Appeal 2007-1885
Application 11/000,309
the outside wall of the sterile work chamber, and is then carried inside and
through the manipulating means. The gas that is circulated through the
interior of the manipulating means is discharged to the outside of the
manipulating means through an outlet (22) by a pump or some other suction
device (col. 11, ll. 35-39). Petersen teaches that the manipulation means can
be a robot (col. 9, ll. 15-31). Petersen does not disclose the circulation of the
gas through the robotic device.
Suzuki discloses an articulated robot having a hollow arm structure
(3). An air flow communication passage is maintained within the structure,
so that dust formed in the robot can be discharged outside of a clean
environment in which the robot is operating (col. 1, ll. 34-43). Suzuki
discloses the pressure level in the robot is controlled and maintained below
the pressure in the clean environment to prevent dust particles from flowing
outside of the robot body (col. 2, ll. 39-49). A first opening covered by a
filter is positioned on the robot structure near a joint or wrist unit.
The Examiner contends that the teachings of Petersen and Suzuki
suggest the formation of an isolator system comprising a sterile work
chamber in which a robot is placed and has an operating arm for performing
various operations within the sterile work chamber. The robot comprises a
hollow structure that allows for the circulation of gas that is not in
communication with the sterilized work environment.
Appellants contend that the present invention avoids the problem of
corrosion of the inner portion of the robot by sterilizing gas without the need
of covering the outer surface of the robot by supplying a gas from outside of
the sterile work chamber to the interior of the robot to establish a gas
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