Appeal No. 2001-1654 Page 3
Application No. 08/445,584
Claims 8 and 22 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as obvious in view
of Duermeyer, Unger, David, Schmitz, and Molinaro.
We reverse.
Background
The specification discloses a method of detecting antigen-specific
antibodies belonging to classes other than IgG, i.e., IgA, IgM, IgD, or IgE.
Detection of these classes of antibodies is important for a variety of reasons.
Immunoglobulins of the IgM class appear very soon after an
infection, for which reason their determination is important for the
early diagnosis of an infectious disease or for the diagnosis of an
acute infection.
The second most abundant immunoglobulins are of the
immunoglobulin class IgA and are the most important secretory
antibodies.
Immunoglobulins of classes IgD and IgE can be found in elevated
concentration in certain pathological processes; for example IgE
has properties which sensitize mast cells and it plays a significant
part in the pathogenesis of a number of allergic reactions. IgD
antibodies are found in autoimmune diseases.
Specification, page 2.
The specification discloses that methods were known for detecting
antigen-specific antibodies of a particular class but that these methods suffered
from the disadvantage that “the non-antigen-specific immunoglobulin fraction of
any particular immunoglobulin class enters into competition with the antigen-
specific fraction.” Page 3. The specification discloses a detection method that
eliminates this competition and also shortens the time required to perform the
assay.
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