Appeal No. 2005-1777
Application No. 10/186,170
the fluid or using various chemicals for treating such fluid pose
risk to the environment or the individuals handling the fluid
(specification, page 2). Appellants’ invention uses a broad
electron beam emitter adjacent a fluid path which creates an
atmospheric plasma region and kills the bacteria in the fluid as
the fluid passes through the plasma region (specification, page
3).
Representative independent claim 1 is reproduced as follows:
1. A system for reducing bacteria levels in a fluid
used with a tool, said system comprising:
a distribution system for circulating said fluid to and
from a reservoir associated with said tool;
an electron beam emitter having a fluid inlet for
receiving said fluid from said reservoir associated with
said tool; said electron beam emitter operating to expose
said fluid to an electron beam to reduce a level of said
bacteria in said fluid and to output said fluid back to said
reservoir.
The Examiner relies on the following prior art references in
rejecting the claims:
Schonberg et al. (Schonberg) 5,378,898 Jan. 3, 1995
LeBlanc et al. (LeBlanc) 6,083,387 Jul. 4, 2000
Wakalopulos et al. (Wakalopulos) 6,140,657 Oct. 31, 2000
2
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