Appeal 2006-0959
Application 10/075,914
INTRODUCTION
The claims are directed to an intraluminal stent comprising a metallic
reinforcing component and a biodegradable polymeric material covering at
least a portion of the metallic reinforcing component (Specification, ¶ 0010,
ll. 2-3). Intraluminal stents, according to the specification, “are typically
inserted or implanted into a body lumen, for example, a coronary artery,
after a procedure such as percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty
(“PCTA”).” (Specification, ¶ 0002, ll. 1-3). Further according to the
specification, “[s]uch stents are used to maintain the patency of the coronary
artery by supporting the arterial walls and preventing abrupt reclosure or
collapse thereof which can occur after PCTA.” (Specification, ¶ 0002, ll.
3-5).
Claim 1 illustrates the invention on appeal:
1. An intraluminal stent comprising:
a metallic reinforcing component; and
a biodegradeable polymeric material
covering at least a portion of the metallic
reinforcing component;
the metallic reinforcing component
providing structural reinforcement for the stent but
being insufficient, in the absence of biodegradable
polymeric material, to provide a stent capable of
maintaining patency of a lumen upon implantation
of the stent into the lumen.
2
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