Appeal No. 1999-2029 Page 5
Application No. 08/431,360
With this as background, we analyze the prior art applied
by the examiner in the rejection of the claims on appeal.
Phelps discloses a vasoocclusion coil comprising: (a) a
helical coil which may be segmented, continuous, or segmented
having a gap between the two end portions, but in each case
having a first end and a second end; and (b) at least one
fibrous woven or braided tubular element or covering attached
to the exterior of the helical coil. Phelps teaches (col. 2,
lines 39-44) that the coil will typically be made of a
radiopaque material such as platinum, tungsten, gold, silver,
or alloys thereof, or other suitable generally radiopaque
metals which are otherwise biologically inert. Phelps also
teaches (col. 2, lines 54-66) that
[t]he fibrous woven or braided tubular member (130) may
be made from a biocompatible materials such as Dacron[ ]®
(polyester), polyglycolic acid, polylactic acid,
fluoropolymers (polytetrafluoroethylene), nylon
(polyamide), or silk. The strands forming the braid
should be reasonably heavy, e.g., having tensile strength
of greater than about 0.15 pounds. The materials
mentioned, to the extent that they are thermoplastics,
may be melted or fused to the coils. Alternatively, they
may be glued or otherwise fastened to the coils.
Preferred materials are Dacron[ ] strands using the®
process of fusing to attach the strands to the coil
surface.
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