Appeal 2007-0845 Application 10/268,135 Thus, we agree with the Examiner that Jang’s catheter meets claim 1’s requirement of a guide wire ramp formed of a portion of the catheter wall separated from another portion of the catheter wall by a slit extending proximally to create a substantially angled tip. We also agree with the Examiner that claim 1 does not require the angled portion of the guide wire ramp to be permanently angled. Moreover, by describing a guide wire exchange procedure that “deflects the ramp 62 radially outward to allow the guide wire 36 to pass thereunder” (Specification 9), Appellants’ Specification clearly contemplates embodiments in which the guide wire ramp is not permanently angled. Appellants argue that “in each drawing showing the angled structure, a gap is left between the angled structure and an inner surface of the wall 30” (Br. 6). Thus, Appellants argue, the conclusion that Jang’s angled structure forms a ramp forcing a guidewire 50 out of the lumen 20 is speculative. . . . [A]lthough Jang includes no description of what happens as a proximal end of a guidewire moves proximally within the lumen 20 past the side port 34 (i.e., if the catheter of Jang were loaded distal end first as is generally done) it appears likely that the guide wire would continue through the lumen 20 past this angled structure into the proximal portion of the lumen 20. Nothing in Jang contradicts this reading and it is respectfully submitted that only speculation suggests any other reading. (Id.) The Examiner points (Answer 4) to Jang’s disclosure that [t]he side port 234 . . . is adapted to permit insertion or removal of a guidewire therethrough. Preferably, the side port 234 is configured such that a guidewire passing through the side port 234 may easily extend distally through the guidewire lumen 7Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Next
Last modified: September 9, 2013