Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A bone joining implant, comprising: a generally cylindrical base body having a leading end and a trailing end; a helical thread formed around an outer periphery of the base body and providing a self-tapping portion extending along the leading end of the base body comprising a plurality of thread segments generally increasing in radial height from an advancing end to a trailing end; and a hole extending generally axially of the base body through the thread, such hole configured to interrupt the thread along the leading end so as to form at least in part the self-tapping portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
A bone joining implant, comprising: a generally cylindrical base body having a leading end and a trailing end; a helical thread formed around an outer periphery of the base body and providing a self-tapping portion extending along the leading end of the base body comprising a plurality of thread segments generally increasing in radial height from an advancing end to a trailing end; and a hole extending generally axially of the base body through the thread, such hole configured to interrupt the thread along the leading end so as to form at least in part the self-tapping portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The bone joining implant of claim 1 further comprising a fenestration provided in the base body and configured to interrupt the thread so as to form at least in part the self-tapping portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The bone joining implant of claim 1 wherein the thread comprises an undercut thread configured to mate in self-tapping, interlocking engagement with each of a pair of bone bodies to be joined.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The bone joining implant of claim 1 wherein the self-tapping portion comprises a fenestration within the base body positioned and arrange to interrupt the thread.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The bone joining implant of claim 1 wherein the self-tapping portion comprises a hole extending through and generally transverse to the thread between opposed faces and sized so as to interrupt the thread along the leading end.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The bone joining implant of claim 1 wherein the self-tapping portion comprises at least one cutout portion provided in the thread and configured to interrupt at least one portion of the thread.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The bone joining implant of claim 1 further comprising a hollow portion provided within the base body and a plurality of fenestrations extending between the hollow portion and an outer surface, at least one of the fenestrations configured to interrupt the thread so as to provide such self-tapping portion.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
A vertebral interbody implant, comprising: a base body extending from a leading end to a trailing end; a helical self-tapping bone thread comprising at least one thread segment formed around the base body, a tapered portion of the thread extending along the leading end portion; and a thread interruption comprising a hole extending through and generally transverse to the thread between opposed faces and sized to interrupt the thread along the leading end.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
73 words
A vertebral interbody implant, comprising: a base body extending from a leading end to a trailing end; a helical self-tapping bone thread comprising at least one thread segment formed around the base body, a tapered portion of the thread extending along the leading end portion; and a thread interruption comprising a hole extending through and generally transverse to the thread between opposed faces and sized to interrupt the thread along the leading end.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The vertebral interbody implant of claim 8 wherein the tapered portion of the bone thread comprises a thread interruption defining adjacent thread segments that cooperate to impart self-tapping features to the thread.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The vertebral interbody implant of claim 9 wherein the thread interruption comprises a fenestration formed within the base body.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The vertebral interbody implant of claim 9 wherein the thread interruption comprises a cutout portion provided in the thread and configured to interrupt at least one portion of the thread.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The vertebral interbody implant of claim 8 wherein the thread comprises an undercut thread.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
57 words
The vertebral interbody implant of claim 8 wherein the helical self-tapping bone thread comprises a plurality of thread segments extending along the base body, progressive thread segments within the tapered portion extending from the leading end toward the trailing end being sized progressively larger in radial dimension so as to impart self-tapping features along each thread interruption.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The vertebral interbody implant of claim 8 wherein the tapered portion of the thread is discontinuous, comprising interruptions there along.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
70 words
A bone joining member, comprising: a generally cylindrical base body extending from a leading end to a trailing end; a self-tapping bone thread comprising at least one helical thread segment formed around the base body and a tapered leading end portion having a series of interruptions; and a hole extending substantially transversely through the thread and configured to interrupt the thread along the leading end to form a self-tapping portion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
70 words
A bone joining member, comprising: a generally cylindrical base body extending from a leading end to a trailing end; a self-tapping bone thread comprising at least one helical thread segment formed around the base body and a tapered leading end portion having a series of interruptions; and a hole extending substantially transversely through the thread and configured to interrupt the thread along the leading end to form a self-tapping portion.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The bone joining member of claim 15 wherein the base body further comprises a hollow portion provided within the base body.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
41 words
The bone joining member of claim 16 further comprising a plurality of fenestrations extending from the hollow portion to a radial outer surface, at least one of the fenestrations configured to interrupt the tapered leading end portion of the bone thread.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The bone joining member of claim 15 wherein the tapered leading end portion of the thread is discontinuous, comprising thread interruptions formed by the hole extending there along.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
47 words
The bone joining member of claim 15 wherein the thread is tapered in height from an advancing end to a trailing end of the tapered leading end portion, the hole provided in the thread along the tapered leading end portion, such hole enabling self-tapping of the implant.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
44 words
The bone joining member of claim 15 further comprising holes extending through the thread along the tapered leading end portion, such holes providing interruptions within the thread along the tapered leading end portion, such interruptions providing at least in part such self-tapping bone thread.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The bone joining member of claim 15 wherein the thread comprises an undercut portion configured to engage in interlocking relation with a bone bed of a bone body to be joined.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
86 words
An implant for use in spinal stabilization for placement into a disc space between two vertebrae having end plates of cortical bone and a vertebra interior of cancellous bone, the implant comprising: a rigid body having an outer surface with at least one bone bed engaging portion configured to engage a pair of vertebrae to be joined; and a self-tapping bone thread comprising at least one helical undercut thread segment formed around the rigid body and a tapered leading end portion having a series of interruptions.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
86 words
An implant for use in spinal stabilization for placement into a disc space between two vertebrae having end plates of cortical bone and a vertebra interior of cancellous bone, the implant comprising: a rigid body having an outer surface with at least one bone bed engaging portion configured to engage a pair of vertebrae to be joined; and a self-tapping bone thread comprising at least one helical undercut thread segment formed around the rigid body and a tapered leading end portion having a series of interruptions.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
The implant of claim 22 wherein the tapered leading end comprises a hole extending generally transversely of the thread cooperating to form a thread interruption operative to impart self-tapping features to the thread.