Appeal No. 1998-2424
Application 08/515,269
The claimed invention is directed to a method for
maintaining a chain of sterility when sterilizing a
bacteriologically compromised appliance, a system for
sterilizing such an appliance, and an article, namely, a
bacteriologically impermeable, flexible sheath. These
inventions find utility in the sterilization of dental
appliances using liquid sterilant and an ultrasonic
sterilizer. The invention may be further understood by
reference to the appealed claims, a copy of which is appended
to appellant’s brief.
The references relied upon by the examiner as evidence of
obviousness are:
Boston 3,161,311 Dec. 15, 1964
Frew et al. (Frew) 3,933,263 Jan. 20, 1976
Fortin 5,198,176 Mar. 30, 1993
Additionally, the examiner is relying on the admitted prior
art found on page 1, lines 9 - 18 of the specification.
THE REJECTIONS
Claims 20 and 21 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as
unpatentable over appellant’s admission of prior art in view
of either Frew or Boston.
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