Appeal No. 94-1098
Application 07/712,581
for vapor detection, however the method described in
the reference can be altered to detect the vapor of [a]
chemical of interest since the reference teaches all
the essential steps such as: a conduit containing a
substrate that can hold the liquid sample to be
analyzed, a heating means with a temperature control to
generate a concentration of vapor and a carrier gas to
carry the stream of vapor to the detector. Therefore,
it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in
the art to use the method taught by the reference for
vapor detection of various chemicals by changing the
substrate in accordance with the chemical and by
controlling the temperature to generate a selected
concentration of vapor. [answer, page 5]
With respect to the step of controlling the temperature to
within approximately 0.1 EC, and the step of controlling the
carrier gas pressure, the examiner further contends that:
it is clearly evident that the temperature in the
process [of Stenger] can be controlled. The range of
the temperature selected depends on the chemical
process that is being carried out; it is well within
the knowledge of one in the art to set the temperature
at a level that is appropriate for the chemical
reaction being conducted and maintain the set point
within as small a range of variability as possible.
Stenger et al. also disclose on column 4[,] lines 52-55
a carrier gas flow control means consisting of a
pressure regulator, a valve, a flow meter and a back
flow check valve; it would, therefore, have been
obvious that the flow rate of the carrier gas can be
controlled. [answer, page 9]
As to the claim 25 requirement of controlling the
temperature in the column to provide a saturation concentration
of vapor in the stream, the examiner contends that this step is
“is within the purview of one of ordinary skill in the art”
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