Patent ID: 8083782

Claim:
A fastener system comprising a cranial plug and a strip fastener for reattaching a skull flap removed from a skull during brain surgery and for closing at least one burr hole or cranial perforation made in the skull to facilitate cutting out a skull flap, the burr hole or cranial perforation having side walls, and 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 cranial plug comprising a flange having an upper surface, a lower surface and a central axis generally perpendicular to the upper surface, and at least one extension projecting downwardly and away from the lower surface, wherein said at least one extension is adapted to reside beside the side walls when the cranial plug is implanted in a patient, 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 bottom portion, an inside wall in contact with the bottom portion and an outside wall in contact with the bottom portion and disposed opposite the inside wall such that a hollow cavity is formed between the bottom portion, the inside wall and the outside wall, the inside wall having a plurality of inside tabs spaced along the length of the inside wall and in engagement thereto, wherein the inside tabs protrude transversely to the length and away from the hollow cavity; the outside wall having a plurality of outside tabs spaced along the length of the outside wall an in engagement thereto, wherein the outside tabs protrude transversely to the length and away from the hollow cavity; wherein at least one of the inside tabs is adapted to be disposed over and adjacent to the skull flap and at least one of the outside tabs is adapted to be disposed over and adjacent to the skull when the strip is positioned alongside the bone edge surface, and wherein the inside tabs are structured to be attached to the to the skull flap and the outside tabs are structured to be attached to the skull with attachment means, thereby reattaching the skull flap to the skull.