Appeal No. 1999-2624 Page 4
Application No. 08/561,658
and the flexible tube. The appellant's claims require the
joint to include the proximal end of the probe being contained
in or engaged by a first end of the tube and a "heat shrunk
sleeve" containing the first end of the flexible tube and the
proximal end of the probe which applies a compressive radial
pressure to attach the tube to the probe. In the Crawford
probe set, on the other hand, each of the probes of wire (12,
14) is provided with a tapered enlargement (20) at the end
thereof adjacent the silicone rubber tube (16). The tube "is
a force fit over the end of the probes and is located by
engagement with the tapered enlargement." If preferred, the
tube can be bonded to the probes using a medical grade
adhesive. Crawford lacks a "heat shrunk sleeve" as required
by the claims.
Fugoso (Figure 6 and column 4, lines 34-46) discloses an
adjustable stiffness dilation (balloon) catheter which
contains a "lap joint" between a single lumen shaft (6) made
of high density polyethylene material and a dual lumen shaft
(14) made of high density polyethylene or nylon material. The
joint comprises a "lap joint coupling sleeve" (15) which is
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