US4612930A — Head fixation apparatus including crown and skull…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 54 words

A skull pin comprising: an exteriorly threaded elongated cylinder of plastic, having first and second ends; and a skull-engaging portion connected to said cylinder and extending outwardly from said first end thereof, and terminating in a pointed tip, said skull engaging portion of a material which does not artifact significantly more than bone does.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 54 words

A skull pin comprising: an exteriorly threaded elongated cylinder of plastic, having first and second ends; and a skull-engaging portion connected to said cylinder and extending outwardly from said first end thereof, and terminating in a pointed tip, said skull engaging portion of a material which does not artifact significantly more than bone does.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 20 words

A skull pin as recited in claim 1 wherein said skull engaging portion is of single crystal alumina ceramic material.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 27 words

A skull pin as recited in claim 2 further comprising means defining a slot at said second end of said cylinder for receipt of a screwdriver blade.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 43 words

A skull pin as recited in claim 2 wherein said skull engaging portion includes: a conical portion terminating in said pointed tip; a body portion; and a shaft; said shaft received within an opening in said cylinder and rigidly connected to said cylinder.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 55 words

A skull pin as recited in claim 1 wherein said skull engaging portion includes: a conical portion terminating in said pointed tip; a body portion; and a shaft; said shaft received within an opening in said cylinder and rigidly connected to said cylinder; said body, conical portion, and shaft comprising an integral piece of ceramic.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 28 words

A skull pin as recited in claim 1 wherein said plastic is selected from the group consisting essentially of boron fiber reinforced plastics and carbon fiber reinforced plastics.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 138 words

Apparatus for use with a living patient to facilitate immobilization of the patient's skull during a medical treatment or operative procedure, comprising: a generally ring-shaped rigid member having interior cross-dimensions larger than the diameter of the patient's head; means defining a plurality of threaded openings extending through said generally ring-shaped rigid member; a plurality of skull pins received in said openings and threadably adjustable in said openings to adjust the extent of penetration of each of said skull pins into an interior volume defined by said generally ring-shaped rigid member; and each skull pin comprising: an exteriorly threaded elongated cylinder of plastic, having first and second ends; and a skull engaging portion rigidly connected to said cylinder and extending outwardly from said first end thereof and terminating in a pointed tip, said skull engaging portion of ceramic material.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 138 words

Apparatus for use with a living patient to facilitate immobilization of the patient's skull during a medical treatment or operative procedure, comprising: a generally ring-shaped rigid member having interior cross-dimensions larger than the diameter of the patient's head; means defining a plurality of threaded openings extending through said generally ring-shaped rigid member; a plurality of skull pins received in said openings and threadably adjustable in said openings to adjust the extent of penetration of each of said skull pins into an interior volume defined by said generally ring-shaped rigid member; and each skull pin comprising: an exteriorly threaded elongated cylinder of plastic, having first and second ends; and a skull engaging portion rigidly connected to said cylinder and extending outwardly from said first end thereof and terminating in a pointed tip, said skull engaging portion of ceramic material.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 18 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said skull engaging portion is of single crystal alumina ceramic material.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 41 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said skull engaging portion includes: a conical portion terminating in said pointed tip; a body portion; and a shaft; said shaft received within an opening in said cylinder and rigidly connected to said cylinder.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 26 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 8 wherein said plastic is selected from the group consisting essentially of boron fiber reinforced plastics and carbon fiber reinforced plastics.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 141 words

Apparatus for use with a living patient to facilitate immobilization of the patient's skull during a medical treatment or operative procedure, comprising: a generally ring-shaped rigid member having interior cross-dimensions larger than the diameter of the patient's head; means defining a plurality of threaded openings extending through said generally ring-shaped rigid member; a plurality of skull pins received in said openings and threadably adjustable in said openings to adjust the extent of penetration of each of said skull pins into an interior volume defined by said generally ring-shaped rigid member; and said ring member having a first, major, portion thereof disposed in a first plane, and having a second portion thereof slanting at an angle out of said first plane; at least one of said openings receiving a skull pin being disposed in said second portion, out of said first plane.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 141 words

