Dave's PCF WIP: Paragraphs

Paragraphs

Actions	Matter	Content	Para #	Notes	Modified
View Edit Delete	FLO-4	The shank 212 may optionally have multiple screw threads. For example, a first screw thread 240 may extend from the head 210 to the tip 214. The first screw thread 240 may be designed to penetrate both cortical and cancellous bone. A second screw thread 242 may extend from the head 210 to the intermediate portion 202 of the screw 104, between the head 210 and the tip 214. In some embodiments, the second screw thread 242 may extend along a length of the shank 212 that generally corresponds to the expected thickness of cortical bone in the bone 102. Thus, the denser and stronger cortical portion of the bone 102 is penetrated by both the first screw thread 240 and the second screw thread 242, while the weaker and more porous cancellous portion of the bone 102 receives only the first screw thread. Such a design may maximize purchase in the cortical portion of the bone, while avoiding exertion of too much shear stress on the cancellous bone.	59	Added by DJM 5 2021	5/1/21, 12:00 AM
View Edit Delete	FLO-4	The present disclosure provides an implant assembly that is affixed to one or more bones of a patient using one or more screws. In use, it is advantageous that the screws are prevented from backing out of the bone over time. The present disclosure provides a locking mechanism for this purpose.	25	Added by DJM 5 2021	5/1/21, 12:00 AM
View Edit Delete	FLO-4	Specifically, the head 210 may have a socket 230 with a non-circular shape that engages a boss (not shown) on a driver with a corresponding male shape. As shown in FIG. 2D, the socket 230 may have a star shape with rounded points. Further, the head 210 may have a threaded socket 232 distal to the socket 230. The threaded socket 232 may receive a corresponding threaded boss (not shown) on a driver. In some embodiments, a driver (not shown) may have the boss and the threaded boss described above, so that the driver can mate with both the socket 230 and the threaded socket 232 for secure engagement with the head 210 of the screw 104, allowing the driver to advance or withdraw the screw 104.	57	Added by DJM 5 2021	5/1/21, 12:00 AM
View Edit Delete	FLO-4	The head 210 may have the raised ridges 216 with sloping faces 218 and engagement faces 220, as described previously. Further, the head 210 may have additional features that optionally facilitate insertion of the screw 104 into the corresponding bone 102 and/or withdrawal of the screw 104 from the bone 102 (for example, as part of a revision procedure).	56	Added by DJM 5 2021	5/1/21, 12:00 AM
View Edit Delete	FLO-4	As shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, the screw 104 may have a proximal end 200, a distal end 204, and an intermediate portion 202 between the proximal end 200 and the distal end 204. The head 210 of the screw 104 may be at the proximal end 200, and the distal end 204 may terminate in a tip 214. A shank 212 may extend from the head 210 to the tip 214.	55	Added by DJM 5 2021	5/1/21, 12:00 AM
View Edit Delete	FLO-4	A wide variety of screws may be used in conjunction with a locking mechanism 110 as shown in FIG. 1A. In some examples, the screws 104 may be designed for use in osteoporotic bone, for example, for aging patients. FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D are a perspective view, a front elevation view, a front/side elevation section view, and a top view, respectively, of the exemplary screw 104 of FIG. 1A.	54	Added by DJM 5 2021	5/1/21, 12:00 AM
View Edit Delete	FLO-4	Figure 1C is a front view of a rotatable structure 112, according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The rotatable structure 112 includes a tube 109 that extends from the bottom surface 103. The tube 109 may be cylindrical and have a circular cross section. The tube 109 may serve to couple the rotatable structure 112 to the bone plate 108. In one embodiment, the rotatable structure 112 engages the bone plate 108 through a hole sized to accept a tube of the rotatable structure 112. In one embodiment, the tube 109 fits through the hole in the bone plate 108 in a slip fit. After the tube 109 is slip fit through the hole in the bone plate 108, the open, disconnected, end of the tube 109 may be swaged to flare the open-end outward such that the flared-out portion of the tube 109 engages the hole in the bone plate 108 and thereby retains the rotatable structure 112 within the hole.	53	Added by DJM 5 2021	5/1/21, 12:00 AM
