Abstract:
The invention concerns a clamp, especially a surgical clamp, with a left clamp half to receive a left half of a breastbone during a surgical procedure, a right clamp half to receive a right half of the breastbone, as well as a first toothed rod and a detent mechanism engaging in the first toothed rod to secure the left clamp half at a distance from the right clamp half, wherein the detent mechanism engaging in the first toothed rod has a detent region extending at least from the left clamp half to the right clamp half.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application relates to and claims priority from DE 10 2007 052 315.9, filed Oct. 31, 2007, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated fully by reference. 
       FIGURE SELECTED FOR PUBLICATION 
       [0002]      FIG. 3 . 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0004]    The present invention relates to a clamp. More specifically, the present invention relates to a surgical breastbone clamp containing a detent mechanism extending between respective opposing clamp halves. 
         [0005]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0006]    The related art involves the performing of medical operations on the open rib cage, such as heart operations. These operations have almost become a routine procedure, one which is often done. In order to open the rib cage, one generally saws the breastbone (sternum) lengthwise, making it possible to spread the ribs apart and work freely in/on the open chest. 
         [0007]    After the operation, the chest has to be closed again. In particular, one must create the conditions for the lengthwise separated breastbone to heal once more, which necessarily requires, among other things, a fixation of the two halves of the breastbone in a defined position to each other. A number of techniques are known for this. As a rule, the connecting of the two halves of the sternum is done with surgical thread or by tacking together. However, in a number of problem patients, such as those with a strong chronic cough, there are complications due to the fact that the thread is exposed to strong stress and will break. 
         [0008]    More stable alternative techniques, but still not used as standard methods today, are the applying of perforated strips on/in the bone and screwing them together, or the joining and fixing of the halves of the breastbone with a massive clamp. 
         [0009]    Among these techniques, one preferred technique uses a generally two-part clamp with two clamp halves, each of which grasps one outer side of a breastbone half. The two halves of the clamp are than moved toward each other until the halves of the breastbone are pressed against each other with the desired pressure and fixed in this position. The advantage with the use of such clamps is that, besides the high-strength connection of the sternum halves which it accomplishes, no further procedures are required for the breastbone, such as making of holes to lead a thread through, applying of perforated strips, or forcing of wire staples into the breastbone with a tacker device. 
         [0010]    Clamps which are used for the joining and fixing of the breastbone are known, for example, from DE 8222027, U.S. Pat. No. 6,051,007 or US 2006/0195101 A1. In all of these configurations, the first half of the clamp commonly has an elongated staple-like structure with surface structurization, while the second half of the clamp has a sleeve, which is fitted onto the staple-like structure and is fixed there generally by means of a detent mechanism, provided in or on the sleeve and engaging with the surface structurization, as the two halves of the clamp are moved together into the desired end position. 
         [0011]    However, all these clamps have a number of disadvantages in common: it is not possible to achieve a symmetrical and especially a flat bearing surface of the clamp with them. Thus, the primary effect achievable with a clamp, that of a two-dimensional pressure, as opposed to the uni-dimensional pressing of a thread, is thwarted in that the effective bearing surface is ultimately confined to the region of the sleeve. In another common disadvantage, the fixation mechanism only acts locally in a small region of the clamp and is therefore still always exposed to a certain degree of wobbling and tilting and does not achieve the highest conceivable stability. As a third common disadvantage, when tightening the clamp, it is a problem that the relative movement of the halves of the clamp toward each other still occurs only by the movement of one half of the clamp, and so the tightening is necessarily asymmetrical, which can result in a fourth common disadvantage, namely the halves of the breastbone not being fixed in the optimal position relative to each other. 
         [0012]    Accordingly, there is a need for an improved surgical clamp that overcomes the drawbacks noted above. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    An aspect of the present invention is to provide an improved surgical clamp. 
         [0014]    The inventors have now recognized that a considerable stabilization of the locking connection can be achieved along with making the bearing surface and the stress occurring during the tightening symmetrical in that a detent mechanism is rendered symmetrical thanks to the use of two identical toothed rods. 
         [0015]    According to an aspect of the present invention a clamp, specifically a surgical clamp is provided with a left clamp half to receive a left half of a breastbone during a surgical procedure, a right clamp half to receive a right half of the breastbone, as well as a first toothed rod and a detent mechanism engaging in the first toothed rod to secure the left clamp half at a distance from the right clamp half, wherein the detent mechanism engaging in the first toothed rod has a detent region extending at least from the left clamp half to the right clamp half. 
