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Abstract

A biocompatible cranioplasty plate structure, and method of its installation, for use in the surgical repair and recontour of large cranial defects of the human skull created or caused by injury, surgical intervention for tumor removal, or congenital anomaly or disease. The plate structure is formed from a sheet of pliable perforated metallic material, particularly commercially pure titanium or titanium alloy material, and is of generally elliptical configuration with a central preformed arcuate and convex area matching the compound and complex curvature of the forehead, side or rear areas of the typical human adult skull. The plate structure includes adjustable peripheral panels for bending fitment and close adaptation of the plate structure to intact cranial bone of the skull adjacent to and surrounding the defect and for attachment of the plate structure to intact bone by bone screws having low profile heads and applicable through perforations of the peripheral panels. The perforated metallic sheet material may be a mesh material having parallel rows and perpendicularly arranged parallel lines of square or circular holes. Alternatively, the perforated metallic sheet material may be a gridwork including legs which define repeating patterns of rectangular or triangular open spaces.

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First Claim