tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12124619544719942082024-03-26T15:45:35.511+01:00DeltaPatents EQE Paper BDeltaPatents EQE Paper B (formerly B e/m).
As of EQE 2017, the B e/m and B ch papers have merged into one. The seperate B Ch blog has been discontinued. The new B paper is discussed in this blog.Roel van Woudenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15823355175016282250noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212461954471994208.post-83963988804992856312024-03-13T13:42:00.005+01:002024-03-13T15:29:34.667+01:00Our attempt at Paper B 2024 - Biodegradable face mask<p>Difficult. This would be one word to describe this year's Paper B. Judging from the comments on our ‘first impressions’ blog post, many would still consider it an understatement. </p><p>The difficulty stems at least from the length of the paper. There were 30 pages and 5400+ words (English version) compared to 21 pages and 4200+ words of the 2023 paper. The theme was also very chemistry-related. We as non-chemists felt that candidates with specialist knowledge in this domain may have had an advantage in sorting out the patentability situation. Further adding to the difficulty was the fact that there were 11 claims in total including two independent claims (which in itself is not unusual, but adds to the complexity) and some legal issues relating to post filed evidence.</p><p>Unusually, the paper does not caution against adding additional dependent claims, which was the norm in recent papers. Is this to be understood as an invitation to add further dependent claims? Probably not, but explicit guidance in the paper would have been helpful. </p><p>Below is our attempt in broad outlines (with in particular the letter not being fully worked out).</p><div>Comments are welcome in any official EPO language, not just English. <b>So, comments in German and French are also very welcome!</b></div><p>Please do not post your comments anonymously - it is allowed, but it makes responding more difficult and rather clumsy ("Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms Anonymous of 02-03-2021 22:23"), whereas using your real name or a nickname is more personal, more interesting and makes a more attractive conversation. You do not need to log in or make an account - it is OK to just put your (nick) name at the end of your post.</p><p>Edit: changed title from "our solution" to "our attempt" since we found that this year's paper offers limited guidance on identifying the optimal solution among various alternatives (including those which are mentioned in the comments to this and the 'impressions' blog post).</p><p>Nico, Sander</p><p></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span color="windowtext" style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Claims</span></span></h4><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext">1. Biodegradable disposable respiratory face mask comprising
at least one filter layer</span></span><br />
<span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext">comprising cellulose fibres<u>, wherein the</u></span></span><span class="Heading1Char"><u><span color="windowtext" style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></u></span><span class="fontstyle11"><u><span color="windowtext">cellulose fibres are <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>made
of individually loosened native cellulose nanofibres</span></u></span><span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext">.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Support:
Combination of claims 1 and 3 as filed, which is further limited by:</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">"individually
loosened”: supported by [042] 1<sup>st</sup> sentence, [048]</i></li><li><i style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">“native”:
supported by [022], [023], [024], [041], [042], …</i></li></ul><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Novelty/inventive
step:</span></i><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">Distinguishing
feature over D1: “individually loosened”,
technical effect/advantage high filtration capacity, [036], with enhanced mechanical
properties, in particular air permeability [037], client’s letter 2<sup>nd</sup>
paragraph.</i></li><li><i style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">Distinguishing
feature over D2: “native”, technical effect/advantage: green/biodegradable
[043], [055], client’s letter 3<sup>rd</sup> paragraph.</i></li></ul><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Remarks:</span></i><p></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">Why
the limitation to “individually loosened”? According to [041], ordinary cellulose
already consists of cellulose nanofibres, but in bonded form. Thus, it appears
that D1’s face mask is also made of native cellulose nanofibres (but not made
of individually loosened ones).</i></li><li><i style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">Why not "a pore size in the range of ..." as limitation? The application as filed defines it as a "challenge" to provide such fibres, cf. [036], while it appears from [042] and [048]-[050] that the 'solution' to this challenge is the </i><i style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;"><i style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">nanofibres being "<i style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">individually </i>loosened". In other words, we considered the pore size as a potential 'result to be achieved' with the 'individual loosened' being the underlying technical feature that achieves this result.</i></i></li><li><i style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">Note that “biodegradable” alone does not distinguish over D2, since D2 is also biodegradable (cf. D3, Examiner’s communication
point 3), but to a lesser degree.</i></li><li><i style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">Perhaps “single” instead of “individually loosened” could be an alternative formulation
for “individually loosened”, supported by [041] and [048].</i></li><li><i style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">Does "made of" exclude the nanofibres being coated with gelatin? We're unsure, but choose to maintain this wording (instead of "comprising" as mentioned in [022]) for the mere reason that this wording is already used in originally claim 3 and, most importantly, the proposed claim 1 of the client.</i></li><li><i style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">Why
not specify that the nanofibres have a “cellulose-I crystal structure”? According
to [042] and [048], this is the “native” crystal structure and thus inherent to
“native cellulose nanofibres”. As such, the crystal structure limitation is already
implicitly present in “native cellulose nanofibres”. Adding the feature would not further change the scope. </i></li><li><i style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">Why
not limited to “FFP2”. See client’s letter page 2, “We therefore need to have
our invention solidly protected by the patent to stop competitors from selling
similar products, <u>such as</u> FFP2 face masks comprising nanofilter layers
made using other plant fibres”.
The client thus wishes broader protection than only FFP2 masks.</i></li></ul><p></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p></p></blockquote><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext">2. The biodegradable disposable respiratory face mask
according to claim 1 wherein the</span></span><br />
<span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext">cellulose fibres are derived from cotton or hemp.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span class="fontstyle11"><s><span color="windowtext">[[3. The biodegradable disposable respiratory face mask
according to any one of claims 1</span></s></span><s><br />
<span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext">or 2 wherein the at least one filter layer is made of
cellulose nanofibres.]]</span></span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></span></s></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="fontstyle11"><u><span color="windowtext">3[[</span></u></span><span class="fontstyle11"><s><span color="windowtext">4]]</span></s></span><span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext">.
The biodegradable disposable respiratory face mask according to claim <u>1[[</u><s>3]]</s>
wherein the</span></span><br />
<span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext">cellulose nanofibres are derived from papermaking waste
residues <u>which comprises at least 1% (in weight) of cellulose fibres</u>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span class="fontstyle11"><i><span color="windowtext">Support:</span></i></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span class="fontstyle11" style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;"><i><span color="windowtext">[045]: “As a
by-product of that method of papermaking, waste residues comprising at least 1%
(in weight) of cellulose fibres are generated”</span></i></span></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="fontstyle11"><u><span color="windowtext">4[[</span></u></span><span class="fontstyle11"><s><span color="windowtext">5]]</span></s></span><span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext">.
