Appeal No. 2005-0191
Application No. 09/971,239
three groups of claims: Group I consisting of claims 1-8, Group II consisting of claims 15
and 19, and Group III consisting of claims 27-34. Accordingly, for purposes of this
appeal, we have considered the issues as they apply to claims 1, 15 and 27, which are
representative of the subject matter on appeal. Claims 1, 15 and 27 read as follows:
1. A method for absorbing oil from the skin, the method comprising applying
a fluid-absorbing effective amount of a fluid absorber, said fluid absorber
comprising a starch product said starch product having been prepared by a
process comprising the steps of:
providing a granular starch;
determining an estimated oil absorption maximum hydrolysis level for said starch;
partially enzymatically hydrolyzing said starch under hydrolysis conditions
suitable to provide a porous starch granule; and
terminating said enzymatic hydrolysis when said starch has been hydrolyzed to
an optimum oil absorption hydrolysis level ranging from about 30% to about 42%.
15. A method for removing fluid from the skin, the method comprising applying
a fluid-absorbing effective amount of fluid absorber, said fluid absorber
comprising a starch product, said starch product having been prepared by a
process comprising the steps of:
providing a starch in granular form;
selecting an enzyme for hydrolysis of the starch;
determining an estimated oil absorption maximum hydrolysis level for said
enzyme and for said starch;
enzymatically hydrolyzing said starch under reaction conditions suitable to result
in a porous granular starch; and
terminating said enzymatic hydrolysis when said hydrolysis has proceeded to
within a predetermined range surrounding said estimated oil absorption
2
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007