Craniotomy Closures and Plugs

• US 20100179554A1
• Filed: 02/23/2010
• Published: 07/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: First Commercial Bank
• Original Assignee: James D. Ralph, Thomas N. Troxell
• Inventors: Ralph, James D., Troxell, Thomas N.
• Granted Patent: US 8,083,782 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/74
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/688 for reattaching pieces of the skull
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/7176 Resilient clip

Abstract

Strip fasteners and cranial plugs for use in reattaching a skull flap removed during brain surgery and methods of using the same. The strip fasteners are flexible and can be shaped to follow the perimeter contour of the skull flap. The cranial plugs can be used to reattach the skull flap or they can be installed after the skull flap is reattached using the strip fasteners. In some embodiments, the cranial plug(s) and strip fasteners can be installed at the same time. The strip fasteners and cranial plugs are designed to encourage bone growth and healing of the skull flap and they can be used to deliver medication and bone growth enhancement compositions to the surgical site.

Claims

1-48. -48. (canceled)

49. A fastener system comprising a cranial plug and a strip fastener for reattaching a skull flap removed from a skull during brain surgery and for closing at least one burr hole or cranial perforation made in the skull to facilitate cutting out a skull flap, the burr hole or cranial perforation having side walls, and the skull flap having a top surface, a bottom surface and a perimeter defined by a bone edge surface, the bone edge surface having a vertical component extending from the top surface to the bottom surface and a horizontal component extending around the perimeter in a lateral direction,

the cranial plug comprising a flange having an upper surface, a lower surface and a central axis generally perpendicular to the upper surface, and at least one extension projecting downwardly and away from the lower surface, wherein said at least one extension is beside the side walls when the cranial plug is implanted in a patient,

the strip fastener comprising a flexible strip having a length and sufficient flexibility to be formed lengthwise around the perimeter in the lateral direction and alongside the bone edge surface, the strip having a plurality of brackets with tabs spaced along the length of the strip and in engagement thereto, wherein the tabs protrude transversely to the length and away from the strip, at least one tab extending in a direction opposite at least one other tab;

wherein at least one tab is adapted to be disposed over and adjacent to the skull flap and at least one other tab is adapted to be disposed over and adjacent to the skull when the strip is positioned alongside the bone edge surface, and wherein the tabs are structured to be attached to the to the skull flap and to the skull with attachment means, thereby reattaching the skull flap to the skull.

73. The fastener system of claim 49 wherein the brackets with tabs are affixed to the flexible strip.

74. The fastener system of claim 49 wherein the brackets with tabs are slideably engaged with the flexible strip.

79. The fastener system of claim 49 wherein the flexible strip is comprised of at least one tube.

82. The fastener system of claim 49 wherein each bracket has a projection extending downwardly from a lower surface thereof, the projection having an aperture disposed substantially in parallel with the length, the flexible strip being threaded through the aperture and in slideable engagement therewith.

83. The strip fastener of claim 82 wherein the flexible strip has a cross section in the shape of a V, U, J, W or a tube.

84. The fastener system of claim 49 wherein the cranial plug further comprises a means of affixing the flange to the skull flap and/or skull.

85. The fastener system of claim 49 wherein said at least one extension of the cranial plug is beside and in contact with the side walls of the burr hole or cranial perforation.

86. The fastener system of claim 49 wherein the cranial plug has at least one opening disposed in said at least one extension and the flexible strip is threaded through said at least one opening.

87. The fastener system of claim 49 wherein said at least one extension comprises two flexible arcuate walls disposed opposite one another, the arcuate walls having distal ends disposed away from the lower surface and proximal ends affixed to the lower surface, the distal ends being connected with a bottom portion and the bottom portion being generally parallel with the lower surface, and the flange being cut into two pieces generally across a diameter disposed between the proximal ends of the arcuate walls.

88. The fastener system of claim 87 wherein the arcuate walls have outer surfaces with barbs disposed thereon.

50-69. -69. (canceled)