Cranial bone flap fixation system and method

A cranial bone and bone flap fixation device, comprising

• a) first and second caps between which portions of the cranial bone and bone flap are to be gripped,
• b) a mounting post located to allow relative cap movement lengthwise of an axis defined by the post,
• c) one of the caps being attached to an end of the post, the other cap being movable along the post toward said one cap,
• d) the post having axially spaced retention shoulders, and the other cap has spaced tabs projecting toward said axis, and which have ratcheting engagement with said shoulders as said other cap is moved toward said one cap, said shoulders configured for blocking retraction of said other cap lengthwise of the post.

The method of affixing a bone flap to an adjacent cranial zone, that includes

• a) providing first and second caps between which portions of the cranial bone and bone flap are to be gripped,
• b) providing a mounting post located to allow relative cap movement lengthwise of an axis defined by the post,
• c) providing at least the first cap with peripheral petals that are spaced apart about said axis and radially outwardly of a central body portion of the cap, whereby the petals are individually and resiliently movable relative to said central body portion in directions generally parallel to said axis, and in response to said gripping,
• d) relatively displacing the caps toward one another to engage the petals of one cap with at least the bone flap or the adjacent cranial bone, and to conformingly retain the caps including said petals to opposite sides of the flap and the cranial bone,
• e) tightening the caps relatively toward one another into positions wherein relative separation of the caps is blocked, petals are resiliently flexed, and post extent between the caps is tensioned, the lower cap pulled in an upward direction as the upper cap is tightened downwardly.

The method of affixing a bone flap to an adjacent cranial zone, that includes

• a) providing first and second caps between which portions of the cranial bone and bone flap are to be gripped,
• b) providing a mounting post located to allow relative cap movement lengthwise of an axis defined by the post,
• c) relatively displacing the caps toward one another to first engage one cap with the underside of at least the bone flap or the adjacent cranial bone,
• d) and then tightening the caps relatively toward one another into positions wherein relative separation of the caps is blocked, the lower cap pulled upwardly as the upper cap is tightened downwardly.