Appeal 2007-2559
Application 10/228,798
Claim 1 is representative and reads as follows:
1. A blood collection set comprising:
a fixture for connecting said blood collection set to a receptacle;
an intravenous needle assembly including a needle cannula
having a puncture tip; and
a flexible tube extending between said fixture and said needle
assembly, said flexible tube having a first end connected to said
fixture and an opposed second end connected to said intravenous
needle assembly, said flexible tube including a plurality of helical
turns establishing a coiled structure.
Thus, claim 1 is directed to a blood collection set comprising a
connecting fixture, a needle assembly, and a flexible tube. The flexible tube
includes a “plurality of helical turns establishing a coiled structure.” As
stated by the Examiner, the term “coil” is defined as “(1): a series of loops
(2): SPIRAL” (Answer 5 (citing Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary)).
Although the term “coil” encompasses structures other than a spiral, as
reflected by the alternative definition of a “coil” as “a series of loops,”
because the coil of claim 1 is established by a plurality of helical turns, we
interpret claim 1 to require a three-dimensional spiral.
2. PRIOR ART
The Examiner relies on the following references:
Burns US 5,192,275 Mar. 9, 1993
Vallelunga US 5,921,969 Jul. 13, 1999
3. ANTICIPATION
Claims 1, 2, 4-8, 10-12, and 14-16 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C.
§ 102(b) as anticipated by Vallelunga. The Examiner finds that:
Vallelunga discloses a blood collection set having a fixture 19
for connecting the blood connection set to a receptacle, an
2
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