The biodegradable disposable respiratory face mask according to any one of
claims 1</span></span><br />
<span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext">to <u>3[[</u><s>4]]</s> which is a surgical face mask or a dust
face mask.</span></span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="fontstyle11"><u><span color="windowtext">5[[</span></u></span><span class="fontstyle11"><s><span color="windowtext">6]]</span></s></span><span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext">.
The biodegradable disposable respiratory face mask according to claim <u>4[[</u><s>5]]</s>
which is an</span></span><br />
<span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext">FFP2-type face mask.</span></span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="fontstyle11"><u><span color="windowtext">6[[</span></u></span><span class="fontstyle11"><s><span color="windowtext">7]]</span></s></span><span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext">.
The biodegradable disposable respiratory face mask according to claim <u>5[[</u><s>6]]</s>
wherein the</span></span><br />
<span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext">FFP2 face mask comprises a multilayer structure with at least
three layers comprising at</span></span><br />
<span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext">least one outer layer (A) with a thickness of about 40 μm
acting as a water barrier; at</span></span><br />
<span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext">least one inner (middle) layer (B) with a thickness of about
8 μm acting as a filter layer;</span></span><br />
<span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext">and at least another outer layer (A’) with a thickness of
about 40 μm for contact with the</span></span><br />
<span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext">skin.</span></span><span class="fontstyle11"><b><i><span color="windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="fontstyle11"><i><span color="windowtext"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Remarks:</span></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span class="fontstyle11" style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;"><i><span color="windowtext">Claim 6 refers
anew to “a” filter layer instead of referring to “the” filter layer of claims
1-5. However, the Examiner did not raise a clarity objection and we therefore refrained
from </span></i></span><span class="fontstyle11" style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;"><i>further </i></span><span class="fontstyle11" style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;"><i><span color="windowtext">clarifying the
claim.</span></i></span></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="fontstyle11"><u><span color="windowtext"><br /></span></u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="fontstyle11"><u><span color="windowtext">7[[</span></u></span><span class="fontstyle11"><s><span color="windowtext">8]]</span></s></span><span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext">.
The biodegradable disposable respiratory face mask according to claim <u>6[[</u><s>7]]</s>
wherein the</span></span><br />
<span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext">FFP2 face mask comprises five layers comprising the outer
layers (A and A’) and further</span></span><br />
<span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext">comprising two inner (middle) layers (B and B’), acting as
filter layers, separated by a</span></span><br />
<span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext">hydrophilic separation layer (C).</span></span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="fontstyle11"><u><span color="windowtext">8[[</span></u></span><span class="fontstyle11"><s><span color="windowtext">9]]</span></s></span><span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext">.
The biodegradable disposable respiratory face mask according to any one of
claims <u>6[[</u><s>7]]</s></span></span><br />
<span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext">or <u>7[[</u><s>8]]</s> wherein at least one layer is
manufactured by conventional techniques for making</span></span><br />
<span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext">nonwoven fabrics such as melt-blowing or spunbonding.</span></span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="fontstyle11"><u><span color="windowtext">9[[</span></u></span><span class="fontstyle11"><s><span color="windowtext">10]]</span></s></span><span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext">.
The biodegradable disposable respiratory face mask according to any one of
claims</span></span><br />
<span class="fontstyle11"><u><span color="windowtext">6[[</span></u></span><span class="fontstyle11"><s><span color="windowtext">7]]</span></s></span><span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext">
to <u>8[[</u><s>9]]</s> wherein the outer layers (A and A’) are made of nonwoven
cotton or hemp fabric.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
<span class="fontstyle11"><u><span color="windowtext">10[[</span></u></span><span class="fontstyle11"><s><span color="windowtext">11]]</span></s></span><span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext">.
Process for manufacturing a biodegradable filter layer for a multilayer
FFP2-type</span></span><br />
<span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext">face mask, the process comprising: providing papermaking
waste residues </span></span><u>which comprise<span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext"> at least 1% (in
weight) of cellulose fibres</span></span></u><span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext">, milling using grinding
balls, and casting into a thin nonwoven layer by melt-blowing or spunbonding.</span></span><span class="fontstyle11"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="fontstyle11"><i><span color="windowtext"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Support:</span></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span class="fontstyle11" style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;"><i><span color="windowtext">[045]: “As a
by-product of that method of papermaking, waste residues comprising at least 1%
(in weight) of cellulose fibres are generated”</span></i></span></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Remarks:</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -18pt;">Why
not add “gelatin”? According to [046], “in <u>our method</u> of paper making,
gelatin is admixed…” which suggests that that other papermaking waste residues may
not need to comprise gelatin. In addition, the technical effect of being able
to generate native cellulose nanofibres in a simple manner and without any need
of chemical treatment seems to be independent of the gelatin, cf. [048].</i></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Patentability
of claim 1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Note: the
following is a broad outline of the argumentation, but not fully worked out.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Novelty<o:p></o:p></span></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Claim 1 is
novel over D1 since the cellulose nanofibres in D1 are bonded and not “individually
loosened”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Claim 1 is
novel over D2 since the cellulose nanofibres in D2 are synthetic polymer fibres
and not “native” cellulose nanofibres.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Claim 1 is
novel over D3 for at least the reason that it does not disclose a face mask.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Inventive
step</u><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">D2 may be
considered as the closest prior art since it relates to a face mask made of cellulose
nanofibres providing protection against aerosols (nanoparticles smaller than
1</span>μ<span style="font-family: inherit;">m, cf. [035]). D1 does not address aerosols, while D3 does not even concern
face masks.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The distinguishing
feature of claim 1 over D2 is that the face mask is made of native cellulose
nanofibres.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
technical effect of the distinguishing feature is that the face mask is highly
biodegradable, cf. [055] which states that the nanofilter layer disintegrates
completely within 30 days, whereas according to D3 [004], D2’s cellulose
acetate nanofibre layer can take years to completely biodegrade.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The
objective technical problem may be formulated as how to obtain a more biodegradable
face mask.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">D2 does
not contain any hint or suggestion towards biodegradability.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">D1 does
disclose a completely compostable face mask. However, in view of the disclosure
of D1, the skilled person would replace D2’s cellulose acetate nanofibre layer
by D1’s layer of 100% organic filtering felt made of compacted cellulose fibres.
