PATENT CLAIM ANALYSIS

Application Number: 15912749
Application Type: Utility
Filing Date: 2018-03
Publication Date: 2018-07
Patent Classification: ["606", "063000"]

Abstract:
A new shape changing bone implant and instrument for the fixation of structures to include bone tissue. This new implant stores elastic mechanical energy to exert force on fixated structures to enhance their security and in bone affect its healing response. This unique implant locks into bone and then simultaneously expands and shortens to lock into bone and then pull the bone segments together. This implant once placed changes shape in response to geometric changes in the implant's and bone's materials structure. The implant may be fabricated from any biocompatible material that acts elastically when deformed including but not limited to nitinol, stainless steel, titanium, and their alloys as well as polymers such as polyetheretherketone, silicone elastomer and polyethylene. The implant is advanced over prior devices due to its: (1) method of operation, (2) high strength, (3) method of insertion, (4) compressive force temperature independence, (5) energy storing implant retention and delivery system, (6) compatibility with reusable or single use product configuration, (7) ability to act as a scaffold to conduct healing bone through the implant, (8) efficient and cost effective manufacturing methods, and (9) reduction in the steps required to place the device.

Claim (Index 22):
A method of fixating a first bone and a second bone comprising the steps of:\n (a) selecting an implant having\n (i) a first bone locking feature at a first end, \n (ii) a second bone locking feature at a second end, and \n (iii) a middle section between the first end and the second end, wherein\n (A) the middle section comprises an elastic material, \n (B) the middle section is restrained in an first position by an instrument coupled to the implant, and \n (C) the middle section in the first position has a first length and a first diameter, and; \n \n (b) locking the first bone locking feature to the first bone; (c) locking the second bone locking feature to the second bone; and (d) removing the restraint of the middle section to shorten the implant between the first bone locking feature and the second bone locking feature, wherein\n (i) the shortening of the implant comprises a shortening of the middle section to a second position having a second length and a second diameter, \n (ii) the second length is shorter than the first length, and \n (iii) the second diameter is different than the first diameter.

Metadata:
- Claim Count in Document: 32.0
- Percentile: 90.0
- Lexical Diversity: 1.70073
- Patent Class: 606.0
- Transitional Phrase Type: open
- Component Type: 1
- Foreign Priority: False
- Related Applications: ['15040789', '14351032', '14075332', '11671556', '11689670']

Analysis Scores:
- 35 USC 101 Eligibility (BERT): 0.7564883076062417
- 35 USC 102 Novelty (BERT): 0.5409301197979287
- Combined Prediction Score: 0.7349324888254105
- Mean Citation Score: 270.934934
- Max Citation Score: 447.94925
- Similarity Product: 378.0256915178001

Labels:
- Claim Label 101: 1
- Claim Label 102: 1
- Claim Label 103: 0
- Claim Label 112: 1
- Combined Label: 1
- Label 101 Adjusted: 1

Dataset: test