Appeal No. 1999-2646
Application No. 08/794,398
The invention relates to “biocompatible annuloplasty
prostheses that are resorbed by the patient following
implantation” (specification, page 1). Claims 1 and 14 are
illustrative and read as follows:
1. An annuloptlasty prosthesis for use in remodeling a
diseased annulus of a natural heart valve, consisting
essentially of a biocompatible, resorbable member that is
sized and shaped to extend about at least a substantial
portion of the circumference of said annulus, wherein,
following surgical implantation, said member is resorbed at a
rate allowing regeneration of reinforcing tissue in said
annulus.
14. A method for treating a patient having a diseased or
defective heart valve, comprising:
a) providing the annuloplasty prosthesis of claim 1; and
b) surgically implanting said annuloplasty prosthesis in
the heart of said patient.
THE PRIOR ART
The references relied upon by the examiner to support the
final rejection are:
Carpentier et al. (Carpentier) 4,055,861 Nov. 1, 1977
Ross et al. (Ross) 4,343,048 Aug. 10, 1982
Duran (Duran ‘021) 5,258,021 Nov. 2, 1993
Buscemi et al. (Buscemi) 5,464,450 Nov. 7, 1995
Duran (Duran ‘297) 5,489,297 Feb. 6, 1996
Reimold et al. (Reimold) 5,584,879 Dec. 17, 1996
THE REJECTIONS
2
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