This combination, however, would not lead to a solution falling within the scope
of claim 1 since D1’s layer does not comprise “individually loosened” cellulose
nanofibres.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">D3 merely
confirms that D2 is insufficiently biodegradable and does not contain any
teaching towards improving the biodegradability.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Remarks
on the patentability of claim 10<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">D2 also makes
sense as CPA since it discloses a process of making cellulose nanofibres (albeit
a chemical process which makes synthetic and not native polymer nanofibres).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">D1 and D3
do not seem to lead to a solution falling within the scope of claim 1 as they
are entirely silent on manufacturing processes.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Significance
of the additional laboratory experiments and D4</b>: <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>additional laboratory experiments and D4 represent 'post-filed evidence' which together demonstrate that the use of <span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext">individually
loosened native cellulose nano</span></span><span class="fontstyle11">fibre</span><span class="fontstyle11"><span color="windowtext">s</span></span>
not only achieves a much better biodegradability, but also better breathing
comfort.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This
technical effect is already implied by ('encompassed by') the application as originally filed (cf. [042]
which states that the cellulose nanofibres of D2 have poorer mechanical
properties, which according to [037] relate to the breathing comfort, or cf. [056]
which also compares to commercially available FFP2 masks made from synthetic
polymers).<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As such,
it is likely that the additional laboratory experiments and D4 as reference for
the used test methods would be allowable under the 'free evaluation of evidence' principle, GL G-VII, 11. This is recently confirmed by G 2/21.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">However, the
laboratory experiments relate to FFP2 masks, while claim 1 is broader than that.
One can normally not rely on experiments pertaining to a specific embodiment to
demonstrate inventive step over a much broader claimed range. On the other
hand, if the advantage of better breathability is obtained in a FFP2 mask, it stands to reason that similar improvements are obtained in other types of face masks
compared to synthetic polymer nanofibres. It therefore would make sense to also
include the laboratory experiments and reference to D4 in the response letter
to the EPO as further demonstration of the improvements obtained over D2 (for
example, as part of the problem solution approach using the “improved breathing
comfort” as an additional technical effect, or perhaps as a separate section in
the letter).<o:p></o:p></span></p>On balance, although not directly relevant for claim 1, we would file the new experimental results together with document D4 together with our letter. <p></p>Nico Cordeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418422722416402064noreply@blogger.com323tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212461954471994208.post-63333485050225125182024-03-12T13:00:00.004+01:002024-03-12T13:00:00.139+01:00B 2024: first impressions?<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS0J7sYPnIqyauXvmO1XW1KPOp3_Aoh7iLcIpFFbdxR8MXOspKTF6LlByT6EVpIWCA41fMP1pfJG1vUmre0Xa66nCRDR140uwcxHPNxQ02-cYWGjhD9yhdYVOaDltC2T10ENk2-sh3NDmqjUQHIecq35OhqQJ-n8YbLcrASe3pIjN2SIoxO6FCoHU6/s1932/B%20Flows%20Compendium%202022.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1932" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS0J7sYPnIqyauXvmO1XW1KPOp3_Aoh7iLcIpFFbdxR8MXOspKTF6LlByT6EVpIWCA41fMP1pfJG1vUmre0Xa66nCRDR140uwcxHPNxQ02-cYWGjhD9yhdYVOaDltC2T10ENk2-sh3NDmqjUQHIecq35OhqQJ-n8YbLcrASe3pIjN2SIoxO6FCoHU6/w400-h139/B%20Flows%20Compendium%202022.png" width="400" /></a> </p><p><b>To all who sat the B-paper today:</b></p><p><span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">What are your first impressions to this year's B-paper?</span><br /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Any general or specific comments?</span><br /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Surprising elements in the client's letter and the prior art?</span><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span><span style="background-color: white;">Did you have enough time?</span></span></p><p><span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">How many marks do you expect to have scored?</span><br /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">What is your expectation of the pass rate and the average score?</span><br /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">How did this year's paper compare to the 2021, 2022 and/or 2023 papers?</span><br /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Similar difficulty level?</span><br /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Could you understand the examiner's objections? And the client's wishes based on his letter and his proposed amendments? Was the Art.123(2) argumentation difficult, if any? Clarity? Novelty? Closest prior art selection, distinguishing feature, effect, objective technical problem, and the rest of the inventive step argumentation?</span><br /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Was the subject-matter well understandable, for chemists as well as e/m candidates?<br />Multiple independent claims? Functional features?</span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">What was the effect of doing it online? Of typing your answer rather than writing it by hand? Could you benefit from being able to copy from the exam paper into your answer? And from copying parts of your answer elsewhere into your answer?</span></div><div><span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">How did you experience taking the exam from your home or office location rather than in an examination center?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">What was the effect of the situation that you had to take the exam largely from the screen (as only part of the paper could be printed) rather than from paper?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Did you experience any technical difficulties during the exam? How & how fast were they solved?</span></div><br /></span><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="margin: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">The paper and our answers</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0cm;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #990000;"><b>We do not yet have a copy of the full paper. </b><b style="font-family: inherit;">Should you have a copy, please send it to any of our tutors or to training@deltapatents.com. </b></span><i style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></i><br style="background-color: white;" /><span style="background-color: white;">Once we receive a copy, the core of our answers will be given in a separate blog post.</span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0cm;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><div style="margin: 0cm;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Please be reminded that you can view and print/download copy of your exam answer after the exam, via the eye below the "1. Paper"-icon in the bottom left part of the flow window of the respective flow. (It may not be available immediately after the official end of the (part of the) paper, but only 30-60 minutes later.) Apart from the pre-printable parts, the paper itself cannot be downloaded (unless you copied it in full into your exam answer).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQBH5ce5CgbVT1NR8v684F4J6sallEKypi6v3QZa-RQau1eqTo-nVdJ_w5bWhD136cu85FNBykJWCIUzV4sgnq1wuvEtBT0rbvzl3v_0GgZyV03kVeqVcLjTcNT-nmGssjj5X8zJ6fv_Qqvs70daJGAqBpHWjoag_CQb2Df0FxEWIQIMticQ_gNWJAQ/s2533/D2%20flow%20page%20after%20handin%20-%20detail%20annotated.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="927" data-original-width="2533" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQBH5ce5CgbVT1NR8v684F4J6sallEKypi6v3QZa-RQau1eqTo-nVdJ_w5bWhD136cu85FNBykJWCIUzV4sgnq1wuvEtBT0rbvzl3v_0GgZyV03kVeqVcLjTcNT-nmGssjj5X8zJ6fv_Qqvs70daJGAqBpHWjoag_CQb2Df0FxEWIQIMticQ_gNWJAQ/w400-h146/D2%20flow%20page%20after%20handin%20-%20detail%20annotated.png" width="400" /></a></div></div></span></div></span></div><h4 style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><b><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></b></h4><h4 style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><b><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">We look forward to your comments!</span></i></b></h4><span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Comments are welcome in any official EPO language, not just English. So, comments in German and French are also very welcome!