PATENT CLAIM ANALYSIS

Application Number: 16015124
Application Type: Utility
Filing Date: 2018-06
Publication Date: 2018-12
Patent Classification: ["606", "056000"]

Abstract:
A dynamic strut for external fixation constructs has first and second sub-struts that are axially adjustable in length and rotational position relative to one another, with the first sub-strut supporting a first dual universal joint with a first attachment peg for connection to an external fixator, and the second sub-strut supporting a second dual universal joint with a second attachment peg for connection to an external fixator. The first and second dual universal joints each include first and second ball-and-socket joints, whereby the associated attachment peg is adjustable in orientation. Set screws fix orientation of the attachment peg relative to the first ball-and-socket joint and the housing. Angular orientation of the first dual universal joint is fixed while angular orientation of the second dual universal joint is adjustable. The second sub-strut supports an axially movable shaft that supports the second dual universal joint. An adjustor allows the first and second sub-struts to axially translate relative to each other to increase or decrease length.

Claim (Index 13):
A strut for an external fixation construct, the strut comprising:\n a first sub-strut characterized by a cylindrical body with a cylindrical interior having an opening at an axial end of the cylindrical body, and an axial slot in a side of the cylindrical body and in communication with the cylindrical interior; a first dual ball-and-socket joint at the another end of the cylindrical body, the first dual ball-and-socket joint having a first head fixed to the another end of the cylindrical body and having a first spherical socket, a first ball joint disposed in the first spherical socket and having a second spherical socket, a peg having a spherical head, a shaft extending radially from the spherical head and the first head and, and a tip on the shaft distal the spherical head, the tip and shaft configured for reception by an external fixation ring, the spherical head rotationally received in the second spherical socket to allow universal positioning of the tip relative to the first head, a first set screw received in the first ball joint for fixing angular orientation of the peg relative to the first ball joint, and a second set screw received in the first head for fixing angular orientation of the first ball joint relative to the first head; a second sub-strut characterized by a piston axially movably disposed in the cylindrical interior of the first sub-strut, the piston having an end disposed in the cylindrical interior of the first sub-strut and having an axial interior, a threaded shaft axially movably disposed in the axial interior of the piston and having a first end disposed in the axial interior of the piston and a second end opposite the first end, and an adjustment means carried on the piston and threadedly coupled to the threaded shaft whereby rotation of the adjustment means axially moves the threaded shaft; a second dual ball-and-socket joint at the second end of the threaded shaft, the second dual ball-and-socket joint having a second head threadedly attached to the second end of the threaded shaft and having a third spherical socket, a second ball joint disposed in the third spherical socket and having a fourth spherical socket, a second peg having a second spherical head, a second shaft extending radially from the second spherical head and the second head and, and a second tip on the second shaft distal the second spherical head, the second tip and second shaft configured for reception by an external fixation ring, the second spherical head rotationally received in the third spherical interior to allow universal positioning of the second tip relative to the second head, a third set screw received in the second ball joint for fixing angular orientation of the second peg relative to the second ball joint, and a fourth set screw received in the second head for fixing angular orientation of the second ball joint relative to the second head; and an adjuster, coupled to and between the first and second sub-struts for adjusting axial orientation of the second sub-strut relative to the first sub-strut.

Metadata:
- Claim Count in Document: 44.0
- Percentile: 94.0
- Lexical Diversity: 2.52941
- Patent Class: 606.0
- Transitional Phrase Type: open
- Component Type: 1
- Foreign Priority: False
- Related Applications: ['14705345', '13896060', '12711591', '13568302', '12864807']

Analysis Scores:
- 35 USC 101 Eligibility (BERT): 0.7925582747315947
- 35 USC 102 Novelty (BERT): 0.4903642836459748
- Combined Prediction Score: 0.7623388756230327
- Mean Citation Score: 288.809926
- Max Citation Score: 298.11542000000014
- Similarity Product: 217.2795069119764

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

Dataset: test