Appeal No. 2000-1906
Application No. 09/063,338
Claims 1-66 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as obvious over
Antanavich ‘007, Antanavich ‘662, Hirsh, Cochrum, Barrow, and Suzuki. We
reverse.
Background
“[F]ibrin glue is a relatively new technological advance which duplicates
the biological process of the final stage of blood coagulation.” Specification,
page 2. Fibrin glue is made by mixing fibrinogen with thrombin; the mixture
forms a clot which can be used to control bleeding during surgery in cases where
ordinary sutures cannot be used or where the patient suffers from a coagulation
disorder. Id. Fibrin glue is used in Europe but has not been approved by the
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, because fibrinogen concentrate or thrombin
prepared from pooled blood donors carries a risk of transmitting viruses. Id.
The specification discloses a method for making fibrin glue autologously,
i.e., based on components derived from the patient to be treated with the fibrin
glue. The disclosed method comprises
forming a platelet rich plasma or platelet poor plasma containing an
anticoagulant. The platelet rich plasma or platelet poor plasma is
then divided into two portions and the first portion is restored so
that it can coagulate thus forming a clot. The clot is then triturated
and the resulting serum is collected. The bioadhesive sealant
composition is then prepared by combining a defined volume of the
second portion of platelet rich plasma or platelet poor plasma with a
sufficient volume of serum causing the fibrinogen in the second
portion of platelet rich p lasma or platelet poor plasma to be
converted to fibrin which then solidifies in the form of a gel.
Specification, page 6.
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