Split Sternum Prosthesis Stabilizing Bone Plates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thoracotomy and median sternotomy procedures are extremely painful and cause significant trauma, leading to prolonged recovery times and complications, especially for patients requiring repeated surgeries or heart prosthesis maintenance, as current methods involve cutting and rejoining the sternum, which can lead to bone-on-bone friction and pain during healing.
Innovation Solution
An implantable split sternum prosthesis comprising two elongated bone attachment plates that stabilize the sternum halves post-surgery, allowing for quick opening and closing of the chest cavity, reducing trauma and pain by firmly securing the cut surfaces together, and optionally incorporating a sternal box for heart prosthesis accessories to minimize abdominal implantation risks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If steel wires are used to pull together the cut sternum, then the sternum can be closed after surgery, but the cut sternum surfaces rub against each other during breathing movements causing extreme pain during recovery
Solution Approach 1:
A polyethylene plate is introduced as an intermediary element between the two cut sternum surfaces. This plate prevents direct bone-on-bone contact during the healing process, eliminating friction pain while maintaining stable sternum closure. The plate acts as a mediator that allows the sternum halves to remain securely positioned without rubbing against each other during breathing movements.
2Ease of repair
If repeated thoracotomies are performed to service heart prostheses, then the heart prosthesis can be maintained, but the patient experiences repeated trauma and pain from multiple sternotomies
Solution Approach 1:
The sternum is functionally segmented by introducing a removable polyethylene plate that can be independently accessed. This allows the chest cavity to be opened and closed more easily for servicing heart prostheses without requiring complete sternum separation and rejoining, thereby reducing surgical trauma while maintaining serviceability.
3Ease of repair
If the sternum is left open to access heart prostheses, then the prosthesis can be serviced, but the chest cavity cannot be securely closed, risking infection and complications
Solution Approach 1:
The polyethylene plate serves as a permanent intermediary structure that maintains secure chest cavity closure while allowing controlled access for prosthesis servicing. The plate remains in place to ensure the sternum halves stay properly positioned and sealed, preventing infection risks while facilitating easier access when maintenance is required.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an implantable split sternum prosthesis to facilitate closure of the chest cavity and relieve pain after sternotomy operations. The split sternum prosthesis which after a surgical procedure is placed along the inline incision made in the sternum bone will also facilitate access to the chest cavity for patients in need of repeated surgical operations inside the chest cavity. The split sternum prosthesis comprises two elongated bone attachment plates, a first bone attachment plate and a second bone attachment plate. The first and he second bone attachment plates each have a bone attachment surface and a coupling surface. The first and second bone attachment plates are adapted be coupled together in a very close fit along their coupling surfaces.