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 in the most general sense a sternal closure device used to close , secure and support a sternum post - operatively , the sternum having been longitudinally severed or bisected into left and right lateral halves to provide access to the interior of the chest . for ease of reference , the terms left and right as used herein shall mean the directions as seen by an observer facing the sternum of the patient , such that the right brace assembly and the right sternal half are disposed to the patient &# 39 ; s sinistral side , while the left brace assembly and the left sternal half are disposed to the patient &# 39 ; s dextral side . a first embodiment of the invention is illustrated in fig1 through 6 . the sternal closure device 10 comprises two sets of laterally disposed brace assemblies 20 and 30 , with left brace assembly 20 comprising a longitudinally extended top or anterior brace member 21 and a longitudinally extended bottom or posterior brace member 22 joined by brace joining means 40 , and with right brace assembly 30 comprising a longitudinally extended top or anterior brace member 31 and a longitudinally extended bottom or posterior brace member 32 joined by brace joining means 40 . brace joining means 40 comprise members adapted to be positioned within apertures or bores provided in the sternal halves 91 / 92 , such that the brace joining means 40 pass through the sternal halves 91 / 92 . preferably , the brace joining means 40 are such that the separation distance between the anterior brace members 21 / 31 and the posterior brace members 22 / 32 is adjustable to account for differences in the thickness of various sternums 90 , such that the sternal half 91 is compressed between the anterior and posterior brace members 21 / 22 , and such that the sternal half 92 is compressed between the anterior and posterior brace members 31 / 32 . preferably , the brace joining members 40 comprise internally threaded sleeve or post members 41 extending anteriorly from the posterior brace members 22 / 32 , with the sleeve members 41 receiving threaded fasteners 42 that are disposed through fastener receiving apertures 11 correspondingly positioned in the anterior brace members 21 / 31 . in this manner the securing forces are not concentrated in localized points or areas , such as would occur with bone anchor screws or the like , but instead are dispersed along the lengths of the brace assemblies 20 / 30 . likewise , no stresses are imparted to the ribs 93 . the anterior brace members 21 / 31 and the posterior brace members 22 / 32 are composed of a relatively rigid , bio - compatible metal or similar material such that support and rigidity are imparted to the sternal halves 91 / 92 . the laterally disposed left and right brace assemblies 20 / 30 are connected to each other by transverse bridging means 50 , whereby the longitudinal juxtapositioning of the two brace assemblies 20 / 30 is held in fixed relation , while the lateral distance between the two brace assemblies 20 / 30 is variable , such as in a sliding or telescoping manner . as shown in the embodiment of fig1 through 6 , the transverse bridging means 50 may comprise overlapping , telescoping arm members 51 a and 51 b , each arm member 51 a / 51 b comprising a hook end 52 that interlocks with bridging member receiving apertures or slots 12 disposed in the anterior brace members 21 / 31 . the bridging member receiving slots 12 are preferably provided - with projections , teeth , ridges or similar mechanical interlocking members 13 that correspond to and mate with cooperating projections , teeth , ridges or similar mechanical interlocking members 53 disposed on the inner side of the hook ends 52 , as illustrated in fig4 through 6 , in order to preclude relative movement between the bridging means 50 to the anterior brace members 21 / 31 . the sternal closure device 10 is further provided with locking or securing means 60 , preferably releasable in the event the sternum 90 needs to be separated in the future , whereby the left and right brace assemblies 20 / 30 can be brought together and locked or secured in a desired position laterally , typically such that the edges of the sternal halves 91 / 92 are in abutting relation with the longitudinal sternal incision or kerf 99 closed . in the embodiment of fig1 through 6 , the securing means 60 comprises a threaded bolt 61 mounted in a threaded aperture 63 disposed in the lowermost arm member 51 b , with the shaft of the bolt 61 positioned in a slot 62 disposed in the uppermost arm member 51 a . a washer flange member 64 is positioned atop the uppermost arm member 51 a . tightening of the bolt 61 forces the two arm members 51 a / 51 