Apparatus for attaching a cranial flap

An apparatus for attaching a cranial flap to a skull during surgery, the cranial flap and the skull being spaced apart by a kerf defined by a first kerf edge on the cranial flap and an oppositely disposed second kerf edge on the skull, said apparatus comprising:

• at least one attachment device comprising relatively movable first and second members, said first and second members being movable relative to each other along an axis;
• said first member having a wedge shape defined by said first and second surfaces extending at diverging angles relative to said axis, said first and second surfaces for engaging the first and second kerf edges, respectively, said first member further including an opening extending along said axis;
• said second member having a wedge shape defined by said third and fourth surfaces extending at diverging angles relative to said axis, said third and fourth surfaces for engaging the first and second kerf edges, respectively;
• and
• a shaft member connecting said first and second members, said shaft member being attached to said second member and extending through said opening in said first member;
• said at least one attachment device being positionable in the kerf and movable from a first condition in which said first surface on said first member and said third surface on said second member are not engaged with the first kerf edge and the second surface on said first member and said fourth surface on said second member are not engaged with the second kerf edge to a second condition in which said at least one attachment device is wedged in the kerf by circumferential pressure and frictional engagement between said first and third surfaces and the first kerf edge and by circumferential pressure and frictional engagement between said second and fourth surfaces and the second kerf edge to thereby attach the cranial flap to the skull and prevent the cranial flap from moving relative to the skull, said at least one attachment device in said second condition being disposed entirely within the kerf;
• said at least one attachment device being movable from said first condition to said second condition by axial movement of at least one said first and second members toward the other of said first and second members.

An apparatus for attaching a cranial flap to a skull during surgery, the cranial flap and the skull being spaced apart by a kerf defined by a first kerf edge on the cranial flap and an oppositely disposed second kerf edge on the skull, said apparatus comprising:

• at least one attachment device comprising relatively movable first and second members, said first and second members being movable relative to each other along an axis;
• said first member having oppositely disposed first and second surfaces for engaging the first and second kerf edges, respectively, said first member further including an opening extending along said axis;
• said second member having oppositely disposed third and fourth surfaces for engaging the first and second kerf edges, respectively;
• and
• a shaft member connecting said first and second members, said shaft member being attached to said second member and extending through said opening in said first member;
• said at least one attachment device being positionable in the kerf and movable from a first condition in which said first surface on said first member and said third surface on said second member are not engaged with the first kerf edge and the second surface on said first member and said fourth surface on said second member are not engaged with the second kerf edge to a second condition in which said at least one attachment device is wedged in the kerf by circumferential pressure and frictional engagement between said first and third surfaces and the first kerf edge and by circumferential pressure and frictional engagement between said second and fourth surfaces and the second kerf edge to thereby attach the cranial flap to the skull and prevent the cranial flap from moving relative to the skull;
• wherein movement of said at least one attachment device from said first condition to said second condition is accomplished by axial movement of at least one said first and second members toward the other of said first and second members.

An apparatus for attaching a cranial flap to a skull during surgery, the cranial flap and the skull being spaced apart by a kerf defined by a first kerf edge on the cranial flap and an oppositely disposed second kerf edge on the skull, said apparatus comprising:

• at least one attachment device comprising relatively movable first and second members, said first and second members being movable relative to each other along an axis;
• said first member having oppositely disposed first and second surfaces for engaging the first and second kerf edges, respectively, said first member further including an opening extending along said axis;
• said second member having oppositely disposed third and fourth surfaces for engaging the first and second kerf edges, respectively;
• and
• a shaft member connecting said first and second members, said shaft member being attached to said second member and extending through said opening in said first member;
• said at least one attachment device being positionable in the kerf and movable from a first condition in which said first surface on said first member and said third surface on said second member are not engaged with the first kerf edge and the second surface on said first member and said fourth surface on said second member are not engaged with the second kerf edge to a second condition in which said at least one attachment device is wedged in the kerf by circumferential pressure and frictional engagement between said first and third surfaces and the first kerf edge and by circumferential pressure and frictional engagement between said second and fourth surfaces and the second kerf edge to thereby attach the cranial flap to the skull and prevent the cranial flap from moving relative to the skull;
• said first member having a wedge shape defined by said first and second surfaces extending at diverging angles relative to said axis.

