Appeal 2007-3762 Application 10/422,282 finds that Büttner-Janz teaches that these interfaces are convex (id). According to Büttner-Janz, the “prosthesis plates 1, 2 and the prosthesis core 3 cooperate via spherical articular surfaces 4” (Büttner-Janz, col. 2, l. 42, emphasis removed). In other words, the convex surfaces of element 3, interact with the concave surfaces of elements 1 and 2 (Answer 4). We agree and note that Appellant does not dispute this finding. Accordingly, we agree with the Examiner that Büttner-Janz teaches a disc spacer comprising a device that has at least one spherical interface involving convex and concave surfaces. Büttner-Janz’s device is inserted between two vertebrae and is connected to the endplates of the vertebrae (Büttner-Janz, Abstract). In addition, Büttner-Janz teaches that, as illustrated in Figure 3, “[t]he center of articulation of the prosthesis is displaced towards the rear relative to the center of the vertebral endplates . . .” (Büttner-Janz, Abstract). For clarity we reproduce, Figure 3 below According to Büttner-Janz, the displacement of the centre of articulation towards the rear reduces the forces which push the prosthesis towards the front as a result of the wedge-shaped opening of the vertebral space (Büttner-Janz, col. 1, ll. 44-47), in addition to providing sufficient space in 4Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next
Last modified: September 9, 2013