Importance

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Abstract

A surgical fastener for joining adjacent bone portions includes a top flange and a bottom flange joined by a rib that together help define two bone receiving cavities. The Respective bone edge portions, such as from an osteotomy cut, are inserted into the bone receiving cavities and gripped by the compressive action between the top flange and the bottom flange. In the installed state, the top flange is disposed on one side of the bone while the bottom flange is disposed on the opposite side of the bone, with the rib disposed between the bone edges. The bone clamp may be a unitary device that is made from a flexible bioresorbable material. Due to its configuration, the bone clamp may be installed without the use of any tools. Further, the bone clamp acts as a temporary fastener in that it dissolves over time, thereby allowing for the bone edges to knit, even in the vicinity of the bone clamp. When installed, the bone clamp has a low profile initially and no long term profile, thereby lessening cosmetic abnormalities.

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First Claim