Appeal No. 2000-1906
Application No. 09/063,338
Discussion
The claims are directed to various permutations of the basic method
described above. For example, claim 1 is directed to a method in which the
platelet-rich plasma fraction is divided and one portion is treated so as to activate
the enzymatic clotting factors present in it, then the clot is removed and the
activated clotting factors are combined with the rest of the platelet-rich plasma
fraction. Claim 29 is directed to the same method, but using the platelet-poor
plasma fraction instead. In claim 17, the platelet-rich plasma fraction is activated,
then mixed with the platelet-poor plasma fraction. In claim 42, the platelet-poor
plasma fraction is activated, then mixed with the platelet-rich plasma fraction.
The method of claim 53 is similar to that of claim 1 but requires use of
recombinant thromboplastin.
Even though the claims are directed to several different methods, the
examiner treated them as defining a single invention.
The claims are drawn to methods of producing autologous
bioadhesive sealants from a single whole blood sample where
inactive platelet rich plasma (iPRP) is obtained from whole blood.
This iPRP is divided into two portions. The first portion is
“reactivated”, or in fact activated, since it was never activated, i.e.,
had its clotting cascade enzymes activated. Upon activation, the
iPRP sample clots. From this clotted composition, the serum is
obtained, which contains activated clotting enzymes such as
thrombin, and this serum is mixed with the second iPRP portion.
This combination now forms the sealant.
Examiner’s Answer, page 5. The examiner’s summary of the claimed
method does not acknowledge the differences in the methods defined by,
e.g., claims 17, 29, and 42.
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