Appeal No. 2006-0900
Application No. 10/368,915
meaningful distinction between the liquid chromatography of
Neumann and Dvornic and the claimed “purification process
involving the step of passing a liquid to be purified through a
bed of particles of a silicone derivatized macromolecule on a
particulate support or through a separation membrane having said
silicone derivatized macromolecules supported thereon” (page 5
of Brief, first paragraph). Appellants maintain that although
the present specification discloses liquid chromatography as an
embodiment, the claimed purification process is a distinctly
different embodiment of the disclosed invention.
Like the examiner, we find no merit in appellants’ argument
that there is a substantive, meaningful distinction between
purification processes within the scope of the appealed claims
and the liquid chromatography disclosed by the applied
references. We agree with the examiner that chromatography is a
type of purification process, and the examiner properly points
out that chromatography processes are classified in subclasses
635 and 656-659 in Class 210 entitled “Liquid Purification or
Separation.” As emphasized by the examiner, the process of
Neumann performs all the steps recited in the appealed claims.
Also, we agree with the examiner that the present specification
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