Appeal 2007-2557
Application 10/094,866
proximate the plurality of narrowings. The number of narrowings is
undefined by the claim and therefore reads on the range of 2 up to some
undefined end point.
Ley:
Ley is relied upon to teach “the repeating pattern ‘dip, rise, dip, rise,
loop, dip, rise, dip, rise, loop,’ in the form of a ‘W’” (supra 7). Ley
discloses seven different stent configurations. Both the Examiner and
majority rely on Ley’s first configuration (Answer 4-5 and supra 7
respectively). This configuration is represented by Ley’s figures 1-4 (Ley,
col. 2, ll. 29-30). Ley teaches that the stent comprises a metal tube that has
been etched or preferably laser cut to the configuration shown in figure 1
(Ley, col. 2, ll. 30-34). Ley teaches that “[t]he configuration is made up of a
series of curvilinear expansion cell elements generally indicated at 12 (see
darkened example in FIG. 3 for clarity) having relatively wide end portions
14 joined by relatively narrow center portions 16” (Ley, col. 2, ll. 35-39,
emphasis removed). Ley teaches that the cells are arranged longitudinally
and in substantially parallel rows (Ley, col. 2, ll. 39-42 and FIG. 1). These
expansion cells are equivalent to Appellant’s segments. These expansion
cells do not have Appellant’s claimed repeating W-shaped configuration.
Ley also teaches support members which can be viewed as equivalent
to Appellant’s interconnection bridges. Specifically, Ley teaches
[a] plurality of longitudinally extending elongate support
members 18 are included, one each being disposed between
adjacent rows of cells 12. Also, a plurality of circumferentially
extending support members 19, preferably substantially normal
to support members 18 are also positioned between the rows of
cells 12 to intersect portions of the support members 18 and to
20
Page: Previous 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Next
Last modified: September 9, 2013