Ex parte LUCAS et al. - Page 7




          Appeal No. 1997-2896                                                        
          Application 08/340,561                                                      


          Chemical Co. 194 F.3d 1250, 1257, 52 USPQ 1258, 1263 (Fed.                  
          Cir. 1999)(citing Al-Site Corp v. VSI Int’l, Inc., 174 F.2d                 
          1314, 1318, 50 USPQ2d 1161, 1166 (Fed. Cir. 1999)).  When                   
          interpreting such claims the PTO “must look to the                          
          specification and interpret that language in light of the                   
          corresponding structure, material, or acts described therein,               
          and equivalents thereof.”  In re Donaldson,                                 
          16 F.3d 1189, 1193, 29 USPQ2d 1845, 1848 (Fed. Cir. 1994).  “A              
          structure disclosed in the specification is only deemed to be               
          ‘corresponding structure’ if the specification clearly links                
          or associates that structure to the function recited in the                 
          claim.”  Kahn v. General Motors Corp., 135 F.3d 1472, 1476, 45              
          USPQ2d 1608, 1611 (Fed. Cir. 1998)(citing B. Braun Med., Inc                
          v. Abbott Lab., 124 F.3d 1419, 1424, 43 USPQ2d 1896, 1900                   
          (Fed. Cir. 1997)). “Section 112, Para. 6 requires both                      
          identification of the claimed function and identification of                
          the structure in the written description necessary to perform               
          that function.” Micro Chemical Inc. V. Great Plains Chemical                
          Co. 194 F.3d at 1258, 52 USPQ at 1263 (Fed. Cir. 1999).  “In a              
          means-plus-function claim in which the disclosed structure is               

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