Apparatus for expanding the thorax
US6402754B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 20, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jun 11, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 20, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S606/905
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A device and method treats pulmonary disease of a patient by expanding the thorax of the patient. Following surgical sternotomy, a separator is implanted in the thorax between the facing sternum surfaces resulting from the surgical sternotomy. The separator has a longitudinal dimension with opposing sidewalls extending along the longitudinal dimension and a width dimension. The facing surfaces of the sternum are engaged with the opposing sidewalls of the separator. Thereafter, the sternum is fixed to the separator for maintaining the sternum in engagement with the opposing sidewalls of the separator and thus maintaining the expanding condition of the thorax.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.