Appeal 2007-0811
Application 10/128,997
ISSUES
The sole issue for consideration is whether Appellants have
established that the Examiner erred in rejecting claims 1-33 on the ground of
obviousness.
FINDINGS OF FACT
Warman discloses a single path lead for insertion via the superior
vena cava through the right atrium into the coronary sinus and thus into the
great coronary vein. The lead body of Warman is adapted to carry a signal
and has a proximal end and a distal end with an intermediate portion
therebetween. Connectors 22, 24 are provided at the proximal end of the
lead body. Conductors 46, 48, and 50 are disposed within the lead body. As
disclosed, Warman has a preformed biased portion and an intermediate
portion of the lead body. Warman calls this part of his lead curved section
B, and curved section B has electrodes 16 and 18 provided on the preformed
biased portion. Surrounding the preformed biased portion are curved
sections A and C which are provided to allow stretching of the lead while
the fixation portion or the preformed portion is secured in location in the
vein. We note that Warman discloses that the portions not disposed in the
vena cava may be made more pliable than the portions applied in the vena
cava. Col. 2, ll. 28-30. We note further that Warman discloses a tip
electrode 12 as a steroid eluting, porous, sintered electrode. Col. 4, ll. 49-50.
The fixture portion or biased portion of Warman can take the shape of
sigmoidal or sinusoidal curve or it can take the shape of a spiral or helix.
See Figure 4 and col. 6, ll. 40-48. The cross section in Figure 2 shows
lumens in the lead body 10 of Warman. Following the convention typical
4
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