WO2014170918A1

WO2014170918A1 - A novel medical equipment for anchoring and closing of cranial flap during neurosurgery of head at cut lines

Info

Publication number: WO2014170918A1
Application number: PCT/IN2014/000255
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ghansham Das Agarwal
Original assignee: Ghansham Das Agarwal
Priority date: 2013-04-19
Filing date: 2014-04-21
Publication date: 2014-10-23

Abstract

This invention relates to a novel medical equipment for anchoring and closing of cranial flap during neurosurgery of head at cut lines comprising of atleast two discs connected by means of a connecting member, wherein the top and bottom disc is provided with a cut on the same side. It is associated with the following advantageous features: - Fast to use and apply i.e. less than two minutes. - Cost effective. - No requirement of any special instrumentation for application. - Prevention of damage to brain by resisting pressure. - Fast re-opening of craniotomy flap without requiring special instrumentation. - Reasonable. - Allows outward movement of cranial flap in case of brain edema.

Description

TITLE

A novel medical equipment for anchoring and closing of cranial flap during neurosurgery of head at cut lines.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a novel medical equipment for anchoring and closing of cranial flap during neurosurgery of head at cut lines. The invention in particular directed to a dumbbell shaped cranial flap closing and anchoring device for use to close and anchor bony cranial flap at cut lines in neurosurgery of head (cranium).

BACKGROUND/PRIOR ART OF INVENTION

Surgical operations inside the head / on the brain are performed after making an opening in the skull i.e. the bony cage around the brain or cranium. Generally adopted method of opening is to create four / three burr holes (holes are made with the help of burrs) followed by cutting in between the holes by means of giggly saw or latest craniotome (powered tools). The hard shell flap / bony flap / cranial flap thus created is either kept attached on one side with the pericranium or kept away from patient by covering in a moist mop Or in saline. After finishing of operation on brain, this flap needs to be reapplied and attached with the skull. There are different methods to attach it.

Conventional method comprises steps of drilling small holes in skull followed by inserting stainless steel wire through these holes. Thereafter, the wire is twisted, cut to size and bent inside.

Another method makes utilization of two absorbable plastic buttons, one under the skull and one above the skull. Both buttons are tied with absorbable thread. This keeps the flap in position.

Still another method comprises application of two metal / titanium discs. One disc which goes under the skull has a serrated central wire, wherein the serrations are directed downwards. The second disc is threaded on the serrated wire, which has a central hole with locking fins and can be moved downwards only. It requires special instruments to pull the wire through second disc, in which excess wire is cut off and second disc is locked on the skull.

Disadvantages:-

- It has poor stability and grip. There are chances of flap slipping down. :

The buttons are quite thick and can be felt under skin and sometimes may look ugly if applied on exposed surface of head (forehead etc). Application of these buttons is also time consuming. Further, these are expensive. - It provides good anchorage. However, it requires special & expensive instruments. At times, reoperation is required due to complication or other reason, wherein reoperation is cumbersome and also requires special tools. It is also time consuming and very expensive.

Hence, it can be concluded that, the aforesaid prior arts provide only limited stability to cranial flap. Slight push / pressure can push in the flap and damage brain. Therefore, it is required to develop a novel medical equipment for anchoring and closing of cranial flap during neurosurgery of head, which can address the above drawbacks.

OBJECTS OF INVENTION

An object of this invention is to propose a novel medical equipment for anchoring and closing of cranial flap during neurosurgery of head at cut lines.

Another object of this invention is to propose a novel medical equipment for anchoring and closing of cranial flap during neurosurgery of head at cut lines which is very fast to use and apply (less than two minutes).

Still another object of this invention is to propose a novel medical equipment for anchoring and closing of cranial flap during neurosurgery of head at cut lines which is cost effective.

Still another object of this invention is to propose a novel medical equipment for anchoring and closing of cranial flap during neurosurgery of head at cut lines which does not need any special instrumentation for application.

Still another object of this invention is to propose a novel medical equipment for anchoring and closing of cranial flap during neurosurgery of head at cut lines which is robust enough to resist pressure to prevent damage to brain.

Still another object of this invention is to propose a novel medical equipment for anchoring and closing of cranial flap during neurosurgery of head at cut lines wherein re-opening of craniotomy flap is fast without requiring special instrumentation.

Still another object of this invention is to propose a novel medical equipment for anchoring and closing of cranial flap during neurosurgery of head at cut lines which is reusable.

Still another object of this invention is to propose a novel medical equipment for anchoring and closing of cranial flap during neurosurgery of head at cut lines which allows outward movement of cranial flap in case of brain edema.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to this invention, there is provided a novel medical equipment for anchoring and closing of cranial flap during neurosurgery of head at cut lines comprising of atleast two discs connected by means of a connecting member, wherein the top and bottom disc is provided with a cut on the same side.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from the ensuing description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and wherein:

Fig. 1 shows: right side view of medical equipment of present invention.

