Appeal No. 1997-1738
Application No. 08/255,040
We note the examiner’s position that "There is no
structural difference between a generic disclosure of a column
and a supercritical column" (answer, page 6). Appellants
argue otherwise, that "[T]here is a structural difference
between a generic disclosure of a column and a supercritical
fluid chromatograph" (reply brief, page 4). In support of the
differences, appellants cite Lee (Milton L. Lee, Analytical
Supercritical Fluid Chromatography and Extraction,
Chromatography Conferences, Inc., 1990) and provide a copy of
Lee appended to the reply brief.
Lee’s description of a supercritical fluid chromatograph
portrays an apparatus capable of providing a mobile phase in a
column at very high pressure, "practical pressures for
applications range from less than 50 atm to more than 500 atm"
(Lee, page 13). Further, Lee describes other aspects unique
to a supercritical fluid chromatograph like "[T]he pressure-
controlled pumping system which is essential for pressure or
density programming, and the flow or pressure restrictor at
the end of the column which is required to maintain
supercritical pressures inside the column" (Lee, page 145).
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