Interference No, 104,290
Robert LeVeen states that he conceived the invention on
April 6, 1992. LX-1172, 12. On that date he attended a lecture
by Dr. John McGahan who described using a single needle electrode
to ablate tissue in living animais and humans. Id. LeVeen
further states that when leaving the lecture he conceived the
idea Of Using curved electrodes to surround a selected portion of
tissue and by applying radio frequency current to the electrodes
"desiccate tissue surrounded by the curved electrodes." Id. This
testimony by inventor LeVeen is uncorroborated.
LeVeen states that during the fall of 1992 and on
Christmas Day 1992 he discussed his invention with his father
and brother. LX-1172, TT3, 4. These persons did not appear as
witnesses, and this testimony by LeVeen is uncorroborated.
LeVeen additionally states that he disclosed his invention to
Dr. Philip D. Schneider sometime during the spring of 1993.
LX-1172, 15. Schneider was not called as a witness. .
In the spring of 1993, LeVeen assigned one of his
assistants, Randy Fox, to work on building a prototype of the
tissue ablation apparatus. LX-1172, T6; LX-1173, T3. Fox states
that he was shown a Tiffany drink stirrer. Id. The ablation
apparatus Dr. LeVeen had in mind would resemble the stirrer,
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