Abstract: A bone preparation system kit includes a hand piece, tubing coupled to an input of the hand piece, and a nozzle with a nozzle tip coupled to an output port of the hand piece. The hand piece includes an internal passageway extending there through from the inlet port to the outlet port for forming a flow path and further includes a valve stem supported therein for movement across the internal passageway for opening and closing the internal passageway wherein flow along the flow path is blocked by the valve stem. The hand piece also includes a trigger configured to move the valve stem to thereby control the flow of fluid through the hand piece. The hand piece, nozzle, and tubing are sterilized and enclosed in a package, such as plastic or metal foil package, including a plastic or metal foil pouch, which is configured to maintain the sterilization of said bone preparation system.

Abstract: A sternotomy closure technique is suitably carried out with a cerclage mechanism, which is capable of maintaining proper bony compression (within a desired range) across the sternum cut, in spite of a range of external forces and significant lateral distraction due to these external forces. The sternum fragments are aligned in apposition disposed around a longitudinal seam and secured with a resilient element. The resilient element is tensioned to a desired tension to compress the sternum to a desired compression range. The resilient element is then elongated and contracted while accepting multiple cycles of physiological distracting forces across the sternum while maintaining contact pressure across the longitudinal seam within a desired range for a length of time sufficient for bony healing. The resilient element is preferably a polymer cable comprising an elongated elastic polymeric core coaxially surrounded by a sheath woven from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene strands.

Abstract: A sternotomy closure technique is suitably carried out with a cerclage mechanism which is capable of maintaining proper bony compression (within a desired range) across the sternum cut, in spite of a range of external forces and significant lateral distraction due to these external forces. The sternum fragments are aligned in apposition disposed around a longitudinal seam and secured with a resilient element. The resilient element is tensioned to a desired tension to compress the sternum to a desired compression range. The resilient element is then elongated and contracted while accepting multiple cycles of physiological distracting forces across the sternum while maintaining contact pressure across the longitudinal seam within a desired range for a length of time sufficient for bony healing. The resilient element is preferably a polymer cable comprising an elongated elastic polymeric core coaxially surrounded by a sheath woven from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene strands.

Abstract: A sternotomy closure technique is suitably carried out with a cerclage mechanism which is capable of maintaining proper bony compression (within a desired range) across the sternum cut, in spite of a range of external forces and significant lateral distraction due to these external forces. The sternum fragments are aligned in apposition disposed around a longitudinal seam and secured with a resilient element. The resilient element is tensioned to a desired tension to compress the sternum to a desired compression range. The resilient element is then elongated and contracted while accepting multiple cycles of physiological distracting forces across the sternum while maintaining contact pressure across the longitudinal seam within a desired range for a length of time sufficient for bony healing. The resilient element is preferably a polymer cable comprising an elongated elastic polymeric core coaxially surrounded by a sheath woven from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene strands.