arkie, here's a definition from Wikipedia of a patent claim:

Patent claims are usually in the form of a series of specified elements and corresponding limitations, or more precisely noun phrases, following the description portion of the invention in a patent or patent application. The claims define, in technical terms, the extent of the protection conferred by a patent, or the protection sought in a patent application. Similar to the language in a deed for real property (i.e., land), the claims are to set out the "metes and bounds" of the intellectual property protected by the patent. They are of the utmost importance both during prosecution and litigation.

For instance, a claim could read:

• "An apparatus for catching mice, comprising a base member for placement on a flat surface, a spring member..."
• "A chemical for cleaning windows, comprising approximately 10–15% ammonia, ..."
• "Method for computing future life expectancies, the method comprising gathering personal data including X, Y, Z, ..."

I think the filing simply means EDIG/DM are hoping to be able to cite 18 different claims (or examples) of how the defendants are infringing on our patents. The defendants argue that the Court has suggested limiting the # of claims to only 10 but that # is currently only an suggestion from the Court. The Court will decide this matter on 28 Oct 08 at the Scheduling Conference.