Paragraph Number

88

"Bone engagement surface" refers to a surface or other feature of an object, instrument, or apparatus, such as an implant that is oriented toward, faces, or contacts one or more bones of a patient. In one aspect, the bone engagement surface may abut, touch, or contact a surface of a bone. In another aspect, the bone engagement surface, or parts of the bone engagement surface, may be close to, but not abut, touch, or contact a surface of the bone. In certain aspects, the bone engagement surface can be configured to engage with a surface of one or more bones. Such a bone engagement surface may include projections and recesses that correspond to and match projections and recesses of the one or more bone surfaces. As used herein, matching projections and recesses means that a projection on one structure is of the substantially same size and shape as a corresponding recess of the other structure such that when the two structures are brought into contact or close proximity each projection of one structure seats/sits/fits within the recess of the other structure. A bone engagement surface may include flat parts of a side or surface, contoured parts of a side or surface, projections and/or recesses of a side or surface, or any combination of these. Such variations in the make-up and configuration of a bone engagement surface can exist within a single embodiment or separate embodiments. Said another way, a bone engagement surface is a surface that is the mirror inverse of a surface of the bone that the bone engagement surface abuts, touches, and/or contacts.

Added by DJM Jan 2024