Apparatus for use with a living patient to facilitate immobilization of the patient's skull during a medical treatment or operative procedure, comprising: a generally ring-shaped rigid member having interior cross-dimensions larger than the diameter of the patient's head; means defining a plurality of threaded openings extending through said generally ring-shaped rigid member; a plurality of skull pins received in said openings and threadably adjustable in said openings to adjust the extent of penetration of each of said skull pins into an interior volume defined by said generally ring-shaped rigid member; and said ring member having a first, major, portion thereof disposed in a first plane, and having a second portion thereof slanting at an angle out of said first plane; at least one of said openings receiving a skull pin being disposed in said second portion, out of said first plane.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 47 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein said generally ring-shaped rigid member has a generally horseshoe configuration in plan view, including first and second ends, said first and second ends being spaced from each other and part of said second portion slanting out of said first plane.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 36 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein said generally ring-shaped rigid member is an integral piece of material selected from the group consisting essentially of boron fiber reinforced plastic materials and carbon fiber reinforced plastic materials.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 59 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein each of said skull pins comprises an elongated exteriorly threaded cylinder of plastic material, having first and second ends; and a skull engaging portion rigidly connected to said cylinder and extending outwardly from said first end thereof and terminating in a pointed tip, said skull engaging portion of single crystal ceramic material.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 36 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 11 wherein said generally ring-shaped rigid member is an integral piece of material selected from the group consisting essentially of boron fiber reinforced plastic materials and carbon fiber reinforced plastic materials.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 57 words

Apparatus as recited in claim 15 wherein each of said skull pins comprises an elongated exteriorly threaded cylinder of plastic material, having first and second ends; and a skull engaging portion rigidly connected to said cylinder and extending outwardly from said first end thereof and terminating in a pointed tip, said skull engaging portion of ceramic material.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 188 words

A method of holding a living patient's head in a predetermined desired position during a medical treatment or operative procedure, utilizing a generally ring-shaped rigid member having interior cross-dimensions larger than the diameter of the patient's head, means defining a plurality of threaded openings through the ring-shaped member adapted to receive skull pins therein, and having a first major portion thereof disposed in a first plane and a second portion slanting out of the first plane; said method comprising the steps of: (a) slipping the ring-shaped member into operative association with the patient's head surrounding the patient's head; (b) disposing the ring-shaped member so that the second portion thereof is below a capital-distal plane extending between the top of the ears and eyes of the patient; (c) attaching the ring-shaped member at the position recited in step (b) with skull pins passing through the threaded openings in the ring-shaped member, so that the ring-shaped member is above the ears but so that the second portion thereof is below said plane; and (d) stabilizing the ring-shaped member as a medical treatment or during practice of a medical operative procedure.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 188 words

A method of holding a living patient's head in a predetermined desired position during a medical treatment or operative procedure, utilizing a generally ring-shaped rigid member having interior cross-dimensions larger than the diameter of the patient's head, means defining a plurality of threaded openings through the ring-shaped member adapted to receive skull pins therein, and having a first major portion thereof disposed in a first plane and a second portion slanting out of the first plane; said method comprising the steps of: (a) slipping the ring-shaped member into operative association with the patient's head surrounding the patient's head; (b) disposing the ring-shaped member so that the second portion thereof is below a capital-distal plane extending between the top of the ears and eyes of the patient; (c) attaching the ring-shaped member at the position recited in step (b) with skull pins passing through the threaded openings in the ring-shaped member, so that the ring-shaped member is above the ears but so that the second portion thereof is below said plane; and (d) stabilizing the ring-shaped member as a medical treatment or during practice of a medical operative procedure.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 94 words

A method as recited in claim 17 wherein the generally ring-shaped member has a generally horseshoe shape in plan view, with first and second ends spaced from each other, the first and second ends spaced from each other a dimension greater than the width of the patient's head and the first and second ends comprising part of the second portion of the ring-shaped member; and wherein step (a) is practiced by moving the generally ring-shaped member with respect to the patient's head so that the patient's head passes between the first and second ends.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 40 words

A method as recited in claim 17 wherein step (c) is practiced by passing skull pins through openings formed in the second portion of the generally ring-shaped member so that the skull pins engage the patient's head below said plane.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 43 words

A method as recited in claim 17 wherein the generally ring-shaped member and skull pins are made of materials which will not significantly artifact during imaging of the patient's skull, and comprising the further step of, after step (d), imaging the patient's skull.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1989-09-22	1990-03-24	1990-09-23	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1993-09-22	1994-03-24	1994-09-23	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1997-09-22	1998-03-24	1998-09-23	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Head fixation apparatus including crown and skull pin

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