</span><br /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><b>Please do not post your comments anonymously</b> - it is allowed, but it makes responding more difficult and rather clumsy ("Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms Anonymous of 14-03-2023 14:14"), whereas using your real name or a nickname is more personal, more interesting and makes a more attractive conversation. <b>You do not need to log in or make an account - it is OK to just put your (nick) name at the end of your post.</b></span><br /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Please post your comments as to first impressions and general remarks to this blog.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Please post responses to our answer (as soon as available) to the separate blog post with our answer.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Thanks!</span></span></div>Roel van Woudenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15823355175016282250noreply@blogger.com276tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212461954471994208.post-72006803695963808132024-03-12T08:00:00.007+01:002024-03-12T08:00:00.134+01:00Our paper B blog will open for comments after the end of the exam, 12 March 2023, 13:00 Good luck with paper B!<p> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Good luck with paper B!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black;">Our EQE blogs will be open for your comments and opinions w.r.t. the </span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://pre-exam.blogspot.nl/" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #da8044; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Pre-Exam</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black;">, </span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://eqe-a-em.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #da8044; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black;">, </span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://eqe-b-em.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #da8044; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">B</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black;">, </span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://eqe-c.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #da8044; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">C </span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black;">and </span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://eqe-d.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #da8044; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">D </span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black;">shortly after the exams.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #990000;">Do not post any comments as to the merits of the answers of a certain exam paper/flow on the blogs while an exam/flow is still ongoing. Also, do not post the invigilator password or anything else that may be considered the breach of the exam regulations, instructions to the candidates, code of conducts, etc </span></i></b><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #990000;">(see, e.g., EQE website</span></i></b><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #990000;">, MyEQE, and the emails from the EQE secretariat)</span></i></b><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #990000;">.</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><br /><br />All candidates, as well as tutors who helped candidates prepare for EQE 2024, are invited to contribute to the discussions on our EQE blogs! You can post your comments in English, French or German. You are invited to post your comments under your real name, but it is also possible to use a nickname if you wish to hide your identify.<br /><br /></span><span style="color: black;">The DeltaPatents team</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">NB: you can not comment to this blog post; comments will be accepted from a new blog post as of 13:00</span></p>Roel van Woudenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15823355175016282250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212461954471994208.post-64830259514571441322023-08-14T10:12:00.001+02:002023-08-14T10:12:51.303+02:00 EQE 2024 exam schedule now available: Paper B<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">The</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"> </span>"<a href="https://link.epo.org/elearning/Schedule_EQE2024_EN" target="_blank"><span>Information on the schedule for the EQE 2024 examination papers</span></a>"<span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"> (dated 27 July 2023) </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">is now available on</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"> </span><a href="https://www.epo.org/learning/eqe.html" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #da8044;" target="_blank">the EQE website</a><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">. </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 0px 12px;">The EQE 2024 will take place online <span style="background-color: transparent;">using the examination software Wiseflow, with substantially </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">the same setup as the e-EQE/Online EQE of 2021, 2022 and 2023.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Paper B lasts 3.5 hours (9:30 - 13:00 CET).</span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="fontstyle0">Candidates will be allowed to print the prior-art documents and the drawing(s), but none of the following: the description and claims of the application, the EPO communication, the client's letter and the amended claims. The documents allowed for printing will be made available at the latest ten minutes before the start of the examination.</span><br style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-size-adjust: auto;" /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjceAFzzVjN-DNFHxX6IQhHmXUp7XTS68aKioDg5b3ISPsWp6xafAjQTCNSanx21vopq2GqZrNhGZd6qQ9wwjEngVYJsoYQVdymMNWFnnUtGMRPxovBf-Zj8Lwx2C_KnW7mwoKOgZvGZ0sFGvCKF3dD9PNeJS_6Xl0yqOCrFyD5s-zV69-EeydyCzr74sA/s1499/Schedule_EQE2024_EN%20dd%2027%20July%202023%20-%20General%20(excl%20PreCD%20in%20parts).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="1499" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjceAFzzVjN-DNFHxX6IQhHmXUp7XTS68aKioDg5b3ISPsWp6xafAjQTCNSanx21vopq2GqZrNhGZd6qQ9wwjEngVYJsoYQVdymMNWFnnUtGMRPxovBf-Zj8Lwx2C_KnW7mwoKOgZvGZ0sFGvCKF3dD9PNeJS_6Xl0yqOCrFyD5s-zV69-EeydyCzr74sA/w400-h215/Schedule_EQE2024_EN%20dd%2027%20July%202023%20-%20General%20(excl%20PreCD%20in%20parts).png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1JkL9ix5Q0Fyxbi05Qa9lFMq8JWw_wf8pwwODGWrkPRAkO58nGPJJd1vjV_HYlpgj0Z8DSUEnH912s5McXPlBpHahPezWMWAZwtz7WSyvFEABBq7xgByGo4UboNIdvAfalGAzpU_pN7TjwaT0rf0pi4Ixvew6MqZOlm8aJAXfgQ3MjbDPfciZ7Ei0RY/s1499/Schedule_EQE2024_EN%20dd%2027%20July%202023%20-%20Paper%20B.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1499" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1JkL9ix5Q0Fyxbi05Qa9lFMq8JWw_wf8pwwODGWrkPRAkO58nGPJJd1vjV_HYlpgj0Z8DSUEnH912s5McXPlBpHahPezWMWAZwtz7WSyvFEABBq7xgByGo4UboNIdvAfalGAzpU_pN7TjwaT0rf0pi4Ixvew6MqZOlm8aJAXfgQ3MjbDPfciZ7Ei0RY/w400-h204/Schedule_EQE2024_EN%20dd%2027%20July%202023%20-%20Paper%20B.png" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">(Note that that the document may be subject to minor changes as testing continues. Please check the EQE website for updates)</span></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Please feel invited to post your comments. You are allowed to post anonymously and do not need an account, but please give your name or a nickname for an easy and inter-human interaction.</span></p>Roel van Woudenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15823355175016282250noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212461954471994208.post-11027199204375601132023-03-15T12:18:00.005+01:002023-03-16T09:23:04.300+01:00Our attempt at e-EQE Paper B 2023 - Strips for testing blood sugar<p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">Here's our attempt at this year's paper B. This year's paper concerned strips for testing blood sugar levels and devices that use them. The paper was not very mechanical, with the main feature for claim 1 being a range. Some hard decisions were expected from the candidates regarding the novelty of the claims in light of a 54(3) document. </span></p><p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">You can find our solution by clicking on "Read more" below.</span></p><h4 style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 12px;">We look forward to your comments!</h4><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 12px;">Comments are welcome in any official EPO language, not just English. So, comments in German and French are also very welcome!</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><b>Please do not post your comments anonymously</b> - it is allowed, but it makes responding more difficult and rather clumsy ("Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms Anonymous of 15-03-2023 22:23"), whereas using your real name or a nickname is more personal, more interesting and makes a more attractive conversation. You do not need to log in or make an account - it is OK to just put your (nick) name at the end of your post.