Appeal No. 2002-1356
Application No. 09/206,063
aqueous solutions of alkali, containing sodium borohydride. The borohydride converts
the reducing end groups of the polysaccharides to a hydroxymethyl group, and this
decreases the incidence of alkaline degradation. Although the " 1,4 starch is not
specifically mentioned, the selective agent target for reduction is the hydroxyl group for
which NaBH4 is highly selective for.” (Emphasis added.) Answer, page 4. The
examiner concludes (Answer, page 4) in view of the teachings of the cited references, it
would have been prima facie obvious to use NaBH4 to reduce a starch. Id.
Claim 11
Claim 11 is directed to a method of preparing a stabilized osmotic agent
comprising the following steps: providing a solution of starch dissolved in water;
providing a solution of NaOCl; and adding the NaOCl solution to the starch solution to
oxidize the starch.
The examiner relies on Horn for the teaching that oxidation of starch
(maltodextrin) leads to a starch product which is more easily solubilized and which
exhibits a lower viscosity when solubilized in water and that oxidation may be carried
out by utilizing any of a number of oxidizing agents which are synonymous with
bleaching agents such as perborates, periodic acid, persulfates and hypochlorite (-OCl).
Answer, page 4. The examiner gives no patentable weight to the intended use of the
resulting product of the process, a stabilized osmotic agent which can be effectively
used in a dialysis solution. Id. See also, Brief, pages 12-13.
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