Appeal No. 97-2552 Page 6
Application No. 08/541,658
at the claimed invention. In that regard, Levy does not teach or
suggest the following elements from independent claim 3:
(1) a catheter constructed and arranged for insertion into
vessels, ducts, veins, arteries, or blood vessels of a living
body, and (2) a supply of photocurable fluid soft tissue repair
material.
The examiner believes that the above-noted elements are met
by the device shown in Figure 2 of Levy. We do not agree.
The device shown in Figure 2 of Levy is used for treating
mineralized body tissues, including a variety of dental tissues
and bone. The device shown in Figure 2 of Levy includes an
optical fiber 30 for conducting laser radiation to a region to be
filled or coated, and two supply tubes 32 and 34 each connected
to receive components of the coating or filling material from a
respective supply unit 36 or 38. One example of a method carried
out with the aid of the device shown in Figure 2 taught by Levy
is where a mixture of materials, such as hydroxyapatite, ceramic
and a dark colored material, e.g., carbon black, all in powdered
form, is projected from tube 32 by being entrained in an air
stream, while H PO is projected from tube 34 by being entrained
3 4
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