Appeal 2007-0850
Application 10/733,292
Piplani’s device comprises an expandable spring attachment means
126, having a generally sinusoidal or zig-zag shape, with a plurality of wire
apices 132 that extend from the body of the graft (id. at Figure 4; col. 5, ll.
29-58.) The spring attachment must be physically expanded “from an initial
compressed or collapsed position to a subsequent expanded position” to
allow it to press against the inner surface of a vessel (id. at col. 5, ll. 39-40).
Piplani’s device also has first and second wires not at the end of the
prosthesis (id. at col. 5, ll. 23-27).
Regarding the limitation in claims 12 and 20 requiring the device’s
wire apices to be capable of extending across an intersecting vessel, Piplani
discloses that
the apices 132 lie in three longitudinally spaced-apart parallel
planes extending transversely of the axis of the expandable
spring attachment means in which the first plane is disposed
internally of the open end and the second plane lies in a
position which is external of but in close proximity to the open
end and the third plane is spaced a substantial distance beyond
the open end.
(Id. at col. 5, ll. 51-58, emphasis added.)
Thus, Piplani’s graft has two sets of wire apices that extend beyond
the body of the graft. One set of apices is “in close proximity” to the open
end of the graft, while the other set of apices is “a substantial distance” from
the end of the graft (id. at col. 5, ll. 55-58).
In view of the drawings, the explicitly stated dimensions, and the
disclosure that one set of wire apices extends “a substantial distance” from
the body of the graft, it is reasonable to conclude that the wire apices of
Piplani’s device would extend a sufficient distance from the body of the
10
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Next
Last modified: September 9, 2013