         [0016]    According to another aspect of the present invention, the clamp has a left clamp half and a right clamp half, as well as a first toothed rod and a detent mechanism engaging in the first toothed rod to secure the left clamp half at a distance from the right clamp half, while the detent mechanism engaging in the first toothed rod has a detent region extending at least from the left clamp half to the right clamp half. The detent region is identified and defined broadly herein without limit as the region in which the forces are created which withstand the pulling apart of the surgical clamp. 
         [0017]    According to another aspect of the present invention it is realized that the detent mechanism may be second toothed rod engaging in the first toothed rod during a use. 
         [0018]    According to another aspect of the present invention, there is a particular advantage for the right clamp half and the first of the toothed rods as well as the left clamp half and the second of the toothed rods to each be a one-piece design. This configuration provides the surgeon with a system very easy to handle during a use. But a two-piece design is also possible, in which the toothed rod is shoved into the respective opening of the clamp halves from behind. 
         [0019]    For an optimized connection of the clamp halves by means of the toothed rods, the left clamp half and the right clamp half are each provided with a housing, having a continuous opening into which at least one of the toothed rods can be introduced. This makes unnecessary any additional parts to force the locking contact between the toothed rods, which would make it more difficult to handle the clamp in practice. Preferably, the shape of the opening of the housing is adapted to the shape of the toothed rods, so that when the toothed rods have been introduced, the configuration of the housing and the opening dictates a parallel running of the toothed rods. In a two-piece design of clamp halves and corresponding toothed rods, therefore, the opening of the housing should be such that the two toothed rods can be introduced into the opening of the housing. 
         [0020]    As an additional aspect of the present invention, an additional fixation of a clamp can be achieved, for example, for a surgical clamp, when plates with lugs are provided on the toothed rods or on the clamp halves, for screwing the surgical clamp to the bone. The lugs are advisedly arranged so that the screws can always be screwed into the bone material. 
         [0021]    As an additional aspect of the present invention an especially good locking can be achieved when the toothing of the respective toothed rods is configured such that the flanks belonging to each tooth run in the same direction, looking from the base of the tooth to the tip of the tooth; thus, for example, both flanks run from bottom left to upper right. Thanks to this flank geometry, the two toothed rods are pulled together in the transverse direction when there is a tensile stress in the lengthwise direction. An especially advantageous aspect of the present invention is to provide a profile as a shark fin profile, since it presents an especially low resistance to the moving of the clamp halves toward each other and an especially high resistance to their moving away from each other. 
         [0022]    As an additional aspect of the present invention, an at least partly especially intimate and thus especially effective contact between toothings is achieved by providing that at least one of the toothed rods has a curvature along its lengthwise dimension wherein the toothing is directed toward the midpoint of the curvature or away from the midpoint of the curvature. This effect is further strengthened when both toothed rods have a curvature along their lengthwise dimension, wherein the toothing is directed toward the midpoint of the curvature or away from the midpoint of the curvature and the curvatures are opposite to each other. The mutually opposing curvatures in this case can be convex or concave. 
         [0023]    As an additional aspect of the present invention, one improvement increases the stability of the surgical clamp on the bone if the surfaces of the left clamp half and/or the right clamp half that make contact with the bone have a structurization, preferably a tooth structure. 
         [0024]    Another aspect of the present invention provides a preferred selection of optional materials for use as the surgical clamp including: implantable steel, titanium, and high-stress plastics. 
         [0025]    In an especially preferred embodiment of the present invention, the clamp has a housing with a length corresponding to the clamping distance of the clamp. This ensures that the ends of the toothed rods are protected and do not stick out. Thanks to this design, the clamp of the invention has the advantage that the teeth of the toothed rods are covered when the clamp is in the clamping state and thus any traumatic effect from the teeth is ruled out. 
         [0026]    In another advantageous embodiment of the present inventive clamp, at least one of the toothed rods has a semicircular profile. When both toothed rods have a semicircular profile, a full circle cross section results in the assembled state. 
         [0027]    The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate the same elements. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0028]      FIG. 1  is a side elevated view of a right clamp half and a first toothed rod of a clamp according to the invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  is a side elevated view of a left clamp half and a second toothed rod of a clamp according to the invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  is a side elevated view of an assembled clamp containing the components shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the assembled claim looking from the top downwardly in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 5  is a side elevated view of a left clamp half according to another exemplary embodiment wherein a curved toothed rod is provided. 
           [0033]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view along section Y-Y in  FIG. 5 . 
           [0034]      FIG. 7  is a side elevated view of a right clamp half according to the second exemplary embodiment wherein a curved toothed rod is provided. 
           [0035]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view along section X-X in  FIG. 7 . 
