CRANIAL PLUG INCLUDING AN INTRACRANIAL MONITORING DEVICE

1 . A cranial plug, comprising:

an intracranial monitoring device including a probe;

a cranial plug housing having an intracranial monitoring device recess, the intracranial monitoring device recess is shaped and dimensioned for positioning of an intracranial monitoring device and includes a central access hole shaped and dimensioned for the passage of the probe of the intracranial monitoring device therethrough to a desired position within the brain.

2 . The cranial plug according to claim 1 , wherein the intracranial monitoring device is a wireless intracranial monitoring device.

3 . The cranial plug according to claim 1 , wherein the cranial plug housing includes a first end, a second end, a first lateral side, a second lateral side, an upper surface, and a lower surface.

4 . The cranial plug according to claim 3 , wherein a recessed surface defining the intracranial monitoring device recess is formed along the upper surface of the cranial plug housing.

5 . The cranial plug according to claim 3 , wherein the lower surface is provided with a projection shaped and dimensioned to fit within the cranial hole.

6 . The cranial plug according to claim 3 , wherein the intracranial monitoring device recess is formed within the upper surface of the cranial plug housing.

7 . The cranial plug according to claim 1 , wherein the intracranial monitoring device recess is shaped and dimensioned for receiving the head of the intracranial monitoring device.

8 . The cranial plug according to claim 7 , wherein the central access hole extends from the recess to the lower surface of the cranial plug housing.

9 . The cranial plug according to claim 1 , wherein the cranial plug housing includes multiple chemically distinct materials.

10 . The cranial plug according to claim 9 , wherein the cranial plug housing includes a central body member made of a first material and a second material.

11 . The cranial plug according to claim 10 , wherein the first material is a sonolucent material.

12 . The cranial plug according to claim 11 , wherein the first material is PMMA or cubic zirconium.

13 . The cranial plug according to claim 11 , wherein the second material is a flexible material.

14 . The cranial plug according to claim 13 , wherein the first material is PMMA or cubic zirconium and the second material is porous polyethylene or expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (EPTFE).

15 . The cranial plug according to claim 10 , wherein the second material is a flexible material.

16 . The cranial plug according to claim 15 , wherein the second material is porous polyethylene or expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (EPTFE).

17 . A method for installing a cranial plug, the cranial plug including an intracranial monitoring device including a probe and a cranial plug housing having an intracranial monitoring device recess, the intracranial monitoring device recess is shaped and dimensioned for positioning of an intracranial monitoring device therein and includes a central access hole shaped and dimensioned for the passage of a probe of the intracranial monitoring device therethrough to a desired position, the method comprising:

generating virtual images of the cranial plug and the intracranial monitoring device;

upon initiation of a surgical procedure, monitoring in real-time, via a computer based guidance system, the movement of the cranial plug housing and the intracranial monitoring device relative to the patient, wherein tracking devices are integrated into or onto the cranial plug housing and the intracranial monitoring device;

positioning the cranial plug within the patient.