Appeal No. 2003-1513
Application No. 09/326,412
The subject matter on appeal relates to a tissue expander.2
According to the appellant (specification, page 2, lines 19-22),
“[t]he improvement comprises configuring the injection site of
the tissue expander so that it has a magnetically locatable
component in it so that it is detectable from outside of the
patient’s body.” Further details of this appealed subject
matter are recited in representative claims 19 and 22 reproduced
below:
19. A tissue expander of the type which is
implantable beneath the skin of a patient comprising:
an expandable envelope having an anterior portion
and a posterior portion and defining an inflatable
interior therebetween;
said anterior portion being unreinforced;
a magnetically locatable percutaneous filling
mechanism mounted to the anterior portion;
preventing means, along the posterior portion,
for preventing the expandable envelope from folding
over on itself during placement or implantation of the
tissue expander into a patient; and
said preventing means being substantially
coextensive with said posterior portion.
22. The tissue expander according to claim 19
wherein said preventing means comprises a posterior
portion which is thicker than the anterior portion.
(1997). (Supplemental appeal brief filed Nov. 18, 2002, paper
28, p. 1.)
2 The specification explains that “[t]issue expanders are a
common tool used by general, plastic and reconstructive
surgeons” and that “[t]hey allow the surgeon to create
additional tissue for reconstructive or cosmetic surgery...”
(Specification, p. 2, ll. 25-27.)
2
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