TEST BENCH AND METHODOLOGY FOR STERNAL CLOSURE SYSTEM TESTING

摘要

Asternal closure device is used to join both halves of a severed sternum following a median' sternotomy, a procedure in which a longitudinal cut is performed on the breast plate to access the thoracic cavity.~1 Complications such as instability, nonunion, and infection occur at an incidence of 0.3% to 5%, and are best prevented by maintaining stability of the closure system.~(2,3) To address these issues, new installation methods and alternatives to the commonly used stainless steel wire have been proposed and evaluated.~(4-9) However, some crucial performance characteristics are left out during evaluation because the existing test benches lack the instruments to measure such parameters. The main objective of this test bench is to perform, in a single setup, preclinical comparative analysis of biomechanical stability of sternal closure techniques, evaluating both the compressive pressure and relative displacement at halves interface in simulated deep breathing or coughing.