           [0036]      FIG. 9  is a combined figure of two views depicting a further embodiment of the present invention of a surgical clamp with a top plan view and a side elevational view of an alternative first toothed rod member having a broadened end region and improved opening and actuation features. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0037]    Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments of the invention that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, same or similar reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts or steps. The drawings are in simplified form and are not to precise scale. For purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms, such as top, bottom, up, down, over, above, and below may be used with respect to the drawings. These and similar directional terms should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention in any manner. The words “connect,” “couple,” and similar terms with their inflectional morphemes do not necessarily denote direct and immediate connections, but also include connections through mediate elements or devices. 
         [0038]      FIG. 1  shows a right clamp half  11  of a surgical clamp with a housing  15  and a first toothed rod  13 , arranged in the housing  15 , and a toothing  14 . The first toothed rod  13  has a curvature in its lengthwise dimension, wherein the toothing  14  is oriented toward the midpoint of the curvature. An opposite curvature, wherein the toothing is oriented away from the midpoint of the curvature, is likewise possible. 
         [0039]    “Right clamp half” means here, as illustrated by means of the curvature in the hook-shaped region of the right clamp half  11 , the half of the surgical clamp that grasps the right side of a bone, as seen from the perspective of a patient (e.g., the patient&#39;s right side). The surface of the hook-shaped region facing the bone is provided with a structurization  12 , more precisely, a tooth structure, which improves the hold of the right clamp half on the bone. The upper region of the right clamp half  11  is formed by a housing  15 , which has an opening, indicated by the broken line, running through it in the direction of extension of the first toothed rod  13 . In the embodiment depicted, the first toothed rod  13  forms a single piece with the right clamp half  11 ; but it is also possible to have a two-piece design where rod  13  is removable. In the configuration shown, the toothing  14  of the first toothed rod  13  points in the direction of the hook-shaped region of the right clamp half  11  and the first toothed rod  13  is arranged above the opening passing through the housing  15 ; but it would also be possible for the toothing  14  to point upward, if the first toothed rod  13  is arranged below the opening passing through the housing  15 . 
         [0040]    The toothing  14  is characterized in that the tooth flanks  16  pointing away from the right clamp half  11  rise more shallowly than the tooth flanks  17  pointing toward it. The tooth flanks  16 ,  17  belonging to each tooth furthermore run from the base of the tooth  18  to the tip of the tooth  19 , obviously looking in the same direction, here, from upper right to lower left. 
         [0041]      FIG. 2  shows a left clamp half  21  of a surgical clamp with a housing  25  and a second toothed rod  23  arranged in the housing  25  with a toothing  24 . The second toothed rod  23  has a curvature in the direction of its lengthwise dimension, and the toothing  24  is oriented to the midpoint of the curvature. 
         [0042]    “Left clamp half” means, as illustrated by means of the curvature in the hook-shaped region of the left clamp half  21 , the half of the surgical clamp which grasps the left side of a bone, as seen from the patient. The surface of the hook-shaped region facing the bone is provided with a structurization  22 , more precisely a tooth structure, which improves the hold of the left clamp half  21  on the bone. The upper region of the left clamp half  21  is formed by a housing  25 , which has an opening, indicated by the broken line, running through it in the direction of extension of the second toothed rod  23 . In the embodiment depicted, the second toothed rod  23  forms a single piece with the right [sic!] clamp half  21 ; but it is also possible to have a two-piece design. In the configuration shown, the toothing  24  of the second toothed rod  23  points in the direction of the hook-shaped region of the left clamp half  21  and the second toothed rod  23  is arranged below the opening passing through the housing  25 ; but it would also be possible for the toothing  24  to point upward, if the second toothed rod  23  is arranged below the opening passing through the housing  25 . 
         [0043]    The toothing  24  is characterized in that the tooth flanks  26  pointing away from the left clamp half  21  rise more shallowly than the tooth flanks  27  pointing toward it. The tooth flanks  26 ,  27  belonging to each tooth furthermore run from the base of the tooth  28  to the tip of the tooth  29 , obviously looking in the same direction, here, from lower left to upper right. 
         [0044]      FIG. 3  shows a side view of a clamp  30  assembled from the components shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , with a right clamp half  11  with structurization  12  and housing  15 , a first toothed rod  13  and a second toothed rod  23 , as well as a left clamp half  21  with structurization  22  and housing  25 . During an assembly, clamp  30  is put together by introducing the first toothed rod  13  into the opening passing through the housing  25  and at the same time introducing the second toothed rod  23  into the opening passing through the housing  15 . Then the right clamp half  11  and the left clamp half  21  are moved toward each other under pressure until the halves of the breastbone from the hook-shaped regions of the right clamp half  11  and the left clamp half  21  are pressed against each other with the desired pressure. This can also occur only in a position where the toothed rods  13 ,  23  have already passed entirely through the openings into which they were introduced and have come out again on the other side. If such protruding toothed rods  13 ,  23  are a disturbance, they can be cut off after reaching the desired final position. 
