PATENT CLAIM ANALYSIS

Application Number: 16100410
Application Type: Utility
Filing Date: 2018-08
Publication Date: 2018-12
Patent Classification: ["623", "017160"]

Abstract:
A bi-directional fixating transvertebral (BDFT) screw/cage apparatus including an intervertebral cage for maintaining disc height, and a method of inserting the same is provided. The intervertebral cage includes a first internal screw guide and a second internal screw guide, a first screw member and a second screw member, and a central screw locking lever coupled to the intervertebral cage, wherein the central screw locking lever prevents the first screw member and the second screw from pulling-out of the first internal screw guide and the second internal screw guide. The central screw locking lever includes a rotatable handle and stem portion, or a screw locking horizontal bracket. A pliers device for inserting and removing the bi-directional fixating transvertebral (BDFT) screw/cage apparatus, a posterior cervical and lumbar facet joint staple, and a staple gun for a posterior cervical and lumbar facet joint staple also are provided.

Claim (Index 39):
A method of inserting a bi-directional fixating transvertebral (BDFT) screw/cage apparatus between a first vertebral body and a second vertebral body, the method including:\n inserting an intervertebral cage into a midline of a disc space between the first vertebral body and the second vertebral body until the intervertebral cage is one of flush and countersunk relative to the first vertebral body and the second vertebral body, wherein the intervertebral cage includes:\n a top wall, a bottom wall, and sidewalls defining a fusion material space capable of receiving bone filling for the biological bone fusion; \n an internal screw guide having a screw entrance portion and an internal bore portion, wherein the screw entrance portion is larger than and coaxial with the internal bore and is formed at least partially in a top surface of the top wall as viewed from a top of the intervertebral cage, wherein the internal bore portion has an entry opening formed only in a top surface of the top wall as viewed from the top of the intervertebral cage and has an exit opening formed at least partially in a bottom surface of the top wall and at least partially in a side surface of the top wall; \n a second internal screw guide having a second screw entrance portion and a second internal bore portion, wherein the second screw entrance portion is larger than and coaxial with the second internal bore and is formed at least partially in the top surface of the top wall as viewed from the top, wherein the second internal bore portion has a second entry opening formed only in the top surface of the top wall as viewed from the top of the intervertebral cage and has a second exit opening formed at least partially in the bottom surface of the top wall and at least partially in a second side surface of the top wall, and wherein the internal screw guide and the second internal screw guide are angled to orient a first screw member and a second member bi-directionally in opposite directions; \n a first slot extending at least partially into a first sidewall of the sidewalls; \n a second slot extending at least partially into a second sidewall of the sidewalls, wherein the second slot is positioned opposite of the first slot; \n wherein the first slot is positioned along a first centerline axis that bisects the first sidewall and is positioned nearer a top of the intervertebral cage than a bottom of the intervertebral cage, \n wherein the second slot is positioned along a second centerline axis that bisects the second sidewall and is positioned nearer the top of the intervertebral cage than the bottom of the intervertebral cage, \n wherein the side surface and the second side surface of the top wall are patterned with a plurality of surface features to create rough side surfaces, wherein at least some of the plurality of surface features are positioned on the side surface between the top wall and the exit opening, and \n wherein the top wall, the bottom wall, and the sidewalls are integrally formed; and \n inserting a first screw into the internal screw guide of the intervertebral cage; inserting a second screw into the second internal screw guide of the intervertebral cage; screwing the first screw into the first vertebral body such that at least part of the first screw head is positioned in the screw entrance portion of the internal screw guide, at least part of the first screw shaft of the first screw is positioned in the internal bore, and at least part of the first screw threaded portion is positioned in the first vertebral body; screwing the second screw into the second vertebral body such that at least part of the second screw head is positioned in the second screw entrance portion of the second internal screw guide, at least part of the second screw shaft of the second screw is positioned in the second internal bore, and at least part of the second screw threaded portion is positioned in the second vertebral body; and locking the first screw and the second screw in the intervertebral cage using a screw locking bracket coupled to the intervertebral cage by positioning a first end portion of the screw locking bracket in the first slot, a second end portion of the screw locking bracket in the second slot and a central portion of the screw locking bracket extending between the first end portion and the second end portion across at least part of the top surface of the top wall such that the central portion partially blocks the screw entrance portion and the second screw entrance portion so as to retain the first and second screws in the internal screw guide and the second internal screw guide while leaving at least a portion of each of the first and second screw heads at least partially visible through gaps between the screw locking bracket and the intervertebral cage.

Metadata:
- Claim Count in Document: 59.0
- Percentile: 96.0
- Lexical Diversity: 2.48438
- Patent Class: 623.0
- Transitional Phrase Type: none
- Component Type: 0
- Foreign Priority: False
- Related Applications: ['15490107', '14257650', '12471340', '13103994', '12054335']

Analysis Scores:
- 35 USC 101 Eligibility (BERT): 0.8863276355021958
- 35 USC 102 Novelty (BERT): 0.7079760030225112
- Combined Prediction Score: 0.8684924722542274
- Mean Citation Score: 760.87759
- Max Citation Score: 826.0880000000003
- Similarity Product: 767.260577314377

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

Dataset: test