Appeal No. 96-4041
Application 08/264,704
sealing . . . . about the patient’s neck" (sentence bridging
pages 7 and 8) such that any leakage of gas in the enclosure
from the area adjacent the patient’s neck can be prevented by
applying a suction force to the interior of the enclosure.
As to the claim 1 requirements for a first opening means
in the enclosure for accommodating an anesthesia circuit
fitting, and a second opening in the enclosure, we are aware
that the examiner reads these claim limitations on Trammell’s
opening at fitting 27 and Trammell’s opening 34 , 3
respectively. However, we believe the better approach is to
consider Trammell’s opening 34 as corresponding to the claimed
first opening means and Trammell’s opening at fitting 27 as
corresponding to the claimed second opening. First,
Trammell’s opening 34 satisfies the claimed "first opening
means" limitation in that opening 34 of Trammell constitutes
an opening in the enclosure that is fully capable of
accommodating an anesthesia circuit fitting directly
communicating with a patient’s airway. Second, when the
claimed "second opening" is read on Trammell’s opening at
3Trammell uses reference numeral 34 twice, once for a
hose and once for an opening in the top of the enclosure.
6
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