Appeal No. 1998-2095
Application No. 08/460,311
an inflammatory response between the graft and the inner wall
of the vessel, but that the inflammatory response of the inner
wall will inherently result in the attachment of the graft to
the inner wall of the vessel.
Like the appellant, we do not agree with the examiner’s
position. We are informed by appellant’s specification
that the attachment of vascular graft 20 may be accomplished
by providing means or material which initiates an inflammatory
response in the vessel intima or inner wall (page 22).
Appellant teaches, for example, that the longitudinal and/or
circumferential support structures may be constructed of a
material, or may be coated with a material, which induces an
inflammatory response. According to appellant, such materials
may include polylactic acids, polyglycolic acids or polyamino
acids. Other materials disclosed as initiating an
inflammatory response include cat gut, cellulose and nylon.
Barone, on the other hand, teaches that the graft or tube 160
is made of a material compatible with the patient’s body, e.
g., DACRONŽ, TEFLONŽ or TEFLONŽ coated DACRONŽ and porous
polyurethane (col. 6, lines 55-66) and that the tube 160 or
securing means 165 may have a coating of biologically inert
7
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