Ex parte AVITALL - Page 7




          Appeal No. 1998-1045                                                        
          Application 08/482,674                                                      


          See Figures 2 and 5.  Rotation of the housing 14 and the ring               
          gear 24 causes the rotation of the pinion gear 25 and the core              
          member 21.  The torque applied to the core member 21 is                     
          transmitted to the distal tip of the guidewire or catheter.                 
          See col. 5, lines 24-33.                                                    
               Jackowski discloses a steerable suction/ablation catheter              
          10 including a tubular body 12 defining a lumen 14, a wire                  
          member 16 loosely positioned in lumen 14, and a tubular                     
          electrode 18 positioned adjacent the distal end 20 of the                   
          catheter.  The distal tip 24 of wire member 16 is hooked into               
          electrical contact with electrode 18 and soldered in place.                 
          See col. 3, lines 33-41.  Jackowski further discloses that end              
          portion 26 of wire member 16 is typically tapered and                       
          flattened which helps to direct the tip portion 28 of catheter              
          10 into a predetermined direction of bending which is                       
          generally perpendicular to the plane of flattened end 26.                   
          Jackowski also teaches that “[a]ntirotation lock means may be               
          provided to prevent rotation of wire member 16 to avoid                     
          spiraling or twisting thereof” (col. 3, lines 55-57).  During               
          use, the catheter is inserted into a vein of the patient with               


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