Ex Parte Bond et al - Page 4

                Appeal 2007-2603                                                                              
                Application 10/958,559                                                                        

                      6) Tomka discloses a method of producing a thermoplastically                            
                             processable starch which is a substantially water free,                          
                             combination of starch with at least one additive such as a                       
                             plasticizer (claim 1).  In particular, Tomka teaches that the                    
                             resultant starch may have a water content of less than 1.0%                      
                             (claim 16).                                                                      
                      7) According to Tomka, a high water content, i.e., on the order                         
                             of 17% or more prevents reasonable extrusion of the starch                       
                             (col. 2, ll. 6-8).                                                               
                      8) The thermoplastically processable starch can be in the form                          
                             of granulates, flakes, pills, tablets, powder, or fibers (col. 5, ll.            
                             64-68; claim 10).                                                                
                      9) In accordance with Tomka’s process, native starch is mixed                           
                             with a plasticizer using an extruder or kneader to form an                       
                             approximately homogeneous thermoplastic mass (col. 4, ll. 18-                    
                             24).                                                                             
                      10) According to Tomka, the thermoplastically processable                               
                             starch is suitable, in particular, as a blending component or                    
                             formulation aid for addition to thermoplastic or thermosetting                   
                             polymers (col. 6, ll. 14-18).                                                    

                                    ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSIONS                                                  
                      Appellants concede that Ryan discloses degradable polymer fibers for                    
                use in nonwovens, the fibers being comprised of polylactide blended with                      
                different types of polymers, such as a destructurized starch composition (Br.                 

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