Appeal No. 2002-2198 Page 3
Application No. 09/408,409
review, we will not sustain the rejection of claims 2 to 14 and 19 to 25 under 35 U.S.C.
§ 102(b) since all the claimed limitations are not found in Kwong.
Kwong's invention relates generally to a prosthetic hip joint assembly, and more
particularly to a prosthetic hip joint assembly which has been adapted to promote
the formation of a fibrous capsule of tissue which seals and encapsulates the prosthetic
hip joint. Referring to Figure 1A, there is shown an exemplary preferred embodiment of
a prosthetic hip joint assembly 10. The hip joint assembly 10 is a two component
assembly comprising an acetabular component 12 and a femoral component 54. The
acetabular component 12 comprises a shell 14 and a bearing insert 26 disposed within
the hollow of the shell 14. The femoral component 54 comprises a spherically shaped
head 56, a neck 58, an elongated stem 60 joined to the head 56 by the neck 58, and a
collar 62 around the neck 58 near its juncture with the stem 60.
The marginal end of the shell 14 defines a base region 20. The base region 20
of the shell 14 terminates at an annular rim 21 which defines a surface 22. Preferably,
the surface 22 of the annular rim 21 includes a groove 23 for containing a surface
treatment 24 as best shown in Figure 1B. Kwong teaches that the groove 23 can be
omitted depending on the type of surface treatment employed. In any event, a surface
treatment 24 is provided on or in the surface 22 of the annular rim 21 for the purpose of
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