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><br /></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 12px;">The first objection of the Examiner that we need to address is the alleged lack of novelty of Claim 1. Comparing Claim 1 as filed with D1 shows that all features are disclosed there, so we'll need to amend. Fortunately, the client provides us with a proposal: strike the word 'hydrophilic', and incorporate claim 2. </p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 12px;">Striking 'hydrophilic' from the claim is a broadening of the claim. This would be allowed if this passed the gold standard: could the skilled person have derived non-hydrophilic embodiments from the application? Although hydrophilic is nowhere explained as essential, there seems to be no indication that hydrophilic is optional either. Accordingly, this suggestion of the client seems to be added subject matter. Perhaps, Bad Sugar PLC, can file a new application for their hydrophobic strips, as none of the cited art discloses such strips either.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 12px;">Incorporating claim 2 into claim 1 is not added subject matter, though one could wonder about striking the part 'the smallest pore diameter', but as the pore sizes tapers from large to small, this seems to be implied by the claim 2 text. When in doubt you could leave this part of claim 1, it should not make much of a difference. </p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 12px;">The real question is, is the claim that we get novel over the cited art. For D1 this is not a problem as the tapering of pore size is not in D1. D2 however discloses all of new Claim 1 (note the capillary in D2's claims), except for feature (c) 'an opening for measurement and putting into place the strip, the opening being present in the reagent part'. </p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 12px;">There are two spots in D2 where one could wonder if they disclose feature (c). </p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 12px;">The first one is in D2, [03], which has a reference to D1. D1 does disclose feature (c). In principle, it is allowed for a prior art document to reference another document <span style="background-color: transparent;">(gl. G-IV, 8), but this reference seems to have problems. First, it is not clear from D2 that this reference is even meant to fill-in the disclosure of their embodiment. Section [03] merely describes the prior art, not the new embodiments of D2. Second, the disclosure is specific for blood separation, not on the opening, or even blood sugar measurement. So, D2, [03], seems not enough. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 12px;">The second spot in D2 is section [06]. Here it is disclosed that D2's strip can be used in 'conventional devices for blood sugar measurement'. All the conventional devices that we know of, and in particular, the one referred to in D1, have feature (c). So one might argue that feature (c) is implicitly disclosed in D2. However, the bar for implicit disclosure is a high one, it should be <i>inevitable</i> that a conventional device has the opening. It's not my technical field, but I guess other options are possible. So section [06] is also not enough. </p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 12px;">This means that this amendment of the client makes Claim 1 novel. There was a small antecedent error in Claim 1, which we have also corrected. </p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 12px;">Inventiveness needs to be argued, but as there is only one 54(2) document this seems straightforward. </p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 12px;">For Claim 2, as it is now in Claim 1, the normal approach would be to strike the claim. But as the claim is there, we've opted to amend it to a fallback range, restricting the diameter on the upper membrane. This would make the claim novel over D2 even if the D2 as whole might be considered as incorporating feature (c) from D1. We don't think this amendment is needed. </p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 12px;">Claim 3 contains an error which the client wants to have corrected. The legal basis for this correction would be R.139, second sentence. We need to ask if it is immediately evident that an error has occurred, and what the correction should be (gl. H-VI, 2.2.1). That an error has occurred seems obvious; drawing 3-5 ml of blood from a finger seems a serious injury. The examiner seems to agree with this. We'll argue that the units, not the values are wrong, using common general knowledge of a droplet as evidenced by an article in Blood Science and Technology, that we'll file with our letter. Auxiliary reference can also be made D1 as further evidence. </p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 12px;">Claim 4 did not need amendments.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 12px;">Claim 5 as filed is not novel, as existing devices are suitable for the new strips as well. In the application there a new device is disclosed specially suited for the new strips. Although the new device uses a known spectrophotometer, the combination with an opening for inserting the strip seems to be novel. As to the amendment itself one could doubt whether the 'array detector' needs to be incorporated in the amended claim 5. As the description seems to state that this is the only option, we've included it in the claim. </p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 12px;">There are other ways to make claim 5 novel. For example, one could turn claim 5 into a use claim ('use of device for measuring blood') in this way the suitability becomes a hard feature. Alternatively, one could try a kit claim that has the strip and the device. But as both of these options get their inventiveness from the strip, the scope of protection does not appear to be improved for the client. </p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 12px;">For claims 1 and 5 we also need to address R.43(2), and maybe unity as well. For the former, we'll argue that the claims fall under the exception of R.43(2)(a) plurality of interrelated products. This is an example, of a plug and socket claim (gl. F-IV, 3.2). </p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 12px;">Our claim amendments are thus:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">1. Strip for measuring blood sugar levels, comprising:</span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB"><br />
<span class="fontstyle01"><span style="line-height: 107%;">(a) a reagent part
comprising a membrane</span></span><br />
<span class="fontstyle01"><span style="line-height: 107%;">(b) a capillary for
transporting a blood sample to <u>the</u><s>a</s>
reagent part</span></span><br />
<span class="fontstyle01"><span style="line-height: 107%;">(c) an opening for
measurement and putting into place the strip, the opening being present in the
reagent part;</span></span><br />
<span class="fontstyle01"><span style="line-height: 107%;">characterised in that
the membrane is a hydrophilic membrane <u>in
which the pores of the membrane taper in diameter from 30 to 100 µm on the
upper membrane surface to 0.1 to 5 µm on the lower</u><s>having a smallest pore
diameter of between 0.1 and 5 µm</s>.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="fontstyle01"><span style="line-height: 107%;">2. Strip according to
claim 1 in which the pores <s>of the membrane taper in diameter</s></span></span><s><br />
<span class="fontstyle01"><span style="line-height: 107%;">from 30 to 100 µm </span></span></s><span class="fontstyle01"><span style="line-height: 107%;">on the <s>upper </s><u>lower </u>membrane surface<s> to</s> <u>taper in diameter from </u>0.<s>1</s><u>3</u> to <u>1</u><s>5</s>
µm<s> on the lower</s>.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="fontstyle01"><span style="line-height: 107%;">3. Strip according to
claims 1 or 2 that can perform a measurement on a blood sample of 3 to 5 <u>µl</u><s>ml</s>.</span></span><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><span class="fontstyle01"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">4. Strip according to any of claims 1 to 3 in which
the reagent is attached to the strip using adhesive.</span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB"><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><u><o:p></o:p></u></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 12px;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">5. Device for measuring blood sugar levels for use
with a strip as defined in claims 1 to 4, comprising an opening for inserting
the strip, and a spectrophotometer, which uses </span></span><u><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US">an array detector, which is able to detect light of several
wavelengths, including</span></u><span class="fontstyle01"><u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">
</span></u></span><span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">a wavelength of 635 nm <u>and
</u></span></span><u><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US">an additional wavelength</span></u><span class="fontstyle01"><u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></u></span><span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">to