An apparatus for attaching a cranial flap to a skull during surgery, the cranial flap and the skull being spaced apart by a kerf defined by a first kerf edge on the cranial flap and an oppositely disposed second kerf edge on the skull, said apparatus comprising:

• at least one attachment device comprising relatively movable first and second members, said first and second members being movable relative to each other along an axis;
• said first member having oppositely disposed first and second surfaces for engaging the first and second kerf edges, respectively, said first member further including an opening extending along said axis;
• said second member having oppositely disposed third and fourth surfaces for engaging the first and second kerf edges, respectively;
• and
• a shaft member connecting said first and second members, said shaft member being attached to said second member and extending through said opening in said first member;
• said at least one attachment device being positionable in the kerf and movable from a first condition in which said first surface on said first member and said third surface on said second member are not engaged with the first kerf edge and the second surface on said first member and said fourth surface on said second member are not engaged with the second kerf edge to a second condition in which said at least one attachment device is wedged in the kerf by circumferential pressure and frictional engagement between said first and third surfaces and the first kerf edge and by circumferential pressure and frictional engagement between said second and fourth surfaces and the second kerf edge to thereby attach the cranial flap to the skull and prevent the cranial flap from moving relative to the skull;
• wherein said first surface of said first member including at least one radially extending extending tooth for penetrating through the first kerf edge and into the cranial flap, said second surface of said first member including at least one radially extending extending tooth for penetrating through the second kerf edge and into the skull.

An apparatus for attaching a cranial flap to a skull during surgery, the cranial flap and the skull being spaced apart by a kerf defined by a first kerf edge on the cranial flap and an oppositely disposed second kerf edge on the skull, said apparatus comprising:

• at least one attachment device comprising relatively movable first and second members, said first and second members being movable relative to each other along an axis;
• said first member having oppositely disposed first and second surfaces for engaging the first and second kerf edges, respectively, said first member further including an opening extending along said axis;
• said second member having oppositely disposed third and fourth surfaces for engaging the first and second kerf edges, respectively;
• and
• a shaft member connecting said first and second members, said shaft member being attached to said second member and extending through said opening in said first member;
• said at least one attachment device being positionable in the kerf and movable from a first condition in which said first surface on said first member and said third surface on said second member are not engaged with the first kerf edge and the second surface on said first member and said fourth surface on said second member are not engaged with the second kerf edge to a second condition in which said at least one attachment device is wedged in the kerf by circumferential pressure and frictional engagement between said first and third surfaces and the first kerf edge and by circumferential pressure and frictional engagement between said second and fourth surfaces and the second kerf edge to thereby attach the cranial flap to the skull and prevent the cranial flap from moving relative to the skull;
• said shaft member having an outer surface that includes at least one row of teeth, said opening in said first member having at least one detent that engages said at least one row of teeth, the engagement of said at least one detent in said at least one row of teeth permitting said second member to move axially toward said first member and preventing said second member from moving away from said first member.

An apparatus for attaching a cranial flap to a skull during surgery, the cranial flap and the skull being spaced apart by a kerf defined by a first kerf edge on the cranial flap and an oppositely disposed second kerf edge on the skull, said apparatus comprising:

• at least one attachment device comprising relatively movable first and second members, said first and second members being movable relative to each other along an axis;
• said first member having oppositely disposed first and second surfaces for engaging the first and second kerf edges, respectively, said first member further including an opening extending along said axis;
• said second member having oppositely disposed third and fourth surfaces for engaging the first and second kerf edges, respectively;
• and
• a shaft member connecting said first and second members, said shaft member being attached to said second member and extending through said opening in said first member;
• said at least one attachment device being positionable in the kerf and movable from a first condition in which said first surface on said first member and said third surface on said second member are not engaged with the first kerf edge and the second surface on said first member and said fourth surface on said second member are not engaged with the second kerf edge to a second condition in which said at least one attachment device is wedged in the kerf by circumferential pressure and frictional engagement between said first and third surfaces and the first kerf edge and by circumferential pressure and frictional engagement between said second and fourth surfaces and the second kerf edge to thereby attach the cranial flap to the skull and prevent the cranial flap from moving relative to the skull;
• said first member having first and second sections connected by a bridge portion, said opening being disposed in said bridge portion;
• said second member being movable to a position in which a portion of said second member is disposed between said first and second sections of said first member.

An apparatus for attaching a cranial flap to a skull during surgery, the cranial flap and the skull being spaced apart by a kerf defined by a first kerf edge on the cranial flap and an oppositely disposed second kerf edge on the skull, said apparatus comprising:

• at least one attachment device comprising relatively movable first and second members, said first and second members being movable relative to each other along an axis;
• said first member having oppositely disposed first and second surfaces for engaging the first and second kerf edges, respectively, said first member further including an opening extending along said axis;
• said second member having oppositely disposed third and fourth surfaces for engaging the first and second kerf edges, respectively;
• and
• a shaft member connecting said first and second members, said shaft member being attached to said second member and extending through said opening in said first member;
• said at least one attachment device being positionable in the kerf and movable from a first condition in which said first surface on said first member and said third surface on said second member are not engaged with the first kerf edge and the second surface on said first member and said fourth surface on said second member are not engaged with the second kerf edge to a second condition in which said at least one attachment device is wedged in the kerf by circumferential pressure and frictional engagement between said first and third surfaces and the first kerf edge and by circumferential pressure and frictional engagement between said second and fourth surfaces and the second kerf edge to thereby attach the cranial flap to the skull and prevent the cranial flap from moving relative to the skull;
• said at least one attachment device in said second condition, being disposed entirely within the kerf and not engaged with any other surfaces on the skull or the cranial flap.