Appeal No. 96-3480 Page 5
Application No. 08/142,381
Claim 1 recites an auriaular hygiene device comprising,
inter alia, a cylindrical body having a longitudinal axis and
two opposed extremities and an active portion on one of the
extremities. The active portion includes, inter alia, a
substantially circular active edge and a depression or cavity,
having a hemispherical outer surface shape with a
predetermined radius.
Tolman discloses an implement having a shank 2 and an ear
wax spoon 3 shaped as shown in Figures 1 and 2.
Hartman discloses a conventional otoscope speculum having
a base 11, a conical portion 10 and a projection 12. Hartman
teaches at the paragraph beginning at column 1, line 63, that
[p]rojection 12 may assume a wide variety of shapes.
In general, any shape which is adapted to engage and
remove wax in the ear canal may be used. Such shapes
include spoons, loops, and the like. A particularly
suitable shape, because of its efficiency for the
purpose, comprises a substantially cylindrical extension
13 from a portion of the distal end of the speculum 10
having a hood-like tip 14 on the end thereof. Tip 14,
may have a substantially hemispherical shape.
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Last modified: November 3, 2007