perform the measurement.</span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-GB"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Edit 15/3: removed duplicate 'uses' in claim 5</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></i></p><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0cm;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span lang="EN-GB">We look forward to your comments!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span lang="EN-GB">Sander, Jelle, Roel</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt;"> (c) DeltaPatents</span></p></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="background-color: white; margin: 0cm;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 7.5pt;"><b>Annex - the complete paper - copied from</b><b> Wiseflow "EPO – EQE Compendium" (added 16/3/2023)</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 7.5pt;">NB: when copying, the line numbering, table and formatting of the amended claims got lost - we did a best-effort reformatting of the table and the amended claims. Please click on the figures for a full-size view.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 7.5pt;"><br /></p><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 7.5pt; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">EUROPEAN
QUALIFYING EXAMINATION 2023<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">Paper B<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">This paper
comprises:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif">* Description
of the application <br />
* Claims <br />
* Drawings of the application (pre-printable)<br />
* Communication <a name="_Hlk129849513"><br />
* </a>Document D1 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(pre-printable)<br />
* Document D2 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(pre-printable)<br />
* Client‘s letter <br />
* Amended claims <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="fontstyle01"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">* Description of the application <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black;">Description
of the application<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black;">[001]
Diabetes is a long-term condition that arises because of changes in the way in<br />
which insulin is produced and used. Insulin is a hormone that facilitates the
uptake of<br />
glucose by cells to produce energy and promotes the storage of glucose as
glycogen.<br />
Lack of insulin causes the levels of blood glucose to rise, with potentially
life-threatening<br />
results.<br />
<br />
[002] To mitigate the consequences of diabetes, people with the condition
should<br />
measure their blood glucose level two to seven times a day, depending on the
nature<br />
and severity of their individual case. Based on the observed pattern in the
measured<br />
glucose levels, the patient and physician can together make adjustments in
diet,<br />
exercise and insulin intake to better manage the disease. The measured glucose
levels<br />
should be available to the patient immediately, through the use of a
simple-to-use meter<br />
and strip system that is rapid, inexpensive, and accurate.<br />
<br />
[003] The most commonly-used systems for determining blood sugar levels
comprise a<br />
strip which is inserted in a device for the determination of blood sugar level.
The patient<br />
puts a droplet of blood on the strip, which is then analysed in the device. The
blood can<br />
be transported within the strip by several mechanisms. The most usual and
preferred<br />
method is by capillary action. This mechanism is used in most devices on the
market<br />
today. Capillary action is the drawing of a liquid into a narrow tube of the
strip.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black;">[004]
Figures 1A and 1B show the strip, Figure 1A being a view from above, and Figure</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><br />
<span style="color: black;">1B a view from below. The strip (1) has a reagent
part comprising a membrane (2). An<br />
opening (3) allows a light source to access the reagent part. A droplet of
blood is applied<br />
at (4), which is transported to the reagent part by capillary action along a
capillary (5).<br />
The shape of the opening (3) is chosen such that the strip clicks into place in
the<br />
measurement device. Figure 2 shows a detailed view of the membrane (2). Pores
(6)<br />
extend through the membrane from the upper to the lower surface. The
representation<br />
of the pores is schematic. The actual number of pores is much larger.<br />
<br />
[005] Glucose cannot be measured directly but needs to be converted in the
strip.<br />
First, the strip separates red blood cells from the rest of the blood. The rest
of the blood,<br />
mostly plasma, reacts with two different reagents in the strip to generate a
colour that<br />
can be analysed by a spectrophotometer. This works as follows. The plasma first
reacts<br />
with an enzyme called glucose oxidase, which generates hydrogen peroxide and<br />
gluconic acid from the glucose in the blood. The hydrogen peroxide then reacts
with a<br />
dye system to generate the colour. The colour intensity is linearly dependent
on the<br />
amount of hydrogen peroxide and thus on the amount of glucose in the blood. All
of<br />
these reagents are well known in the art and can be obtained commercially, for
example<br />
from Glucosic Inc.<br />
<br />
[006] The colour is analysed by measuring the intensity of light that is
reflected when the<br />
colour is exposed to the light source. The measurement is performed using a<br />
spectrophotometer. A spectrophotometer is an instrument used to determine the
relative<br />
intensity of various wavelengths in a spectrum of light. In the present case,
the relative<br />
intensity is measured at a wavelength of 635 nm.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black;">[007]
Before the reaction can take place, the blood needs to be separated so that the<br />
red blood cells are separated from the plasma. The separation should take place
with as<br />
little as possible cell lysis, which is the breaking of cells. Such broken
cells influence the<br />
measurement in the spectrophotometer. Also, as few as possible red blood cells
should<br />
remain in the plasma, because these red blood cells have a negative influence
on the<br />
light measurement as well.<br />
<br />
[008] We have now devised a membrane that separates the red blood cells in a
very<br />
effective way, while at the same time almost completely avoiding cell lysis.
This means<br />
that the analysis can be done with less blood. This is an advantage for older
people who<br />
often release very little blood from their fingers and who often need, with
current<br />
systems, a second or third try to release sufficient blood for a reliable
measurement.<br />
<br />
[009] A membrane is a solid structure with pores. Some components of a liquid
mixture<br />
can pass through the pores, whereas others cannot, thus performing the
separation. A<br />
membrane like ours is able to separate red blood cells from a blood sample.
What<br />
remains after the separation is the glucose-containing plasma. To achieve this<br />
separation, the membrane needs to have suitable pore sizes. In general, the
smallest<br />
pore sizes used have a diameter from 0.1 to 5 µm. In a preferred embodiment,
the<br />
membrane does not have a uniform pore size, but a pore size that tapers in
diameter<br />
from the upper to the lower membrane surface. For example, pore diameter may
taper<br />
from 100 µm on the upper membrane surface to about 0.1 µm on the lower. On the<br />
upper surface, the pore size is preferably in the range 30 µm to 40 µm. The
pore size on<br />
the lower surface is preferably in the range 0.1 to 1.0 µm, with a pore size of
0.3 to<br />
1.0 µm being preferred. Optimum results are obtained at a pore size in the
range of 0.4<br />
to 0.6 µm.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 13px;">[010]
The optimum pore size of 0.5 µm is a balance between separation efficacy and<br />
separation speed. When the pore size is 0.1 µm the separation is best, but the<br />
separation takes a relatively long time, which is disadvantageous for the user
of the<br />
device. In the examples, we always use a membrane with a smallest pore size of
0.5<br />
µm, but any pore size of between 0.1 and 1.0 µm can be used.<br />
<br />
[011] The membranes are hydrophilic, which means that they have affinity for
aqueous<br />
(water-based) media. They are preferably made of polyamides. A well-known
polyamide</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">is nylon. Most types of nylon are suitable for use in
the strip of the invention. The</span><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">
membranes as such are known and are normally used in micro-filtration in
general. The</span><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">
membranes are commercially available, for example from Permembrane Inc.</span><br />
<br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">
[012] Membranes where the pore diameters taper from the upper to the lower</span><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">
membrane surface have several advantages. Most importantly, the red blood cells
can</span><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">
be separated from the plasma with less breaking of the red blood cells, i.e.