b together to preclude lateral movement . preferably the mutually facing surfaces of the arm members 51 a / 51 b are provided with projections , teeth , ridges or other mechanically interlocking members 54 to further preclude relative lateral movement . most preferably , the interlocking members 54 are configured in a ratchet - like manner , whereby movement of the arm members 51 a / 51 b to shorten the separation distance between the brace assemblies 20 / 30 is more readily accomplished than movement to separate the brace assemblies 20 / 30 . alternatively , the ratcheting interlocking members 54 may be structured such that separation of the brace assemblies 20 / 30 is completely precluded , in which instance additional bolts 61 , threaded apertures 63 and the like are not necessary . to utilize the device , bores are cut into the sternal bone material in each sternal half 91 / 92 . a guide template or the anterior brace members 21 / 31 themselves may be used to properly position the bores . the posterior brace plates 22 / 32 are then positioned beneath the sternal halves respectively with the sleeve members 41 inserted up into the bores . the anterior brace plates 21 / 31 are then positioned on top of the sternal , halves 91 / 92 and the threaded fasteners 42 are threaded into the sleeve members 41 , thus defining the two brace assemblies 20 / 30 such that they are rigidly affixed to the respective sternal halves 91 / 92 . the transverse bridging means 50 are then positioned between the anterior brace members 21 / 31 . the sternal halves 91 / 92 and the brace assemblies 20 / 30 are then brought together such that the sternal halves 91 / 92 abut each other . the securing means 60 is then locked to prevent separation of the brace assemblies 20 / 30 and the sternal halves 91 / 92 . should it be necessary to reopen the sternum , the securing means 60 can be released and the transverse bridging means 50 removed . a view of an embodiment showing the sternal closure device 10 in position on the sternum 90 is shown in fig1 . an alternative embodiment for the sternal closure device 10 is illustrated in fig7 through 10 . in this embodiment , at least one of the anterior brace members 21 / 31 has a different configuration , in that the transverse bridging means 50 comprises lateral arm members 55 affixed rigidly to or formed as an integral component of the anterior brace member 21 or 31 . the securing means 60 comprises arm brackets 65 that are secured to the anterior brace member 21 or 31 to receive the lateral arm members 55 . the arm brackets 65 are provided with bracket bolts or similar fasteners 66 that are mated with threaded apertures in the anterior brace member 21 or 31 , whereby tightening of the bracket bolt 66 forces the arm bracket 65 against the lateral arm member 55 to fix the relative lateral positions of the two brace assemblies 20 / 30 . preferably , the lateral arm members 55 and either the arm brackets 65 or the upper surface of the anterior brace member 21 or 31 are provided with lateral arm interlocking members 56 , such as projections , teeth , ridges or the like . while the illustrations show all lateral arm members 55 extending from only one of the anterior brace members 21 / 31 , i the lateral arm members 55 could extend in opposing directions from both anterior brace members 21 / 31 , with the securing means 60 correspondingly disposed on both anterior brace members 21 / 31 . the brace assemblies 20 / 30 of the sternal closure device 10 of this embodiment are affixed to the sternal halves as previously described . when the brace assemblies 20 / 30 and sternal halves have been brought together , the securing means 60 are locked by tightening the bracket bolts 66 , thereby affixing the relative positions of the sternal halves 91 / 92 and the brace assemblies 20 / 30 . it is contemplated that equivalents and substitutions to certain elements set forth above may be obvious to those skilled in the art , and therefore the true scope and definition of the invention is to be as set forth in the following claims .
a method for utilizing a sternal closure device for securing and retaining longitudinally divided halves of a sternum , the device having two sets of anterior and posterior longitudinally extended brace members with brace joining mechanisms extending through the sternal halves to join the anterior brace members to the posterior brace members , such that the sternal halves are compressed between the anterior and posterior brace members , and transverse bridging members that laterally connect the two sets of brace members , with securing mechanisms to retain the two sets of brace members in a contracted configuration with the sternal halves in abutting relation .