Appeal No. 96-0393
Application 07/955,258
1. Reservoir system for prolonged and constant diffusion, in an
environment which is aqueous or subjected to the action of water,
of an active principle which is soluble or which can be made
soluble in the said environment, characterized in that it is
made, at least in part, of a nonwoven consisting of continuous
monofilaments or/and of microfibers made of thermoplastic
synthetic polymers, the said nonwoven being (a) treated either,
if it is hydrophobic in nature, with a polysiloxane or a polymer
based on polysiloxane or with a quaternary ammonium salt of
amphoteric type, or, if it is hydrophilic in nature, with a
perfluorinated compound or with a water-repelling agent based on
an acrylic resin and paraffin, and (b) fashioned, or combined
with a sheet of an impermeable material, into the shape of a
closed bag containing the active principle, and in that, for a
given active principle, the degree of hydrophily conferred or
left on the nonwoven and the dimensions of the nonwoven which
define the surface area for exchange between the internal volume
and the aqueous environment for which it is intended are variable
and adjusted for the desired linear release kinetics.
In rejecting the appealed claims on prior art grounds, the
examiner relies on these references:
Tenno et al. (Tenno) Hei 3[1991]-38503 Feb. 19, 1991
(Japanese Kokai patent application)
Clem et al. (Clem) Sho 62[1987]-246999 Oct. 28, 1987
(Japanese Kokai patent application)
Appellants and the examiner refer to abstracts of the above-
cited Japanese references. However, for the purposes of
appellate review, we have obtained English translations of the
full text of each reference. Copies of the English translations
are enclosed with this opinion. The issue presented for review
is whether the examiner erred in rejecting claims 1 through 4, 6
and 7 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as unpatentable over Japanese Kokai
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