the above</span><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">mentioned cell lysis. Cell lysis can be avoided by having a gentle
gradient of the pore</span><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">
diameter in the membrane. The membrane may have a first pore diameter of 100 µm</span><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">
that tapers to the smallest diameter of 0.5 µm. The gentlest separation, with
least cell</span><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">
lysis, would be achieved when the diameter changes over a long distance, i.e.
across a</span><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">
thick membrane. However, such a thick membrane would have a high pressure drop,</span><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">
which also has an influence on the cell lysis. We have tested several membranes
and</span><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">
have found that a membrane thickness of 150 to 400 µm provides a good balance</span><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">
between pressure drop and separation efficacy.</span><br />
<br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">
[013] When using the membrane with a pore-size gradient, the sample contains
fewer</span><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">
broken cells and, therefore, a new measurement device can be used that is
especially</span><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">
adapted for strips using this membrane. This device uses a special
spectrophotometer</span><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">
that uses an array detector, which is able to detect light of several
wavelengths. A</span><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">
monochromator, as used in the prior art devices, is no longer necessary. This
makes the</span><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">
measurement more accurate, because measurements at two wavelengths can be</span><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">
compared, resulting in a more accurate measurement. The measurement is still at
a</span><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">
wavelength of 635 nm, but an additional wavelength can be used to increase the</span><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">
accuracy. Such a spectrophotometer is schematically illustrated in Figure 3.
These</span><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">
spectrophotometers are known as such but have not previously been used in
devices for</span><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">
measurement of sugar levels in blood.</span><br />
<br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">
[014] The strips using a membrane with pore-size gradient can also be used with
a</span><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">
conventional measurement device, but in that case a little more blood is needed
for the</span><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">
measurement, but still less than with a uniform pore-size membrane. The new</span><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">
measurement device described here can only be used with the strips of the
present</span><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">
invention.</span><br />
<br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">
[015] The table below shows how the density of the plasma produced after
separation of</span><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">
red blood cells is influenced by the structure of the membrane. The presence of
red</span><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">
blood cells in the plasma increases its density and so indicates less effective
separation</span><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">
by the membrane. All membranes have the same thickness and when the pore
diameter</span><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">
changes over its thickness, it changes in linear fashion. This linear change is
not</span><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;">
essential, however.</span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></p>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody><tr>
<td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 106.1pt;" valign="top" width="141">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"> </span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 127.55pt;" valign="top" width="170">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Pore
diameter (µm)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 4cm;" valign="top" width="151">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Density
(mg/ml)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 106.1pt;" valign="top" width="141">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Membrane A<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 127.55pt;" valign="top" width="170">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">0,5<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 4cm;" valign="top" width="151">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">961<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 106.1pt;" valign="top" width="141">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Membrane B<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 127.55pt;" valign="top" width="170">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">4<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 4cm;" valign="top" width="151">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">1017<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 106.1pt;" valign="top" width="141">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Membrane C<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 127.55pt;" valign="top" width="170">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">100
to 0.5<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 4cm;" valign="top" width="151">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">920<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 106.1pt;" valign="top" width="141">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Membrane D<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 127.55pt;" valign="top" width="170">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">40
to 0.5<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 4cm;" valign="top" width="151">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">921<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 106.1pt;" valign="top" width="141">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Membrane E<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 127.55pt;" valign="top" width="170">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">35
to 0.5<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 4cm;" valign="top" width="151">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">918<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: small;"> </span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black;">[016]
It is clear from the table that membranes with a gradient of pore diameters
result in<br />
plasma with a lower density, which indicates that very few of the red blood
cells<br />
permeate the membrane.</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><br />
<span style="color: black;"><br />
[017] In operation, the test strip is first mounted in the device, prior to
application of the<br />
blood sample. Then, a glucose-containing blood sample, typically obtained by a
finger<br />
puncture (small prick in the fingertip) is applied to the test strip. The
amount of blood<br />
should exceed that needed to saturate the reagent part comprising the membrane
in the<br />
area where light reflectance will be measured. This amount is at least 3 ml, or
the<br />
amount of one droplet. A droplet from a healthy adult is about 5 ml, but older
people<br />
usually have less blood in a droplet. After the sample is applied, the
measurement starts<br />
automatically when the fluid has permeated the membrane, and the device detects
the<br />
resulting change in light reflectance of the testing surface.<br />
<br />
[018] The test strips of the present invention can be used in conventional
instruments,<br />
such as the Sugar Level Pro™ or the Glucexact™. However, when combined with our<br />
improved instrument, as described above, we can achieve a reliable measurement
with<br />
very small amounts of blood.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black;">[019]
By using a membrane with a gradient described above, less cell lysis takes
place.<br />
This means that the plasma that is obtained contains fewer impurities from the
red blood<br />
cells that can influence the measurement. A more accurate measurement can be<br />
performed on a smaller blood sample, especially when the strip is used with the<br />
