Prior art — US Patent 10064738

Most Relevant Prior Art for US Patent 10064738

The most relevant prior art for US patent 10064738, "Bi-directional fixating/locking transvertebral body screw/intervertebral cage stand-alone constructs having a central screw locking lever, and pliers and devices for spinal fusion," primarily centers on intervertebral fusion cages that incorporate screw fixation and, critically, mechanisms to lock those screws in place. The patent itself highlights the novelty of its specific screw locking mechanisms and the symmetric, bi-directional orientation of its internal screw guides.

Below are the most relevant prior art references identified from the patent's citations, with an analysis of their potential anticipation of US10064738's claims.

1. US 2005/0015152 A1 (Moskowitz et al.)

Full Citation: US 2005/0015152 A1, "Bi-directional fixating transvertebral body screws/intervertebral cage constructs," published January 20, 2005.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed: July 20, 2004; Published: January 20, 2005.
Brief Description: This patent application, by the same inventors as US10064738, describes bi-directional fixating transvertebral (BDFT) body screw/intervertebral cage constructs. These constructs combine an intervertebral spacer with a bi-directional transvertebral bone fixating/fusion screw apparatus. The screws are inserted into internal screw guides that orient them bi-directionally in opposite directions. The application also describes methods for implanting these constructs.
Potential Anticipation: This is the most directly relevant prior art. It anticipates the core concept of a bi-directional fixating transvertebral (BDFT) screw/cage apparatus, including an intervertebral cage, first and second internal screw guides angled to orient screws bi-directionally in opposite directions, and first and second screw members. Many aspects of the apparatus and method claims of US10064738 relating to the fundamental structure of the cage and the bi-directional screw placement are likely anticipated by US2005/0015152A1. However, US10064738 explicitly states that its central screw locking lever (24) and screw locking horizontal bracket (30) are "additional evolutionary embodiment[s] not described in the aforementioned related applications" (which include this prior art). Therefore, while the general BDFT construct is anticipated, the specific novel locking mechanisms and their detailed structural features (e.g., the rotatable T-shaped lever, the horizontal bracket with flexion grips and hooks) would be the distinguishing elements of US10064738's claims. It would anticipate the general elements of an intervertebral cage, screw guides, and screw members as stated in US10064738's apparatus claims, and the insertion and screwing steps of the method claims.

2. US 2004/0236423 A1 (King et al.)

Full Citation: US 2004/0236423 A1, "Intervertebral implant having a locking feature," published November 25, 2004.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed: May 22, 2003; Published: November 25, 2004.
Brief Description: This patent describes an intervertebral implant that includes a body, a pair of bores extending through the body for receiving bone fixation devices (e.g., screws), and a locking mechanism for preventing unintentional removal of these fixation devices. The locking mechanism can be implemented as a rotatable member or a separate locking plate.
Potential Anticipation: This patent is highly relevant because it explicitly discloses an intervertebral implant with integrated screws and a locking mechanism that can be a "rotatable member" or a "separate locking plate." This directly anticipates the broad concept of a locking mechanism in US10064738's apparatus claims and the locking step in its method claims. The mention of a "rotatable member" strongly anticipates the "central screw locking lever" (24) feature of US10064738, which is described as being rotatably coupled and rotatable between locked and unlocked positions. Similarly, the "separate locking plate" broadly anticipates the "screw locking horizontal bracket" (30) of US10064738. While US2004/0236423A1's description might lack the specific details of the "bi-directional in opposite directions" and "aligned along a longitudinal axis" characteristics of the internal screw guides, and the precise structural features of US10064738's locking mechanisms (e.g., the T-shape, handle/stem, flexion grips, bracket hooks), it provides a strong general teaching of intervertebral implants with integrated screw locking, particularly via rotational or plate-like elements. It potentially anticipates the elements of the apparatus claims pertaining to the cage, screws, and a central locking mechanism, and the method claim's locking step using such a mechanism.

