherein each of said rib extension members is connected to
a different said body member.
8. The clamp of claim 7, wherein both of said rib extension members
are angularly adjustable relative to said body members.
9. A sternal closure clamp comprising: a pair of slidingly
interconnected body members whereby the overall length of said
clamp is adjustable; at least one sternal engagement member
connected to each said body member; a rib extension member
connected to one of said body members, said rib extension member
comprising means for securing said rib extension member directly
onto a rib; whereby said rib extension member are securable to a
rib in order to reduce the force applied to a sternum by said
sternal engagement members when the sternal clamp is
contracted.
10. The clamp of claim 9, wherein said rib extension member is
angularly adjustable relative to said one of said body members.
11. The clamp of claim 9, wherein a second rib extension member is
connected to the other of said body members.
12. The clamp of claim 11, wherein said rib extension member is
angularly adjustable relative to said one of said body members and
wherein said second rib extension member is angularly adjustable
relative to said other of said body members.
13. The clamp of claim 1, comprising a pair of sternal engagement
members connected to each said body member, said sternal engagement
members being spaced apart such that a rib may be received
therebetween.
14. The clamp of claim 13, wherein said rib extension member is
angularly adjustable relative to said one of said body members.
15. The clamp of claim 13, wherein a second rib extension member is
connected to the other of said body members.
16. The clamp of claim 15, wherein said rib extension member is
angularly adjustable relative to said one of said body members and
wherein said second rib extension member is angularly adjustable
relative to said other of said body members.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 61/069,982, filed Mar. 19, 2008.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention generally relates to devices used to rejoin a
human sternum that has been severed longitudinally, and more
particularly relates to such devices that function in a clamping
manner to retain the severed sternum portions in a closed and
abutting relationship post-operatively.
[0003] It is often necessary in surgical operations to
longitudinally sever the patient's sternum so that the ribs may be
spread to provide access to internal organs such as the heart. It
is then necessary to secure the sternum halves together for
post-operative recovery. Various closure techniques are used to
accomplish this task. For example, holes may be drilled into the
sternum halves and suture material passed through and tightened to
cinch the sternum halves together. Apertured plates may be added to
further rigidify the sternum post-operatively, with the suture
material being passed through the apertures in the plate and the
sternum. Encircling members may be wrapped around the sternum and
tightened. Toothed bridging members extending across the cut line
may be pressed into the sternum surfaces and/or secured with
threaded rods extending between the sternal halves.
[0004] Another sternal closure technique involves the use of clamps
having hook-like projections or engagement members on both ends,
the clamp being positioned laterally relative to the sternal
incision with the projections being disposed between adjoining rib
pairs on opposite sides of the sternum. The clamp is then linearly
contracted or compressed to shorten the device and force the
sternal halves together, the clamp typically comprising two members
joined in a linearly telescoping manner. Locking or securing means,
either permanent or releasable, maintain the clamp in the
contracted configuration so that the sternum can heal.
[0005] Examples of such techniques and devices are described in
U.S. Pat. No. 3,473,528 to Mishkin et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,201,215
to Crossett et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,279,248 to Gabbay, U.S. Pat.
No. 4,583,541 to Barry, U.S. Pat. No. 5,139,498 to Astudillo Ley,
U.S. Pat. No. 6,051,007 to Hogendijk et al., U.S. Pat. No.
6,217,580 to Levin, U.S. Pat. No. 6,302,899 to Johnson et al., U.S.
Pat. No. 6,540,769 to Miller, III, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,712,821 to
Gabbay the disclosures of which are herein incorporated by
reference.
[0006] In certain circumstances, the strength and rigidity of the
sternum may be insufficient to withstand the compressive forces of
the sternal clamp, such that the sternum may be damaged upon
compression of the sternal clamp or such that overtime the weakness
of the sternum results in damage from the clamp. It is an object of
this invention to provide a sternal closure clamp device having at
least one rib extension member such that the clamp may be secured
directly to the rib a distance away from the sternum, such that the
compressive forces of the sternal clamp are dispersed between the
sternum and the rib.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The invention is in general a sternal closure clamp device
for post-operatively closing, securing and supporting a patient's
sternum that has been longitudinally severed into two sternal
halves. The sternal clamp generally comprises two body members each
preferably having a pair of spaced, sternum-engaging engagement
members extending rearward from the body member.
[0008] The engagement members are means to engage, secure or
otherwise retain the sternal halves in an abutting relationship,
with the engagement members comprising hooks, projections, fingers
or the like extending in the posterior direction, whereby the
engagement members can be disposed against the outer edges of the
sternal halves and between adjoining ribs, preferably with the two
engagement members located on a given side being positioned in the
inter-rib spaces to either side of a single rib.
