Appeal No. 2002-2187
Application 09/149,359
THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a method for inserting a medical
device into an opening in a human body. Representative claims 7
and 17 read as follows:
7. A method for inserting into a first opening in a human
body a device including a device body having a longitudinal axis
and a flexible first flange provided on an outside surface of the
device body, the flange having a continuous radially-extending
surface which extends radially outward from the body to a radial
outer edge of the flange and having a deployed, use orientation
in which it projects generally outwardly from the outside surface
of the device body comprising resiliently deflecting the flange
toward the axis of the device body and placing over the
resiliently deflected flange a retainer of a material soluble in
a fluid, inserting the device into the first opening, and
permitted dissolution of the retainer.
17. A method for inserting into an opening in a human body a
device including a resiliently deflectable device body having a
substantially uniform insertion cross-section transverse to its
longitudinal extent which is insufficient to fill the opening and
a larger use cross section transverse to its longitudinal extent,
the method comprising resiliently deflecting the device body into
it substantially uniform insertion cross-section, placing over
the resiliently deflected device body a retainer for retaining
the device body in its substantially uniform insertion cross
section, inserting the device with the retainer in place into the
opening, and removing the retainer to permit deployment of the
device body to its use cross section.
THE PRIOR ART
The references relied on by the examiner to support the
final rejection are:
Bruce et al. (Bruce) 4,695,275 Sep. 22, 1987
Blom et al. (Blom) 4,911,716 Mar. 27, 1990
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