Ex Parte Blatchford et al - Page 5

                Appeal 2007-3575                                                                             
                Application 10/233,698                                                                       
                asserts that sweat on the skin would cause hydration, Appellants argue that                  
                assertion “is not supported by any discussion or citation showing that all                   
                skin at any time Appellants’ dressing may be used necessarily provides the                   
                water required to hydrate the backings of Holman.”  (Id. at 7 (emphasis in                   
                original).)  Thus, Appellants assert, the Examiner “has provided no                          
                reasoning as to how the asserted result ‘necessarily flows from the teachings                
                of’ Holman.”  (Id. (emphasis in original).)                                                  
                      The Specification specifically defines “‘substantially contact                         
                transparent’ as used in connection with the present invention, as when                       
                adhered to a patient’s skin, a wound or catheter site can be visually                        
                monitored through those portions of the backing and pressure sensitive                       
                adhesive or adhesives in contact with the patient’s skin without requiring                   
                removal of the dressing.”  (Specification 3.)  The Specification teaches                     
                further that a preferred film backing is elastomeric polyurethane (id. at 6).2               
                      Holman teaches that a backing may be used, and that “[w]hen                            
                hydrated, the water-permeable backing sheet normally becomes transparent                     
                to permit the site of the wound to be viewed.  The advantages available are a                
                see-through feature for the material, as well as adhesion and a reduction in                 
                the rate of fluid loss from the wound.”  (Col. 3, ll. 2-7.)  Holman also teaches             
                that the backing may be fabricated from polyurethane (col. 3, ll. 8-12).                     

                                                                                                            
                2 We note that the Specification teaches that “[a] description of some                       
                backings that may be preferred for use in the medical dressings of the                       
                present invention can be found in issued U.S. Patent Nos. 5,088,483 and                      
                5,160,315, as well as European Patent Application No. 0 437 944.”                            
                (Specification 6)  Thus, while not relying on that disclosure in our decision,               
                we note that transparent backings as required by the claims are known in the                 
                art.                                                                                         
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