Appeal No. 2004-2249
Application No. 09/820,159
of the base claim and any intervening claims.”1 (Examiner’s
answer mailed Oct. 21, 2003, paper 17, page 2.)
The subject matter on appeal relates to a “method for
creating a separation of posterior cortical vitreous in an eye
from an eye retina.” According to the appellants, “[c]ertain
diseases and/or conditions of the eye, such as diabetes, cystoid
macular edema or trauma, produce a vitreoretinal traction on the
surface of the retina,” which, if continued, “may lead to breaks
in the retinal surface and, in severe cases, to retinal
detachment.” (Specification, page 1, lines 9-12.) The
appellants further explain that “[t]he introduction of plasmin
into the vitreous humor creates a separation of the posterior
cortical vitreous and the retina thus minimizing or eliminating
the vitreoretinal traction.” (Id. at page 1, lines 21-23.) The
appellants also disclose that “if additional plasmin is
necessary to create the desired separation between the vitreous
16 and the retina 14, a portion of the aqueous humor 16 may be
removed from the anterior chamber 32 [sic] by paracentesis to
eliminate excessive intraocular pressure.” (Id. at page 3,
1 The final rejection under 35 U.S.C. § 112, ¶1 (lack of
written description), of claims 3 and 4 has been expressly
withdrawn. (Answer at 5.)
2
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