Patent ID: 7833253

Claim:
A strip fastener for reattaching a skull flap removed from a skull during brain surgery, the skull flap having a top surface, a bottom surface and a perimeter defined by a bone edge surface, the bone edge surface having a vertical component extending from the top surface to the bottom surface and a horizontal component extending around the perimeter in a lateral direction, the strip fastener comprising a flexible strip having a length and sufficient flexibility to be formed lengthwise around the perimeter in the lateral direction and alongside the bone edge surface, the strip having a plurality of tabs spaced along the length of the strip and in engagement thereto, wherein the tabs protrude transversely to the length and away from the strip, at least one tab extending in a direction opposite at least one other tab, wherein the length of the strip contains a plurality of portions that do not have tabs, and wherein the tabs are affixed to the flexible strip by way of brackets, attachment means selected from the group consisting of screws, tacks and staples; wherein at least one tab is adapted to be disposed over and adjacent to the skull flap and at least one other tab is adapted to be disposed over and adjacent to the skull when the strip is positioned alongside the bone edge surface, and wherein the tabs are structured to be attached to the to the skull flap and to the skull with the attachment means, thereby reattaching the skull flap to the skull.