Appeal No. 97-0935
Application 08/340,905
structure that can be regarded as shaped as a double lipped
drill. Finally, with respect to claim 2, Collison does not
show a structure that is shaped as a drill that is both self-
drilling and self-cutting. Therefore, the rejection of claims
2, 4 and 5 under 35 U.S.C. § 102 is not sustained.
With respect to claim 3, we are in agreement with
the examiner that the slightly threaded pilot portion has a
minor diameter which is of smaller diameter than the root
portion of the screw threads 13 of Collison. Therefore, in
this respect, it can be seen that Collison anticipates the
claimed subject matter of dependent claim 3.
With respect to claims 6 and 7 rejected under 35
U.S.C. § 103, Collison clearly recognizes that screws of his
invention will be made of various lengths. In column 4
starting at line 47, Collison discusses the need for
longer screws to go through both cortices of the bone when
surgically necessary. In view of this teaching of Collison,
it is self-evident that the art has recognized that bone
screws of various lengths are necessary and that the cortices
of bones are of variable thicknesses necessitating the screw
10
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