Appeal No. 1998-0659
Application No. 08/264,527
article is "DEVELOPMENT OF IMPLANTED ELECTRICAL TINNITUS
SUPPRESSOR," and the abstract of the article notes the
treatment of 2 tinnitus patients. In addition, sections 5-7
of the article discuss implantation of the device in the
patients, evaluation of the tinnitus suppressor, and the
results of its use on the patients for treating a patient for
symptoms of tinnitus.
The means recited in the first two subparagraphs of this
claim are met by Matsushima as set forth above in the means-
plus-function analysis.
Shannon teaches the last three means recited in this
claim. The hearing aid of Shannon uses a transducer to convert
speech sounds to an electrical signal S(t) in the audio
frequency. See figures 1 and 2, and column 3, lines 41-43.
Elements 2-16 of Shannon convert the audio frequency
electrical signals into ultrasonic frequency electrical
signals. Components 12 and 14 of Shannon apply the ultrasonic
frequency electrical signals physically to the patient.
Thus, Matsushima discloses the tinnitus treating
component of this claim and Shannon discloses the aid for
improved hearing of speech. We find that it would have been
34
Page: Previous 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007