Appeal No. 2001-0246
Application No. 08/921,103
is also prevented by the specific configuration of the inflow
and exit tubes 15 and 16 (col. 4, lines 17-20). However,
Appellants have not pointed to any specific teaching in Europe,
nor have we found any, that limits the flow of the reference
fluid to only the period after installing or replacing of the
salt bridge.
In this case, the reason to combine the references is
derived from the nature of the subject matter involved, flowing
the reference fluid from and to the junction into the same
container where the reference liquid may be recirculated for
further measurements of the sample liquid. As we discussed
above, although Europe does not explicitly indicate that the
reference fluid is recirculated through a container, we find
that the Examiner has reasonably concluded that if the reference
fluid in a free junction, where sample back diffusion may affect
the purity of the reference fluid, is recirculated for
economical reasons, there is an even stronger desire to do so in
a constraint junction where the reference fluid is less likely
to become contaminated (answer, page 9). The Examiner has
relied on Europe for generally disclosing a constraint junction
configuration while Hofmeier is relied on for suggesting the
recirculating of the reference fluid even in a free junction in
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