Appeal No. 2001-0870 Page 3
Application No. 08/422,381
nicotine delivered during nicotine therapy affects the long-term success of the
therapy. “[L]ong term patient abstinence is achieved more often in those patients
where at least 40%, usually at least 50%, of pre-cessation blood nicotine levels
. . . are maintained by the replacement therapy.” Page 3.
The specification discloses methods for determining the optimal dosage
for nicotine replacement therapy for a particular patient. The disclosed method
takes into account several factors, including “a body mass factor, a cumulative
smoking factor, a psychological dependence factor, age, and menopausal
status.” Page 3. However, not all of these factors are important for every
patient.
The preferred patient characteristics will vary between males and
females. For males, the preferred patient characteristics include at
least the body mass factor and the cumulative smoking factor. The
psychological dependence factor and patient age are also useful,
although not as predictive as the body mass factor and the
cumulative smoking factor. For females, the preferred patient
characteristics include at least the psychological dependence factor
and age. Menopausal status is also a significant factor, although
less so than the previously mentioned factors. The cumulative
smoking factor appears to be of little relevance to predicting the
relationship between dosage and blood nicotine levels in women.
The specification provides further details on the meaning of, e.g., “body
mass factor,” “cumulative smoking factor,” and “psychological dependence
factor” on pages 6-7.
Discussion
The claims are directed to a method for determining a nicotine dosage
based on at least, for males, the patient’s body mass factor and cumulative
smoking factor or, for females, the patent’s psychological dependence factor and
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