resists slipping movement a strap tightening and severing tool such as described in u s pat no 3 993 109 to fortsch may then be used to pull binding device 20 tight around sternum 22 while as a consequence stretching connecting member 68 essentially to point 30 of the stress strain curve in b of fig3 teeth 60 of locking mechanism 58 interlock with ridges 48 to fix tie portion 34 with respect to base 32 limit tabs 42 mate into limit holes 66 to insure that binding device 20 and connecting member 68 are not over stressed as the binding device is tightened around the split sternum 22 as binding device 20 is tightened to its limit that is connecting member 68 is stretched essentially to point 30 of the stress strain curve in b of fig3 color stripe 47 becomes visible on tie portion 34 as a visual cue for the physician that the binding device 20 is properly tightened the user then cuts the excess of tie portion 34 flush with base 32 the split sternum 22 experiences continuous substantially constant pressure as connecting member 68 attempts to contract to a shorter length along a stress strain curve depicted in b of fig3 thus the binding device 20 advantageously applies a substantially constant compressive force across tissue boundary 24 while being able to accommodate some expansion by following the stress strain curve beyond point 30 in b of fig3 the binding device 20 predictably controls the maximum force that tissue in intimate contact with the device experiences the device stretches within a desired range at a known or programmable force level effectively resists stretching beyond that range and then is capable of.