3. US 6,923,812 B2 (Hochman et al.)

Full Citation: US 6,923,812 B2, "Intervertebral implant device with bone-screw fastening assembly," published August 2, 2005.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed: January 11, 2002; Published: August 2, 2005.
Brief Description: An intervertebral implant device is described that includes a body for placement in an intervertebral space, and a bone-screw fastening assembly. The fastening assembly incorporates apertures in the body for bone screws, and a locking mechanism, such as a locking plate or a set screw, designed to secure the bone screws within the implant.
Potential Anticipation: This patent is relevant for disclosing an intervertebral implant with integrated bone screws and a clear "locking mechanism" to secure them, specifically mentioning a "locking plate" or "set screw." This directly anticipates the broad concept of a screw locking mechanism as described in US10064738's apparatus and method claims. The presence of a "locking plate" particularly relates to the "screw locking horizontal bracket" (30) in US10064738. However, similar to US2004/0236423A1, the distinguishing features of US10064738 would likely involve the specific bi-directional and longitudinally aligned screw guide orientations, and the detailed structural designs and operational aspects of its central screw locking lever or horizontal bracket (e.g., flexion grips, releasable hooks). It would broadly anticipate the combination of an intervertebral cage, screw members, and a locking mechanism.

4. US 6,641,614 B2 (Vresilovic et al.)

Full Citation: US 6,641,614 B2, "Intervertebral spinal fusion device," published November 4, 2003.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed: November 20, 2000; Published: November 4, 2003.
Brief Description: This patent provides an intervertebral spinal fusion device designed to promote fusion between adjacent vertebral bodies. The device features a cage with apertures for bone graft material and openings for bone screws. It is configured to receive bone screws for securing the cage to the vertebral bodies. Importantly, some embodiments of the device include a locking plate that engages recesses in the cage to prevent screw back-out.
Potential Anticipation: This patent is relevant because it describes an intervertebral fusion cage with bone screws and explicitly includes "a locking plate that engages recesses in the cage to prevent screw back-out." This feature directly anticipates the concept of an integrated locking mechanism within an intervertebral cage. The "locking plate" engaging "recesses" shows conceptual similarity to US10064738's "screw locking horizontal bracket" (30) with "bracket hooks" (34) engaging "hook insertion slots" (36). The key differentiating aspects for US10064738 would again be the precise "bi-directional in opposite directions" and "aligned along a longitudinal axis" angulation of the screw guides, and the specific structural and operational details of the central screw locking lever and horizontal bracket. It potentially anticipates the broad features of the apparatus claims concerning a cage, screw members, and a locking mechanism, and the locking step of the method claims.

5. US 6,059,829 A (Boucher et al.)

Full Citation: US 6,059,829 A, "Intervertebral implant," published May 9, 2000.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed: January 20, 1999; Published: May 9, 2000.
Brief Description: An intervertebral implant system that includes an implantable body, a pair of bone screws for securing the body to adjacent vertebrae, and a locking mechanism for preventing the screws from backing out. The implantable body includes a channel for receiving bone graft material. The bone screws are configured for placement in parallel to one another. The locking mechanism includes a locking plate with tabs that engage recesses in the implantable body to retain the screws.
Potential Anticipation: This patent is highly relevant due to its disclosure of an intervertebral implant with bone screws and a "locking mechanism for preventing the screws from backing out." The locking mechanism is described as a "locking plate with tabs that engage recesses," which shares conceptual similarities with the "screw locking horizontal bracket" (30) of US10064738. However, US6059829A specifies that the bone screws are "configured for placement in parallel to one another," which contrasts with US10064738's emphasis on screws oriented "bi-directionally in opposite directions." This difference in screw orientation, along with the specific structural and operational details of US10064738's locking mechanisms, would be key distinctions. It would anticipate the general concept of an intervertebral cage with screw fixation and a locking mechanism, and the method claim's locking step, but not the specific screw orientations or the detailed mechanics of US10064738's locking features.

6. US 4,904,261 A (Dove et al.)

Full Citation: US 4,904,261 A, "Spinal fixation device," published February 27, 1990.
Publication/Filing Date: Filed: October 14, 1988; Published: February 27, 1990.
Brief Description: This patent discloses a horseshoe implant having a plurality of cylindrical holes with smooth inner surfaces and comprising only one stop for the heads of bone screws. The placement of five cylindrical holes is oriented within the cage in a non-symmetric manner. (Description from US10064738 text).
Potential Anticipation: This patent broadly anticipates the fundamental elements of an intervertebral implant (cage) with provisions for bone screws to fix it to vertebral bodies. US10064738 itself highlights that this prior art has "non-symmetric" screw orientation and lacks the novel locking mechanisms. Therefore, while it lays groundwork for intervertebral implants with screws, it does not anticipate the specific "bi-directional" and "symmetric" screw orientations, nor the explicit locking mechanisms (central screw locking lever or horizontal bracket) detailed in US10064738's claims. It would anticipate the most generic language of an intervertebral cage and screw members, but not the specific inventive features.