Ex Parte Malackowski et al - Page 11

                Appeal 2006-1914                                                                               
                Application 09/764,609                                                                         

           1          the system controller 40 to perform a specific function.  In this way,                   
           2          the button 46 and the controller 48 may be employed to perform a                         
           3          variety of functions, such as controlling the acquisition of data by the                 
           4          imaging system or driving applications software  in the host computer                    
           5          18.  For example, the button 48 may be depressed to obtain a specific                    
           6          coordinate at the point where the button 48 is depressed.                                
           7          Alternatively, the medical instrument 12 may be placed over a                            
           8          particular portion of the patient P and the button 48 depressed to                       
           9          produce an image of the selected portion of the screen 28. (Chader,                      
          10          col. 7, ll. 8-21.)                                                                       
          11                                                                                                   
          12       21.  As previously described, the memory module 36 may be integrally                        
          13          formed with the instrument body 32 or may be included in a separate                      
          14          attachment that may be removably connected to the instrument body                        
          15          32.  (Chader, col. 7, ll. 22-25.)                                                        
          16                                                                                                   
          17       22.  In a further exemplary alternative, the imaging system 10 will be                      
          18          constructed to detect the particular type of instrument body 32 that is                  
          19          connected to the attachment 50. (Chader, col. 8, ll. 16-18.)                             
          20                                                                                                   
          21       23.  Based on the amount of current sensed by the current sensor 62, the                    
          22          system controller 40 is able to determine the particular type of                         
          23          attached instrument body 32.  The processor 14 may then be                               
          24          configured according to the attached medical instrument. (Chader, col.                   
          25          8, ll. 50-54.)                                                                           
          26                                                                                                   
          27          From our review of Acker, we find that                                                   
          28       24. The [] invention relates to medical probes having field transducers                     
          29       used for detecting the disposition of the probe, and to the medical                         
          30       procedures utilizing such probes.  (Acker, col. 1, ll. 35-37.)                              
          31                                                                                                   
          32       25.  [T]he diverse medical procedures require numerous different tools                      
          33       for use within the body.  It would be desirable if any such tool could be                   
          34       guided and located in the same manner as the probes discussed above,                        
          35       without the need to adapt or redesign the tool to accommodate the field                     
          36       transducer or position sensor.  (Acker, col. 2, ll. 57-63.)                                 
          37                                                                                                   

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