Appeal No. 2002-2110 Page 3
Application No. 09/224,748
detecting positron-sensitive gamma-rays emitted from the surface
using a pair of oppositely positioned positron-sensitive gamma-ray
detectors, and
characterization of the emitted gamma rays by positron emission
tomography.
Claims 17 and 18 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶ 1, as non-enabled.
Claims 1, 2, and 4-8 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as obvious over U.S.
Patent No. 4,983,841 ("Stewart"). Claims 9-13 stand rejected under § 103(a) as
obvious over Stewart and U.S. Patent No. 5,453,615 ("Mis").
OPINION
Our opinion addresses the rejections in the following order:
• non-enablement rejection of claims 17 and 18
• obviousness rejections of claims 1, 2, and 4-13.
Non-enablement Rejection of Claims 17 and 18
Rather than reiterate the positions of the examiner or the appellants in toto, we
address the main point of contention therebetween. Observing that, "[t]he [appellants']
specification at page 5 defines and distinguishes specifically chemical surface features
(as recited in the preamble of independent claim 17) as 'regions of different reactivity to
tracer material' (line 25)," (Examiner's Answer at 4), the examiner asserts, "[w]hen a
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007