Appeal No. 1999-0757
Application No. 08/699,083
FIGS. 2 and 4 illustrate slit 56 in a closed
position. While in the closed position, membrane 42
prevents entry of air into the urinary drainage system.
FIG. 3 illustrates slit 56 in a deformed position in
which blunt end [58] of syringe 60 protrudes
therethrough. In such condition, slit 56 closes about
blunt end 58 to prevent entry of air into the urinary
drainage system.
While blunt end 58 protrudes through membrane 42,
irrigating fluid in syringe 60 may be introduced into
the urinary drainage system . . . When blunt end [58]
is withdrawn from membrane 42, slit 56 will close upon
itself immediately, thereby continuing to protect the
urinary drainage system from unnecessary contamination
[column 5, lines 1 through 18]. 3
Buehler discloses a system for separately storing flowable
materials and mixing them together just prior to use. The system
includes a first container 10 having a dispensing member 28 and a
second container 12 having a closure disc 56 which is adapted to
be pierced by the dispensing member to allow the material in the
first container to flow into and mix with the material in the
second container. As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the dispensing
member 28 has an interior flow passage 32, an exterior
cylindrical region and a distal end region including a tapered
surface, a pair of apertures and a radiused tip.
In combining Garrett and Buehler to reject the appealed
claims, the examiner concludes that it would have been obvious at
3 Garrett is discussed on page 2 in the appellants’
specification. The appellants state there that a blunt cannula
of the type disclosed by Garrett will not pierce the skin of a
user.
4
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