Appeal No. 96-1225
Application 08/107,696
an impeller is a suitable apparatus (page 6, line 35 - page 7,
line 1). The specification, however, does not indicate that
the term "mechanically circulated" in claim 1 is limited to
circulation provided by an impeller. We find no implied
definition of "mechanically circulated" in appellant’s
specification.
Jackson ‘619 states (col. 6, lines 13-17) that acoustic
radiation for practicing his invention "is provided by a high-
powered ultrasonic generator which converts electrical energy
into mechanical energy, or acoustic radiation, via a
piezoelectric transducer." This teaching indicates that at
least some of the energy produced by an ultrasonic generator
is in mechanical form.
The dictionary definition of "circulate" is as follows:
1. To move in or flow through a circle or circuit
<electricity circulating through the building> 2. To
move around, as from person to person or place to
place <a candidate circulating through the crowd> 3.
To move about or flow freely, as air. 4. To spread
widely among persons or places: DISSEMINATE <Bad
news tends to circulate quickly.> -vt. To cause to
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