Appeal 2007-2608
Application 10/473,998
surfaces of both cover plates. Figure 1 of the Specification is
reproduced below:
Figure 5 of the Specification illustrates a “corrective” prosthesis, with
a prosthesis core (3), a corrective cover plate (15) of one “size category,”
and a standard cover plate (1’) of a smaller size category. In this particular
configuration, a line (16) drawn through the center of the articulation surface
(4’) would be offset (dorsally or ventrally) in relation to a line (10) drawn
through the center of the contact surface (7) of the corrective cover plate
(15), by an amount (17) (Spec. ¶ 24 and ¶ 29). This configuration results in
a relative “ventrodorsal” offset between the centers of the contact surfaces of
the corrective and standard cover plates within a single intervertebral disc
prosthesis. Once implanted, “the center of articulation of a prosthesis
relative to the vertebral body on whose side the corrective cover plate is
fitted is offset ventrodorsally compared to the standard prostheses” (id. at ¶
5), which helps compensate for “high ventrodorsal forces acting between the
vertebrae concerned” (id. at ¶ 6). Figure 5 of the Specification is reproduced
below:
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Last modified: September 9, 2013