Appeal No. 98-2187
Application 08/051,033
view of Bille, we note that while Lin (col. 7, lines 39-48)
discloses laser pulses used in optical microsurgery that are
less than 1 picosecond (i.e., of subpicosecond duration), and
Bille teaches laser pulses of “approximately one (1)
picosecond” (col. 4, lines 57-58), neither of these references
teaches or fairly suggests ablation of organic material (e.g.,
ablation of eye tissue) with a laser by generating laser
pulses having an energy density of less than 5FJ/(10Fm)² and a
duration in a range of about 0.01 picoseconds to less than 1
picosecond. In our opinion, the examiner’s finding (answer,
pages 3-4) with regard to Bille’s teaching of ablation of
tissue, ablation of eye tissue and the use of power densities
in the ranges claimed, is in error. As for Lin, this
reference expressly notes that for short pulses in the range
of subpicosecond to a few picoseconds in duration, and high
repetition, “very high beam densities can be achieved” (col.
7, lines 44-45).
Like appellant (brief, page 6), we have determined that
Bille, at least generally, teaches energy densities that are
higher than the “less than 5FJ/(10Fm)²” set forth in
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