Patent ID: 8876824

Claim:
A sternum fixation device comprising: a first plate having an upper surface, an opposed lower surface configured to face a first portion of a sternum, a first joining portion, and at least one first attachment member configured for fixation to the first portion of the sternum, the at least one attachment member including at least one hook and at least one hole, the at least one hole configured to receive a bone screw; a second plate having an upper surface, an opposed lower surface configured to face a second portion of the sternum, a second joining portion configured to overlap with the first joining portion of the first plate, and at least one second attachment member configured for fixation to the second portion of the sternum, wherein the first and second joining portions carry respective first and second series of teeth configured to intermesh so as to lock the first plate and second plates in an overlapping configuration, the overlapping configuration defined as when the second joining portion of the second plate overlaps the first joining portion of the first plate; and a release member configured to rotate between a locking position and a releasing position, wherein when the release member is in the locking position, the first and second series of teeth intermesh so as to releasably secure the first plate to the second plate in the overlapping configuration, and when the release member is in the releasing position the first and second joining portions are moveable with respect to each to other.