Fig. 2 shows: bottom view of medical equipment according to present invention. Fig. 3 shows: bottom view of cranial flap held with medical equipment of present invention during application on cranial flap.

Fig. 4 shows: top view of cranial flap held with medical equipment of present invention during application on cranial flap.

Fig. 5 shows: medical equipment provided on skull cut edge.

Fig. 6 shows: placement of cranial flap held on the equipment.

Fig. 7 shows: locking of the cranial flap in place through 90 degree rotation of equipment in case of application on cranial flap.

Fig. 8 shows: locking of the cranial flap in place through 90 degree rotation of equipment in case of application on the skull edge.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS: -

This invention discloses a novel medical equipment for anchoring and closing of cranial flap during neurosurgery of head at cut lines. Said equipment comprising of atleast two discs connected by means of a connecting member, wherein the top disc and bottom disc is provided with a long cut and small cut respectively on the same side.

Now, reference may be made to fig. 1 and 2, in which said equipment comprising a top disc (1) having D-shape and a bottom disc (2) having O-shape.

The top disc is provided with a long cut (1A) and the bottom disc is provided with a small cut (2A).

The long cut constituting a flat end helps in rotation of the device to lock and unlock the cranial flap. Again, it allows the cranial flap to be placed in position. Had it been round, it would not have allowed the flap to be placed into position. During placement, the longitudinal side of the disc

is inwards. In order to lock it, it is rotated to have round side inwards.

The bottom disc is provided to hold the flap in position. Further, it does not allow the flap to sink it. The shape is preferably circular because otherwise it can't be locked.

The equipment is preferably made of non-absorbable or absorbable plastic polymer/ metal without restricting scope of the invention to the same. Thus other suitable materials readily apparent to a person skilled in the art .are understood to be within scope of the invention.

The connecting member is preferably cylindrical in shape. Further, the top and bottom disc are provided with atleast one hole to assist in rotation of the plug.

The connecting member is cylindrical to facilitate smooth sliding within the burr hole of the cranial flap. Said member obliterates the space of burr hole.

The equipment is applied either on the edge of cranial flap or skull cut edge.

When applied on cranial flap, top disc (D-shaped disc) is kept under side of flap. Flat side/ cut of top disc is kept towards outer side as shown in fig. 3 and 4. It allows placement of cranial flap into the cut opening.

When applied on the skull edge as shown in fig. 5 and 6 in which, the top disc (D-shaped disc) is kept above and lower disc (O-shaped disc) is kept below.

After insertion the equipment may be rotated by 90 degree to lock it in case of application on cranial flap and skull edge as shown in fig. 7 and 8 respectively.

In this way device locks the cranial flap. This prevents both inward and outward movement of cranial. In case of reoperation/ reopening of cranial flap the devices are rotated by 90 degree to unlock the flap. So that, it can be reopened. The same equipment can be reused to close & lock the cranial flap.

In some cases where cerebral edema is expected, the cranial flap may not be locked. In other words the devices are not rotated. Inward movement of flap is prevented but outward movement is allowed. If brain swells/ in case of cerebral edema, the cranial flap allows outward movement and swelling of the brain. On subsiding of edema the flap may come back to its place.

Advantageous Features

- Fast to use and apply i.e. less than two minutes.

- Cost effective.

- No requirement of any special instrumentation for application.

- Prevention of damage to brain by resisting pressure.

- Fast re-opening of craniotomy flap without requiring special instrumentation.

- Reasonable.

- Allows outward movement of cranial flap in case of brain edema.

It is to be noted that the present invention is susceptible to modifications, adaptations and changes by those skilled in the art. Such variant embodiments employing the concepts and features of this invention are intended to be within the scope of the present invention, which is further set forth under the following claims:

Claims

A novel medical equipment for anchoring and closing of cranial flap during neurosurgery of head at cut lines comprising of atleast two discs connected by means of a connecting member, wherein the top and bottom disc is provided with a cut on the same side.

A novel medical equipment as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the top disc is provided with a long cut constituting nearly D-shaped disc.

A novel medical equipment as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the bottom disc is having a small cut constituting nearly O-shaped disc.

A novel medical equipment as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting member is preferably cylindrical in shape.

A novel medical equipment as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the top and bottom disc are provided with atleast one hole to assist in rotation.

A novel medical equipment as claimed in any of the preceding claims, which can be applied on the edge of cranial flap with the top disc positioned underside of the flap and flat side towards outerside.

A novel medical equipment as claimed in any of the preceding claims, which can be applied on the skull edge with the top disc above and bottom disc below the skull.

A novel medical equipment as claimed in any of the preceding claims, which can be used to lock the cranial flap after operation/ unlock the flap for reoperation through rotation thereby making it reusable.

A novel medical equipment for anchoring and closing of cranial flap during neurosurgery of head at cut lines substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.