Appeal No. 2002-1916
Application 09/332,772
internal diameter of sufficient size to accommodate a dilator or
adapter (93) which is optionally positionable within the lumen of
the catheter member (20). The adapter has an external diameter
substantially equal to the internal diameter of the lumen of the
catheter member (col. 16, lines 35-37), and the adapter (93)
further includes a lumen defining an internal diameter for
directly fittingly accommodating a relatively small diameter
guidewire (95). Like the examiner, we are of the view that the
lumen of the catheter member (20) in Donadio is of sufficient
internal diameter so as to accommodate a first guidewire of a
size larger than the size of the guidewire (95) accommodated by
the dilator/adapter (93), and that this is all that the language
of appellants’ claim 10 on appeal requires, because the first and
second guidewires are not recited as positive elements of the
claimed system.
With regard to the optional positioning of the adapter
(93) in the lumen of catheter member (20) in Donadio, we note
that the patent indicates (col. 3, lines 5-7) that after
placement of the catheter member (20) in a blood vessel the
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