Ex Parte Dolnik et al - Page 1



                           The opinion in support of the decision being entered today was not written                
                                  for publication and is not binding precedent of the Board.                         

                        UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE                                                    
                                                   __________                                                        

                              BEFORE THE BOARD OF PATENT APPEALS                                                     
                                           AND INTERFERENCES                                                         
                                                    __________                                                       
                               Ex parte VLADISLAV DOLNIK, WILLIAM A. GURSKE                                          
                                                and ALLAN PADUA                                                      
                                                    __________                                                       
                                               Appeal No. 2005-1918                                                  
                                            Application No. 09/946,396                                               
                                                    __________                                                       
                                                     ON BRIEF                                                        
                                                    __________                                                       
             Before SCHEINER, ADAMS and GREEN, Administrative Patent Judges.                                         
             SCHEINER, Administrative Patent Judge.                                                                  
                                              DECISION ON APPEAL                                                     
                    This is a decision on appeal under 35 U.S.C. § 134 from the final rejection of                   
             claims 1-5.  Claims 6-23 are also pending, but have been withdrawn from consideration.                  
                                                  BACKGROUND                                                         
                    Galactomannans, linear polysaccharides made up of mannose and galactose                          
             residues in various proportions, are the primary components of many commercially                        
             available gums, e.g., guar gum (guaran), tara gum and locust bean gum.  According to                    
             appellants, “[o]nly [a] limited number of methods have been [used] to purify guaran and                 
             other galactomannans.”  (Specification, page 3).  “Usually guaran is dissolved in water                 
             and a cold water insoluble pellet is removed by filtration or centrifugation” and protein               
             contaminants are separated by precipitation with alcohols including ethanol, methanol                   
             and isopropyl alcohol, resulting in a galactomannan preparation with a “relatively high                 
             (above 1%)” protein content (id.).                                                                      


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