Device and method for performing sternotomy

1. A device for cutting a sternum comprising: a) a body; b) a handle attached to the body; c) a blade positioned below the body to cut the sternum when a user holds the handle; d) a base below the blade configured to be positioned below the sternum; wherein the base can be placed under the sternum such that the blade can cut the sternum.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the base has a leading edge in a direction towards a head of a person when cutting the sternum, the leading edge having an angle of about 20 degrees to about 60 degrees.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the base has a leading edge that is triangular.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises a camera or a light source.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises a member configured to perform cautery, the member placed on the base in a position to contact blood vessels as the device cuts the sternum.

6. The device of claim 5 , wherein the member comprises one or more strips of a material that heats up when electricity or radiofrequency passes through the material.

7. The device of claim 5 , wherein the base comprises a portion located below the member, and wherein said portion extends out further than the member to insulate tissue that is below the base from the member.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the base has a maximum width to maximum height ratio of 2 to 5.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the blade is placed at a backwards angle (top of the blade further back) relative to a perpendicular in relation to a top of the base.

10. The device of claim 1 , wherein the blade and/or the base is visible from a top of the device when the base is in a horizontal position.

11. The device of claim 1 , wherein the body is non-linear and is configured to allow the user to view the base when cutting the sternum from a top of the device.

12. The device of claim 1 , wherein the body has a void configured to allow the user to view the base.

13. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device has two handles, with each of the handles placed on opposite sides of the body.

14. The device of claim 13 , further comprising at least one switch on each handle, with one switch on the first handle configured to power the blade and one switch on the second handle configured to power a heating element of the base for performing cautery.

15. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a post portion extending upward from the blade, the body further comprising a segment with a void where the blade is visible during operation through the void, wherein the segment with the void is attached to the post, and wherein the device comprises two handles, with one handle attached to the segment with the void and another handle to the post and/or the segment with the void.

16. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a connector, and wherein the base is attached to the body with the connector, with the body and/or handle extending on two different sides of the blade.

17. The device of claim 1 , wherein the device has two handles that are not directly attached to each other.