1. In a buoyancy compensator, an inflatable air bag comprising:
an expandable air cell entirely enclosed in a protective outer bag, said outer bag having at least one surface at risk for puncture penetration, said one surface having a pair of coextensive overlapping layers, each said overlapping layer having a first expandable panel to permit expansion of said protective outer bag with inflation of said air cell and a second non-expandable panel;
each said expandable panel of an overlapping layer being juxtaposed with an adjacent non-expandable panel of the other overlapping layer to resist puncture penetration entirely through said protective outer bag, while both of said overlapping layers can expand with inflation of said air cell.
2. In a buoyancy compensator used by scuba divers, an inflatable air bag comprising:
an expandable air cell enclosed within an expandable protective outer material, at least a portion of said outer material being formed of a pair of overlapped material layers, each such overlapped material layers having both non-expandable portions and corresponding expandable panels, each said expandable panel of an overlapped material layer being juxtaposed with an adjacent non-expandable portion of the other overlapping material layer to resist puncture penetration to said air cell while permitting expansion of both said layers with inflation of said air cell.
3. An air bag for a buoyancy compensator comprising:
an inflatable air cell configured to expand in response to entry of pressurized air to increase the buoyancy of the buoyancy compensator;
a protective bag enclosing said air cell, said bag having at least one surface which may be exposed to a risk of penetration by puncture, said at least one surface having two adjacent layers each having both an elastic material and a non- elastic material in separate panels;
the elastic material panel of each such layer being juxtaposed to a non- elastic material panel of the other such layer so that there is no straight line path through said at least one surface to said air cell which can penetrate only elastic material while allowing both of said adjacent layers to expand with inflation of said air cell.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A sternal closure and ribs approximator device comprising:
a) a C-shaped shaftbracket comprising a linear shaft and at least a pair of curvilinear arms;
b) at least a pair of claw shaped clamping elements; and
c) a pivoted fastening mechanism;
wherein the sternal closure and ribs approximator device for joining of a severed and fractured portions of a sternum and a ribs; and
wherein an insertion member having the C-shaped shaftbracket, the linear shaft, provides a broad base for attachment of the entire sternal closure and ribs approximator device to the severed and fractured portions of sternum and ribs; and
wherein at least the pair of curvilinear arms near to its end portions coupled with at least the pair of claw shaped clamping elements through the pivoted fastening mechanism, ensures sternal engagement, alignment and positioning; and
wherein the inner operative surface of at least the pair of claw shaped clamping elements comprises the contact surface for grasping the severed sternum portions.
2. The sternal closure and ribs approximator device of claim 1, wherein C-shaped shaft slide in and out or move over with the liner shaft with continuous contact with each other to obtain variable length.
3. The sternal closure and ribs approximator device of claim 1, wherein the claw shaped clamping element can be angularly displaced towards each other or away from each other.
4. The sternal closure and ribs approximator device of claim 1, wherein the end portion of the claw shaped clamping element comprises at least a pointed shape.
5. The sternal closure and ribs approximator device of claim 1, wherein the inner operative surface of each claw shaped clamping element have at least a ridged surface for grasping.
6. The sternal closure and ribs approximator device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises at least one chord attached to the pivot mechanism for further locking or tightening of the device.
7. The sternal closure and ribs approximator device of claim 1, wherein one or more parts or components of the said device are made up of a suitable biocompatible material selected from a group comprising stainless steel, titanium, iron, cobalt, nickel, tantalum, zirconium, silver, gold, cobalt-chromium alloys, titanium alloys, nitinol, silicone rubber, acrylic resins, polyurethanes, polypropylene, polyethylene, polymethylmethacrylate, nylon, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, polyglecaprone, polydioxanone, ceramics, polylactides, polyglycolides, poly(hydroxybutyric acid), poly(lactide-co-(\u03b5-caprolactone-)), poly(glycolide-co-(\u03b5-caprolactone)), polycarbonates, poly(pseudo amino acids), poly(amino acids), poly(hydroxyl alkanoate), polyanhydride, copolymers, and any combination thereof.
8. The sternal closure and ribs approximator device of claim 1, wherein parts or components of the device of the present invention are coated with suitable coating material.
9. A method of assembling a sternal closure and ribs approximator device, the method comprising the steps of:
a) providing a single body C-shaped shaftbracket comprising at least one linear shaft and at least a pair of curvilinear arms at the either ends of the shaft, wherein the C-shaped shaftbracket and the linear shaft provides a broad base to the entire sternal closure and ribs approximator device; wherein the C-shaped shaftbracket and the one linear shaft telescopesslide in to the other in order to obtain variable length;
b) coupling of at least one claw shaped clamping element with at least one curvilinear arm by a pivoted fastening mechanism, wherein a inner operative surface of the claw shaped clamping element comprises surface for grasping; and wherein the curvilinear arms in ends at least tipped or pointed manner.
10. A method for closing a severed portions of a sternum using a sternal closure and ribs approximator device, the method comprises steps of:
a) positioning and aligning a first and second opposed portions of a severed sternum for joining;
b) placing the sternal closure and ribs approximator device about a respective opposed portions of the sternum, wherein a C-shaped shaftbracket connecting and supporting the anterior portion of the sternum whereas a pair of claw shaped clamping element engaging the posterior surface of the sternum to maximize sternal healing;
c) adjusting the position of the sternal closure and ribs approximator device with respect to the severed sternum;
d) fixing the severed sternum in an approximated position; and
e) locking the sternal closure and ribs approximator device which enables the said device to secure the severed sternum firmly.
11. The sternal closure and ribs approximator device of claim 1, wherein the pivot movement of the claw shaped clamping element is guided by relative interaction between the inner corner edges of the claw shaped clamping element with a sternal bone.