Appeal 2007-2813
Application 10/685,744
the teaching of VanTassel et al. as an obvious alternate way of allowing
fluid to flow through the walls of the needle shaft that is known in the art”
(id.).
We agree with the Examiner that the references support a prima facie
case of obviousness. Edwards describes “a tissue ablation apparatus that
includes a delivery catheter, with distal and proximal ends” (Edwards, col. 3,
ll. 51-54). “An electrode deployment apparatus is positioned at least
partially in the delivery catheter. It includes a plurality of electrodes that are
retractable in and out of the catheter’s distal end.” (Id. at col. 3, ll. 55-58.)
“The electrodes can be hollow” (id. at col. 4, l. 23). “Sources of infusing
mediums, including but not limited to electrolytic and chemotherapeutic
solutions, can be associated with the hollow electrodes,” which “can have
sharpened, tapered ends in order to assist their introduction through tissue,
and advancement to the selected tissue site” (id. at col. 4, ll. 35-39). As
depicted in Figure 8, an electrode can “include a plurality of fluid
distribution ports 26 . . . [to] permit the introduction and flow of a variety of
fluidic mediums thorough [the] electrode . . . to the desired tissue site” (id. at
col. 8, ll. 62-67).
VanTassel describes “a surgical needle with a weeping tip for
microinjection of medicaments into a body surface” (VanTassel, col. 2,
ll. 36-37). The needle comprises “a porous distal portion . . . adapted to
cause a liquid injectate to weep or ooze therefrom multidirectionally under
injection pressure while the distal portion and point of the needle are
inserted into a body surface” (id. at col. 2, ll. 37-46). VanTassel discloses
that the “distal portion of the needle can be fabricated from any of a number
5
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next
Last modified: September 9, 2013