Cranial bone flap fixation clip

Claim 1

A clip to inter-connect primary and secondary bone zones having edges, comprising in combination: a) a tab to extend over a surface or surfaces of at least one of said bone zones, above a level defined by the one surface, and b) a first projection carried by the tab and having a hook to engage a bone zone at its edge, and below a portion of said tab that extends over the projection, c) said projection extending angularly downwardly along its length and away from the tab at an angle between about 50° and 60° from a plane defined by the tab, and terminating at said hook, d) said projection having a thickness which decreases in a direction along the projection length and toward the hook, the hook protecting sidewardly of the projection, at the end thereof, e) said projection and hook both everywhere located beneath the tab, f) the hook having an underside that tapers upwardly toward a plane defined by the tab.

Claim 16

The method of clip attaching primary and secondary bone zones having edges, that include: a) providing a tab to extend over a surface or surfaces of at least one of said bone zones, above a level defined by said surface, b) providing a projection to be carried by the tab and to have a hook to engage one of said bone zones at its edge, and below said level, c) the projection formed to have a cantilever configuration which is resiliently deflected by hook engagement with one of said edges, d) the projection located to extend angularly downwardly along its length and away from the tab at an angle between about 50° and 60° from a plane defined by the tab, and terminating at said hook, e) the projection formed to have a thickness which decreases in a direction along the projection length and toward the hook, the hook projecting sidewardly of the projection, at the end thereof, f) the projection and hook both everywhere located beneath the tab, g) the hook formed to have an underside that tapers upwardly toward a plane defined by the tab.

Claim 17

The method of clip attaching primary and secondary bone zones having edges, that include: a) providing a tab to extend over a surface or surfaces of at least one of said bone zones, above a level defined by said surface, b) providing a projection to be carried by the tab and to have a hook to engage one of said bone zones at its edge, and below said level, c) the projection formed to have a cantilever configuration which is resiliently deflected by hook engagement with one of said edges, d) the projection located to extend angularly downwardly along its length and away from the tab at an angle between about 50° and 60° from a plane defined by the tab, and terminating at said hook, e) the projection formed to have a thickness which decreases in a direction along the projection length and toward the hook, the hook projecting sidewardly of the projection, at the end thereof, f) the projection and hook both everywhere located beneath the tab, g) the hook formed to have an underside that tapers upwardly toward a plane defined by the tab.

Claim 20

The method of clip attaching primary and secondary bone zones, that includes: a) providing a tab to extend over a surface or surfaces of at least one of said bone zones, above a level defined by said at least one of said zones, b) providing a tab projection to be carried by the tab and to have a hook to engage a bone edge zone, and below said level, c) and forming the projection to have a cantilever configuration which is resiliently deflected by hook engagement with said edge zone, d) the projection located to extend angularly downwardly along its length and away from the tab at an angle between about 50° and 60° from a plane defined by the tab, and terminating at said hook, e) the projection formed to have a thickness which decreases in a direction along the projection length and toward the hook, the hook projecting sidewardly of the projection, at the end thereof, f) the projection and hook both everywhere located beneath the tab, g) the hook formed to have an underside that tapers upwardly toward a plane defined by the tab.

Claim 21

The method of clip attaching primary and secondary bone zones, that includes: a) providing a tab to extend over a surface or surfaces of at least one of said bone zones, above a level defined by said at least one of said zones, b) providing a tab projection to be carried by the tab and to have a hook to engage a bone edge zone, and below said level, c) and forming the projection to have a cantilever configuration which is resiliently deflected by hook engagement with said edge zone, d) the projection located to extend angularly downwardly along its length and away from the tab at an angle between about 50° and 60° from a plane defined by the tab, and terminating at said hook, e) the projection formed to have a thickness which decreases in a direction along the projection length and toward the hook, the hook projecting sidewardly of the projection, at the end thereof, f) the projection and hook both everywhere located beneath the tab, g) the hook formed to have an underside that tapers upwardly toward a plane defined by the tab.