Appeal 2007-2018
Application 09/810,377
flexible tube that itself is introduced into the blood vessel over a
dilator. Once in position, the dilator is removed from within the
sheath and withdrawn from the patient, and the guide wire or
catheter is inserted through the sheath into the patient.
(Specification 1.) The Specification describes an “introducer sheath that
includes a short distal tip section that is substantially more radiopaque than
the radiopaque material of the remainder of the polymeric sheath shaft” (id.
at 3). The distal tip may be made “of fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP)
containing a filler of tungsten or similar metal particles between about 20 to
75% by weight, while the sheath shaft is also of FEP with a substantially
lower radiopaque filler content” (id.).
DISCUSSION
1. CLAIMS
Claims 1, 2, 4-6, 13, 14, and 17-23 are pending and on appeal.
Appellants argue the claims in the following groups: claims 1 and 13;
claims 2 and 4; claims 5 and 6; claim 14; claims 17-19, 22, and 23; and
claims 20 and 21. (Br. 4-11.) The claims within each of these groups stand
or fall together. 37 C.F.R. § 41.37(c)(1)(vii). We will focus on claims 1, 2,
5, 14, 17, and 20, which are representative and read as follows:
1. An introducer sheath comprising:
a shaft extending from a proximal end portion to a distal
end portion; and
a distal tip section at said distal end portion of said shaft;
said shaft and said distal tip section comprising
fluorinated ethylene propylene and being joined by a thermal
bond, said distal tip section containing between about 20% and
75% by weight of a radiopaque material selected from the
2
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Next
Last modified: September 9, 2013