Appeal No. 2001-2074
Application 08/552,143
rejection. These are the only claims remaining in the
application.
The claimed invention is a deflectable needle assembly
that can be inserted in an obstructed site in a body. The needle
assembly includes a straight rigid cannula, a catheter with a
curved distal end, and a stylet inserted in the catheter. When
the catheter with the curved distal end is withdrawn into the
straight cannula, since the catheter is made of superelastic
material, the curved catheter assumes the shape of the straight
cannula.
The claimed subject matter may be further understood
with reference to the appealed claims appended to appellant’s
Brief.
The references of record relied upon by the examiner as
evidence of obviousness are:
Hillstead 5,066,285 Nov. 19, 1991
Daum DE 4223897 A1 Jan. 27, 19941
(German Offenlegungsschrift)
1 Our understanding of the German reference is via a translation
into English prepared by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
2
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