         [0045]    In other words, the clamp  30  must be configured so that it is possible to move the two clamp halves toward each other by pressing and/or pulling, whereas a movement in the opposite direction is impossible. 
         [0046]    For this, the toothings  14 ,  24  of the first toothed rod  13  and the second toothed rod  23  must be configured so that they point toward each other, and the respective shallow tooth flanks  16 ,  26  of the toothings  14 ,  24  lie against each other, so that it is possible for the teeth to jump over each other when a certain pressure is applied, while the steep tooth flanks  17 ,  27  mesh with each other, so that a back movement is not possible, even when pulled strongly. Granted these conditions, it is also possible, for example, to use a pair of toothed rods  13 ,  23  whose toothings  14 ,  24  would project into the plane of the page or out from it, given the orientation of the first clamp half  11  and the second clamp half  21  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0047]    Besides the orienting of the toothings  14 ,  24  and the adapting of their shape to each other, the curvature of the toothed rods  13 ,  23  oriented to each other plays an important role is providing the best possible hold of the surgical clamp  30 . Namely, this ensures that the toothed rods  13 ,  23  after being introduced into the openings passing through the housing  15 ,  25  are braced against each other, so that the toothings  14 ,  24  are pressed against each other for at least a segment. 
         [0048]    At the same time, of course, one must ensure that a movement of the right clamp half  11 , as well as the left clamp half  22  relative to the toothed rods  13 ,  23  is no longer possible, at least in the end position of the surgical clamp  30 . This is granted any way, for a single-piece design of the clamp halves and toothed rods  11  and  13 , and  21  and  23 ; otherwise, this condition can be fulfilled by providing a mechanical stop. The clamped breastbone itself provides this function in the direction of movement of the clamp halves  11 ,  21  toward the breastbone; in the direction of movement of the clamps away from the breastbone, it is necessary to provide an appropriate stop on the toothed rods  13  and  23 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 4  shows a view of the clamp  30  in which the hook-shaped regions of the right clamp half  11  and the left clamp half  21  point into the plane of the page (e.g., a top view). Consequently, in this representation, only the housings  15 ,  25  and the top side of the first toothed rod  13  can be seen. In the embodiment of the surgical clamp shown in  FIG. 4 , a plate  42  is provided in addition on the housing  15  of the first clamp half  11  and a plate  43  on the housing  25  of the second clamp half  21 , each of them having a plurality of lugs  41 . These lugs make possible a further securing of the clamp by screwing it to the breastbone. 
         [0050]    Another sample embodiment of the invented clamp is shown in  FIG. 5 to 8 . The same reference numbers are again used for the same parts, for sake of simplicity. In contrast with the sample embodiment in  FIGS. 1-2 , the right clamp half  11  and the left clamp half  21  now have first toothed rods  13  and second toothed rods  23  which are curved in directions opposite to the sample embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 . As a further sample embodiment, the right clamp half  11  is distinctly smaller in cross section at its first toothed rod  13  than the toothed rod  23  of the left clamp half  23 . To illustrate the different cross sections of the first toothed rod  13  and the second toothed rod  23 ,  FIGS. 6 and 8  show section Y-Y of  FIG. 5  and section X-X of  FIG. 7 , respectively. 
         [0051]    It can be clearly seen in  FIG. 6  that the cross section of the toothed rod  13  is smaller than the cross section of the toothed rod  23 . In the sample embodiment of  FIG. 6  it is proposed as assumed that the toothed rod  13  has a width A, being 4 mm for example, and a height B of 1 mm, e.g. The toothed rod  23  likewise has a width A of 4 mm, e.g., but a greater height BI of 2.5 mm, e.g. 
         [0052]    As a result of this difference in dimensioning of the cross sections of the toothed rods  13  and  23 , one achieves the necessary stiffness, and at the same time an optimized spring action of the clamp, but the specific dimensions or measurements are not limiting thereto. 
         [0053]    Basically, the ratio of the cross sections of the two toothed rods  13  and  23  to each other can be chosen depending upon the requirements having realized the invention. However, one should make sure that one of these toothed rods—the upper toothed rod  13  in the present sample embodiment—has a sufficient spring action by virtue of the small cross section. Adequate stiffness is provided by the thicker toothed rod  23 , which in the present sample embodiment is arranged at the bottom when the clamp is assembled. 