View Edit Delete	FLO-4	The detent mechanism and the rotation limiter described above are only examples. It will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many other mechanisms may alternatively be used for guiding and/or limiting rotation of the rotatable structure 112. For example, in one embodiment, the rotatable structures 112 may not be seated in recesses. Rather, the flat surfaces 122 may protrude from the outer surface of the bone plate 108, as opposed to being disposed in the partially circular recesses 120 and may still provide the desired limitation on rotation. Detent mechanisms likewise need not be defined by a recess, but may, in some embodiments, be defined by protruding features and/or niches that are otherwise provided on the surface of the bone plate 108 and/or on the rotatable structures. Positioning the rotatable structures 112 in the partially circular recesses 120 as in FIG. 1A may help to reduce the profile of the locking mechanisms 110, helping the locking mechanisms 110 avoid damage to surrounding soft tissues or discomfort to a patient.	52	Added by DJM 5 2021	5/1/21, 12:00 AM
View Edit Delete	FLO-4	Thus, the flat surfaces 122 and the corresponding surfaces 124 may cooperate to define rotation limiters as described above. Notably, the rotatable structures 112 may rotate clockwise from the unlocked orientation into the locked orientation. Loosening rotation of the screws 104 (counterclockwise) may tend to rotate the rotatable structures 112 further in the clockwise direction. Engagement of the flat surfaces 122 with the corresponding surfaces 124 may prevent such further clockwise rotation of the rotatable structures 112, thereby ensuring that the rotatable structures do not over-rotate clockwise, beyond the locked orientation, in response to torque tending to loosen the screws 104. Rather, as the rotatable structures 112 are unable to rotate further clockwise, counterclockwise (loosening) motion of the screws 104 may be prevented. Any counterclockwise torque in the screws 104 may tend to retain the rotatable structure 112 in the locked orientation, ensuring that the rotatable structure 112 does not migrate to the unlocked orientation after a surgical procedure is complete. This is more clearly shown and described in FIG. 3A.	51	Added by DJM 5 2021	5/1/21, 12:00 AM
View Edit Delete	FLO-4	Rotation of each of the rotatable structures 112 may be limited by flat surfaces 122 manufactured into each of the partially circular recesses 120. Each of the flat surfaces 122 may engage a corresponding surface 124 associated with each of the arms 114 of the rotatable structure 112, thereby limiting the degree of rotation and deployment of each of the rotatable structures 112 beyond the unlocked and locked orientations. The corresponding surface 124 may be flat but does not have to be.	50	Added by DJM 5 2021	5/1/21, 12:00 AM
View Edit Delete	FLO-4	Further, each of the locking mechanisms 110 may have a rotation limiter configured to engage the rotatable structure 112. The rotatable structure 112 limits a degree of rotation of the rotatable structure 112. The rotation limiter limits rotation of the rotatable structure 112 in either direction, beyond the locked orientation and the unlocked orientation, while allowing rotation of the rotatable structure 112 between the locked orientation and the unlocked orientation.	49	Added by DJM 5 2021	5/1/21, 12:00 AM
View Edit Delete	FLO-4	Thus, the niche 130 and the ears 132 may cooperate to define a detent mechanism as described above. Via such a detent mechanism, the surgeon may be sure the rotatable structure 112 has been fully rotated into the desired configuration. Further, the engagement of niche 130 and the ear 132 pertaining to the locked orientation may tend to retain the rotatable structure in the locked orientation, further ensuring that the rotatable structure 112 does not migrate to the unlocked orientation after the surgical procedure is complete.	48	Added by DJM 5 2021	5/1/21, 12:00 AM
View Edit Delete	FLO-4	13. The implant assembly of claim 9, wherein the rotatable structure comprises a bright color that facilitates connecting a driver to a drive feature of the rotatable structure, the drive feature adapted to receive torque from the driver to rotate the rotatable structure between the unlocked orientation and the locked orientation.	118	Added by DJM 5 2021	5/1/21, 12:00 AM
View Edit Delete	FLO-4	14.A vertebral implant comprising:	119	Added by DJM 5 2021	5/1/21, 12:00 AM
View Edit Delete	FLO-4	a bone plate comprising:	120	Added by DJM 5 2021	5/1/21, 12:00 AM
View Edit Delete	FLO-4	a recess bounded by a rim; and	121	Added by DJM 5 2021	5/1/21, 12:00 AM
View Edit Delete	FLO-4	a pair of screw openings;	122	Added by DJM 5 2021	5/1/21, 12:00 AM
View Edit Delete	FLO-4	a rotatable structure coupled to the bone plate such that the rotatable structure is rotatable, within the recess, between a locked orientation and an unlocked orientation, the rotatable structure comprising:	123	Added by DJM 5 2021	5/1/21, 12:00 AM
View Edit Delete	FLO-4	a pair of opposed arms, each of which is adapted to retain a screw positioned within one of the pair of screw openings when the rotatable structure is in the locked orientation, thereby restricting back-out of the screw; and	124	Added by DJM 5 2021	5/1/21, 12:00 AM
View Edit Delete	FLO-4	a drive feature adapted to receive torque from a driver to rotate the rotatable structure between the locked orientation and the unlocked orientation; and	125	Added by DJM 5 2021	5/1/21, 12:00 AM

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