Importance

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Abstract

A cranial spring clip for attaching a bone flap to a skull is disclosed. The clip includes a substantially flat flap clipping portion, a substantially flat skull clipping portion, an extension disposed between, connecting, and substantially perpendicular to the flap clipping and the skull clipping portions, at least one burr attached to the extension, and a fastening element. When the clip is implanted, the topography of the flap clipping and skull clipping portions, the only parts of the clip above the outer table of the skull, provides the clip with a low profile. At least a portion of the extension is resilient in nature so that, the resilient portion flexes inward upon insertion in the saw gap and then flexes back to fix the clip in place. The burr penetrates the skull to also fix the clip in place. As the extension has a length that is shorter than the thickness of the skull and the bone flap, there is minimal possibility of accidental injury to the brain. The fastening element can be located on the extension so that it is substantially perpendicular to the extension when implanted. Alternatively, the fastening element is located on the flap clipping portion so that it is substantially perpendicular to the flap clipping portion. In one embodiment, the extension is substantially flat, while in another, the extension is U-shaped.

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First Claim