[0009] Extending from at least one of the two body members is a rib
extension member, the rib extension member preferably being
attached to the body member in a pivoting manner such that the
angle of the rib extension relative to the body member can be
adjusted. Rib clamping means are provided on the free end of the
rib extension arm member such that the device can be securely
affixed to the rib.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the
invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a portion of the
embodiment of FIG. 1, showing the mounting platform for the rib
extension member.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the rib extension
member of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention
having two rib extension members.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] With reference to the drawings, the invention will now be
described in detail with regard for the best mode and the preferred
embodiment. The invention is a sternal closure clamp device used to
close, secure and support a sternum post-operatively, the sternum
having been severed longitudinally into left and right lateral
sternal halves to provide access to the interior of the chest,
wherein the sternal clamp comprises two opposing body members and a
rib extension member mounted to at least one of said body
members.
[0015] The sternal clamp 10 generally comprises two opposing body
members 11 and 12 each at least one and preferably a pair of
spaced, sternum-engaging engagement members 13 extending
posteriorly from the body members 11 and 12. The body members 11
and 12 are slidingly or telescopically interconnected such that the
overall length of the sternal clamp 10 can be adjusted. The
engagement members 13 are means to engage, secure or otherwise
retain the sternal halves in an abutting relationship, with the
engagement members 13 comprising hooks, projections, fingers or the
like extending in the posterior direction from the main bodies 11
and 12, whereby the engagement members 13 are able to be disposed
against the outer edges of the sternal halves and between adjoining
ribs, preferably with the two engagement members 13 located on a
given side being positioned in the inter-rib spaces to either side
of a single rib. In use, the clamp 10 is positioned on the sternal
halves across the longitudinal sternal incision with the engagement
members 13 located in the inter-rib spaces, such that at least one
rib is between the two engagement members 13 on a given side of the
clamp 10. The sternal halves and opposing body members 11 and 12
are forced or drawn together to close the longitudinal incision,
such that the sternal halves are retained in an abutted relation by
the engagement members 13 and precluded from separating, the clamp
10 comprising means (not shown) to retain or lock the clamp 10 in
the compressed or contracted position, such as a mechanical
fastener, ratchet mechanisms, springs or the like. Such sternal
clamps are well known in the art.
[0016] To address the circumstances where the sternum bone material
is not strong enough to withstand the compressive force of the
sternal clamp 10, due to age, injury, disease or the like, the
sternal clamp 10 comprises a rib extension member 21 attached to at
least one body member, herein shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as attached to
body member 12. A second rib extension member 21 could also be
attached to body member 11, as shown in FIG. 4, or alternatively
plural rib extension members 21 could be mounted on one side. The
rib extension member 21 may be rigidly affixed to the body member
12, but preferably is mounted onto body member 12 by means 30 for
pivoting the rib extension member 21 such that the relative angle
between the rib extension member 21 and body member 12 can be
altered. As a representative non-limiting example, in the drawings
the pivot means 30 is shown to comprise an apertured base plate
member 31 positioned on the body member 12, an apertured arm plate
member 32 positioned on the end of arm member 22, and fastener
means 33, such as a screw, designed to secure the arm plate member
32 to the base plate member 31.
[0017] The rib extension member 21 further comprises rib securing
means 23 positioned on the free end of arm member 22, the rib
securing means 23 being means for securing the rib extension member
21 directly to a rib at a point distanced from the sternum and body
member 12. Rib securing means 23 may comprise any suitable clamping
or fastening structure, and a non-limiting representative example
is shown in the drawings to comprise at least one fixed projection
or leg member 24, an adjustable projection or leg member 25 and
securing means 26, such as a screw, that allows the legs 24 and 25
to be clamped tightly onto the rib by spreading apart or extending
the leg members 25 and 26, forcing them together to securely abut
the rib, and locking them in place about the rib.
[0018] To utilize the device, the clamp 10 is extended and placed
about the sternal halves such that the projection members 13 abut
the outer sides of the sternal halves. Arm member 22 may be angled
or curved toward the front or rear to conform to the position of
the rib to which it will be attached. The rib extension member 21
is pivoted to properly align it with the rib and the rib securing
means 23 are secured to the rib. The sternal halves are then drawn
together and the clamp 10 is locked so that it cannot be extended.
In this manner, the compressive force of the sternal clamp 10 is
divided between the sternum and the rib (or ribs) when the clamp 10
is positioned about the sternal halves and contracted, as opposed
to being completely concentrated against the sternal bone.
[0019] It is understood that equivalents and substitutions to
elements set forth above may be obvious to one of ordinary skill in
the art, and therefore the true scope and definition of the
invention is to be as set forth in the following claims.
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