Appeal No. 2006-0185 Page 4
Application No. 10/159,253
present on infected surfaces.” Column 8, lines 12-20. Examples of such surfaces
include human skin. Column 1, lines 26-38.
Johnson teaches an isoprenoid compound, or more specifically, “a
sesquiterpenoid [that] include[s] farnesol.” Column 3, lines 27-29. Johnson also teaches
the “farnesol…promote[s] the uptake of exogenous compounds, including antibiotics, by
cells of gram-positive bacteria and fungi, such as yeasts.” Column 4, lines 25-29.
Johnson further teaches “a solution comprising a sesquiterpenoid and an antimicrobial
compound. The composition is preferably applied in the form of a solution to be sprayed
or wiped on the surface.” Column 4, lines 13-16. In addition, Johnson teaches that an
effective amount of farnesol would be “between 0.1 mM and 50 mM.” Column 3, lines
18-19.
We agree with the examiner that these disclosures would have made the
presently claimed personal care absorbent article prima facie obvious to a person of
ordinary skill in the art. Specifically, it would have been obvious to provide a wipe
comprising an isoprenoid compound, e.g., farnesol, and an antimicrobial compound.
Motivation to combine the farnesol-containing composition taught by Johnson with the
wipe taught by Piccini is provided in Johnson where such a composition can be wiped on
a surface in order to disinfect it. Column 4, lines 9-16. Furthermore, the range of
effective amounts disclosed in the specification overlaps the range of effective amounts
disclosed by Johnson.5
3 Piccini et al., EP 1 059 032, issued December 13, 2000.
4 Johnson et al., U.S. Patent 6,319,958, issued November 20, 2001.
5 Farnesol has a molecular weight of 222.37. See Johnson, Fig. 1 (showing farnesol’s chemical formula).
Therefore, a concentration of 1 M corresponds to 222.37 grams/liter. Johnson discloses that
concentrations of 0.1 mM to 50 mM (column 3, lines 18-19) facilitate uptake of antimicrobial compounds;
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