The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 21, 2023
Filed:
Sep. 18, 2019
Zimmer Biomet Cmf and Thoracic, Llc, Jacksonville, FL (US);
Max Holland Billard, Jacksonville, FL (US);
Saddy Garcia, St. Augustine, FL (US);
Zimmer Biomet CMF and Thoracic, LLC, Jacksonville, FL (US);
Abstract
To replace costal cartilage that has been surgically removed, a surgeon can implant a flexible element to connect a rib to the sternum. In some examples, the flexible element can be formed from a material having a selected durometer (e.g., a measure of material stiffness or hardness), and can be shaped to have a selected geometry (e.g., cross-sectional size and shape), to match the flexibility (e.g. resistance to bending) of the natural costal cartilage. The flexible element can connect to the rib via a rib bracket, which can be rigid, and can attach to a sternal end of the rib via one or more fasteners. The flexible element can connect to the sternum via a sternum bracket, which can also be rigid, and can also attach to the sternum via one or more fasteners. The fasteners can be screws, nails, staples, or others.