METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A LOW-PROFILE INTERCRANIAL DEVICE AND THE LOW-PROFILE INTERCRANIAL DEVICE MANUFACTURED THEREBY
A low-profile intercranial device including a low-profile static cranial implant and a functional neurosurgical implant. The low-profile static cranial implant and the functional neurosurgical implant are virtually designed and interdigitated prior to physical assembly of the low-profile intercranial device.
1 - 57 . (canceled)
58 . A method of performing surgery, comprising:
accessing a low-profile static cranial implant previously implanted into a resected portion of a patient's skull, the low-profile static cranial implant including:
a base member with an outer surface, an inner surface, a thickness defined between the outer and inner surfaces, and a peripheral edge shaped and dimensioned to conform to a resected portion of the patient's skull, the base member defining a recess formed in the outer surface thereof, the recess having side walls and a bottom;
a cover cranial implant member disposed over the recess so as to define a cavity, the cover cranial implant member being removably secured to the base member; and
removing the cover cranial implant member from the base member; and
accessing a functional neurosurgical implant disposed within the cavity without removing the base member from patient's skull.
59 . The method according to claim. 58 , wherein the low-profile static cranial implant is a custom cranial implant.
60 . The method according to claim 58 , wherein the low-profile static cranial implant is clear and lucent, and the method further comprises observing brain pathology through the low-profile static cranial implant.
61 . The method according to claim 58 , wherein the low-profile static cranial implant is clear and lucent, and the method further comprises imaging of brain pathology through the low-profile static cranial implant.
62 . The method according to claim 61 , wherein the step of imaging brain pathology through the low-profile static cranial implant comprises ultrasonically imaging a brain through the low-profile static cranial implant.
63 . The method according to claim 58 , wherein the step of accessing the functional neurosurgical implant further comprises removing and replacing at least a portion of the functional neurosurgical implant.
64 . The method of claim 63 , wherein the step of removing and replacing at least a portion of the functional neurosurgical implant further comprises replacing a battery of the functional neurosurgical implant.
65 . The method according to claim 58 , wherein the step of accessing the functional neurosurgical implant further comprises removing and replacing the functional neurosurgical implant.
66 . The method according to claim 58 , further comprising the step of assembling a cover cranium implant member over the recess after accessing the functional neurosurgical implant.
67 . A method of performing surgery, comprising:
resecting a portion of a patient's skull;
positioning a low-profile static cranial implant into a resected portion of a patient's skull, the low-profile static cranial implant including:
a base member with an outer surface, an inner surface, a thickness defined between the outer and inner surfaces, and a peripheral edge shaped and dimensioned to conform to a resected portion of the patient's skull, the base member defining a recess formed in the outer surface thereof, the recess having side walls and a bottom; and
a cover cranial implant member disposed over the recess so as to define a cavity, the cover cranial implant member being removably secured to the base member.
68 . The method according to claim 67 , further including the step of accessing the low-profile static cranial implant, removing the cover cranial implant member from the base member, and accessing a functional neurosurgical implant disposed within the cavity without removing the base member from patient's skull.
69 . The method according to claim 68 , wherein the step of accessing the functional neurosurgical implant further comprises removing and replacing at least a portion of the functional neurosurgical implant.
70 . The method of claim 69 , wherein the step of removing and replacing at least a portion of the functional neurosurgical implant further comprises replacing a battery of the functional neurosurgical implant.
71 . The method according to claim 68 , wherein the step of accessing the functional neurosurgical implant further comprises removing and replacing the functional neurosurgical implant.
72 . The method according to claim 68 , further comprising the step of assembling a cover cranium implant member over the recess after accessing the functional neurosurgical implant.
73 . The method according to claim 67 , wherein the step of positioning the low-profile static cranial implant includes implanting a custom cranial implant.
74 . The method according to claim 67 , wherein the cover cranial implant member is clear, and the method further comprises observing a functional neurosurgical implant inside the cavity through the cover cranial implant member.
75 . The method according to claim 67 , wherein the low-profile static cranial implant is clear and lucent, and the method further comprises observing brain pathology through the low-profile static cranial implant.
76 . The method according to claim 67 , wherein the low-profile static cranial implant is clear and lucent, and the method further comprises imaging of brain pathology through the low-profile static cranial implant.
77 . The method according to claim 76 , wherein the step of imaging brain pathology through the low-profile static cranial implant comprises ultrasonically imaging a brain through the low-profile static cranial implant.