         [0054]    In conjunction with  FIG. 9 , a further sample embodiment of the surgical clamp is represented. It is assumed here that the clamp halves and the toothed rods have a two-piece design. This means that the first toothed rod of the first clamp half is shoved into the opening of the housing  15  from behind. The same holds for the second rod  23  (see  FIG. 7  for this), which is likewise introduced from behind into the opening in the housing  25  of the left clamp half  21 . 
         [0055]    To enable a loosening of the two clamp halves  11 ,  21  which have been put together, it is possible to simply cut up the two toothed rods in the assembled clamp, using suitable cutting means, known to those of the surgical cutting arts. 
         [0056]    The drawback to this is that the toothed rods of the clamp halves become destroyed in this way. To enable a simple loosening without destroying the clamp,  FIG. 9  shows the toothed rod  13  of the right clamp half in modified form. The already familiar reference numbers stand for the same parts with the same meaning. 
         [0057]    As can be seen from  FIG. 9 , the toothed rod  13  has been modified so that on the upper side  100  of the first toothed rod  13 , roughly in the middle, an edge  110  is provided, running at a slant from the tip  111  of the first toothed rod  13 , depicted at the right of  FIG. 9 , toward the rear, making an angle of around 45 degrees. Adjoining this slanting edge  110  is a recessed vertical edge  112 , which then continues to run parallel to the lower side  102  of the first toothed rod  13  in a rear segment  114  of the first toothed rod  13 . The vertical edge  112  serves as a stop when the toothed rod  13  is shoved into the opening in the housing  15  of the right clamp half  11 . 
         [0058]    Furthermore, the toothed rod  13  of  FIG. 9  has a broadened region  120  in its rear segment  114  at the end away from the tip  111  of the toothed rod  13 . This broadened region  120  is produced in that the outer contour of the toothed rod  13  has an edge  121  recessed preferably at a right angle, so that the width of the toothed rod  13  broadens from a first width A to a second width B. The recessed edges  121  serve as a stop when the toothed rod  113  is introduced into the opening in the housing  15  of the right clamp half  11 , so that the toothed rod  13  upon reaching this recessed edge  121  cannot penetrate any further into the opening  15  of the right clamp half  11 . 
         [0059]    When this first toothed rod  13  is not engaging with the second toothed rod  23  of the left clamp half  21 , not shown in  FIG. 9 , a deliberate loosening of the entire clamp is possible by compressing the rear segment  114  of the first toothed rod  13  from both sides of the broadened segment  120  in the direction of the center axis X. This compressing is possible because a preferably V-shaped slot has been fashioned in the toothed rod  13  in the rear segment  114  of the toothed rod  13 . The slot starts at a round circular opening and broadens in the direction of the recessed edges  121  into a V shape. When the broadened region  120  of the toothed rod  13  is compressed, this broadened region  121  plus recessed edge  121  can be shoved through the opening in the housing  15 , so that the entire clamp can be opened. 
         [0060]    In the claims, means- or step-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described or suggested herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures. Thus, for example, although a nail, a screw, and a bolt may not be structural equivalents in that a nail relies on friction between a wooden part and a cylindrical surface, a screw&#39;s helical surface positively engages the wooden part, and a bolt&#39;s head and nut compress opposite sides of a wooden part, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail, a screw, and a bolt may be readily understood by those skilled in the art as equivalent structures. 
         [0061]    Having described at least one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various changes, modifications, and adaptations may be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 
       LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 
       [0000]    
       
           11  right clamp half 
           12  structurization 
           13  first toothed rod 
           14  toothing 
           15  housing 
           16  shallow flank of tooth profile 
           17  steep flank of tooth profile 
           18  base of tooth 
           19  tip of tooth 
           21  left clamp half 
           22  structurization 
           23  second toothed rod 
           24  toothing 
           25  housing 
           26  shallow flank of tooth profile 
           27  steep flank of tooth profile 
           28  base of tooth 
           29  tip of tooth 
           30  clamp, especially surgical clamp 
           41  lug 
           42  plate 
           43  plate 
           100  upper side of first toothed rod 
           101  lower side of first toothed rod 
           110  slanting edge 
           111  tips of the toothed rod 
           112  vertical edge 
           114  rear segment of first toothed rod 
           120  broadened region 
           121  recessed edge 
           122  V-shaped slot 
           130  round opening 
         X center axis of first toothed rod 
         A first width 
         B second width