Appeal No. 97-0935
Application 08/340,905
very shallow threads (col. 4, line 6). The shaft also has a
pointed tip and a conical portion that extends from the point
back to the cylindrical pilot portion. Formed in the
cylindrical pilot portion are two recesses or pockets 16 for
the collection of bone chips. Giving claim 14 its
broadest reasonable interpretation, we construe the term 2
"shaped as a drill" as being broader than claim terminology
that requires the structure to be a drill or to function as a
drill. In our view, the terminology "shaped as a drill"
should be construed to require structure that in shape has
some characteristics similar to that of a drill. The pilot
portion of Collison, which is somewhat long and cylindrical,
has fine threads on the outside and has two chip collecting
recesses or pockets 16, and, in our view, satisfies the claim
limitation of being shaped as a drill. We must emphasize that
the language of the claim does not state that this part of the
2 In re Zletz, 893 F.2d 319, 321, 13 USPQ2d 1320, 1322
(Fed. Cir. 1989). Claims in prosecution before the Patent and
Trademark Office are given their broadest reasonable
interpretation.
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