improved device.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "LiberationSans",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "LiberationSans",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
</span><span class="fontstyle01"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">* Claims</span></b></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black;">Claims<br />
<br />
1. Strip for measuring blood sugar levels, comprising:<br />
(a) a reagent part comprising a membrane<br />
(b) a capillary for transporting a blood sample to a reagent part<br />
(c) an opening for measurement and putting into place the strip, the opening<br />
being present in the reagent part;<br />
characterised in that the membrane is a hydrophilic membrane having a smallest<br />
pore diameter of between 0.1 and 5 µm.<br />
<br />
2. Strip according to claim 1 in which the pores of the membrane taper in
diameter<br />
from 30 to 100 µm on the upper membrane surface to 0.1 to 5 µm on the lower.<br />
<br />
3. Strip according to claims 1 or 2 that can perform a measurement on a blood<br />
sample of 3 to 5 ml.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><br />
4. Strip according to any of claims 1 to 3 in which the reagent is attached to
the<br />
strip using adhesive.<br />
<br />
5. Device for measuring blood sugar levels for use with a strip as defined in
claims 1<br />
to 4, comprising an opening for inserting the strip, and a spectrophotometer,<br />
which uses a wavelength of 635 nm to perform the measurement.<br /><br /></span><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><br />* Drawings of the application (pre-printable)</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLyEqNXbntGDKMgq4PTdiBLUVag175LgKCX3Rccpp65DmA1YmEjNKa-aZnfiGUTEXrIDbm8MzJ4ra6xKnGsPe55EoMpDRqf5Q_1R67KJoedQMWm9husvTflItQOc6JEMVu3I0w4-Bsn4L_i-aYx5KHteAtLaI7itWA2s8F7hjPpucszlmyTxOiFzyK/s1465/Application%20-%20Fig1a-1b.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1465" data-original-width="1037" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLyEqNXbntGDKMgq4PTdiBLUVag175LgKCX3Rccpp65DmA1YmEjNKa-aZnfiGUTEXrIDbm8MzJ4ra6xKnGsPe55EoMpDRqf5Q_1R67KJoedQMWm9husvTflItQOc6JEMVu3I0w4-Bsn4L_i-aYx5KHteAtLaI7itWA2s8F7hjPpucszlmyTxOiFzyK/w142-h200/Application%20-%20Fig1a-1b.png" width="142" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_Xaw5UvlCmy9-olNmJsYLDfzfH5xvHdyOYumhzsNcnsR-594rsFjLRxpQiTYLBfRdDOtxdrz2LsbkFcaB9juBb7ab9SgIDx9HHWRlMRwvUA2xYl-ja4SpUwfwjYb4g70mX3XI1tNwr9gXFmsnp7_Q7snFdmUML1OB7IDrDjGEvtTqk2HMjjtvTxU/s1465/Application%20-%20Fig2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1465" data-original-width="1037" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_Xaw5UvlCmy9-olNmJsYLDfzfH5xvHdyOYumhzsNcnsR-594rsFjLRxpQiTYLBfRdDOtxdrz2LsbkFcaB9juBb7ab9SgIDx9HHWRlMRwvUA2xYl-ja4SpUwfwjYb4g70mX3XI1tNwr9gXFmsnp7_Q7snFdmUML1OB7IDrDjGEvtTqk2HMjjtvTxU/w142-h200/Application%20-%20Fig2.png" width="142" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgN3yh7LMETIX357Iihg6Io8Jk62yCJXXN64cZpjABdw-soKfpBgPUleFYkXX_PkEm51EtR7KCNKn3CeL9Ygw7Bp2Req9kyp80KG5poMNuI_RbqArGT2gxuqTXuKeGysrrYK01RnlRfYiteUS20XNjQ8bNvWKq46GzImcwTOCM9LEMeEeV8h9hIGWt/s1465/Application%20-%20Fig3.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1465" data-original-width="1037" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgN3yh7LMETIX357Iihg6Io8Jk62yCJXXN64cZpjABdw-soKfpBgPUleFYkXX_PkEm51EtR7KCNKn3CeL9Ygw7Bp2Req9kyp80KG5poMNuI_RbqArGT2gxuqTXuKeGysrrYK01RnlRfYiteUS20XNjQ8bNvWKq46GzImcwTOCM9LEMeEeV8h9hIGWt/w142-h200/Application%20-%20Fig3.png" width="142" /></a></p><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; line-height: 107%;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><b><br /></b></span>
</span><span class="fontstyle01" face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13px;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">* Communication<br />
<br />
</span></b></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 13px;">Communication</span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "LiberationSans",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black;">1.
The examination is based on the application as originally filed. Document D1 is
prior<br />
art in accordance with Article 54(2) EPC. Document D2, which was pending on the
date</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><br />
<span style="color: black;">of filing of the present application, is prior art in
view of Article 54(3) EPC.</span></span><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "LiberationSans",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black;">2.
The subject-matter of claims 1, 3 to 5 is not novel within the meaning of
Articles 54(1)<br />
and (2) EPC because it is known from D1.<br />
D1 discloses a strip and a device for determining glucose levels in a blood
sample. The<br />
strip comprises a polyamide membrane with a pore diameter of between 0.1 and 5
µm.<br />
<br />
3. The subject-matter of claims 1 to 5 is not novel within the meaning of
Articles 54(1)<br />
and (3) EPC because it is known from D2.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black;">D2
discloses a strip for determining glucose levels in a blood sample. The strip<br />
comprises a membrane with pores that taper in diameter from the upper membrane<br />
surface to the lower. The pore sizes vary from 200 µm to 0.1 µm. The larger
size is<br />
preferably 30 to 100 µm. The smallest pore size should be between 0.1 and 5 µm.
The<br />
membrane is a hydrophilic membrane. The strip can be used in devices for
measuring<br />
sugar level based on light intensity.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black;">4.
In claim 3 it is specified that the measurement can be performed on 3 to 5 ml.
It would<br />
appear that either the value or the unit is wrong, or both. The same mistake is
made in<br />
paragraph [017]. An explanation is requested.<br />
<br />
5. Claims 1 and 5 do not fulfil the requirements of Rule 43(2) EPC.<br />
Claims 1 and 5 are both independent device claims. Such a claims structure
having two<br />
independent claims in the same category is not allowable.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black;">6.
To maintain the application, new claims should be filed which take the above<br />
objections into account. Care should be taken to ensure that the new claims
comply with<br />
the requirements of the EPC in respect of clarity, novelty, and inventive step
(Art. 84, 54<br />
and 56 EPC). Any amendments should not introduce subject matter which extends<br />
beyond the content of the application as originally filed (Art. 123(2) EPC).<br />
<br />
7. In the letter of reply, the problem-solution approach should be followed. In
particular,<br />
the difference between the new claims and the prior art disclosed in D1 and D2,
the<br />
objective technical problem underlying the invention in view of the closest
prior art, and<br />
the solution thereto should be indicated. The basis in the application as
originally filed for<br />
the amendments should be indicated (Art. 123(2) EPC and Rule 137(4) EPC).<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="fontstyle01"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">* Document D1 (pre-printable)<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "LiberationSans",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
</span><span class="fontstyle01"><b><u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Document
D1: GB1234321<br />
<br />
</span></u></b></span><span class="fontstyle01"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Description<u><o:p></o:p></u></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">[001]
Easy and accurate measurement of glucose levels in blood is very important. A<br />
person with diabetes needs to monitor their glucose levels up to seven times a
day.<br />
Based on this measurement, the amount of insulin to be injected is determined.
The<br />
measurement should be quick and accurate. As the measurement has to be
performed<br />
several times a day, it is impractical that such a measurement is performed by
a medical<br />
professional. The measurement should be what is known as a lay-operator<br />
measurement, preferably performed by the patient.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">[002]
There are many systems currently on the market that can perform such<br />
measurements. However, most of these measurements require several manipulations
by<br />
the user. However, in the last years a new type of system has taken over the
market.<br />
This is a system in which a disposable strip is placed in a measurement device.
A<br />
droplet of blood is placed on the strip and is analysed in the device. A
droplet of blood<br />
has a volume of at least 5 µl.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">[003]
Such a strip is illustrated in Figures 1A and 1B. Figure 1A shows the strip
from<br />
above, whereas Figure 1B shows the strip from below. The strip (1) has a
reagent<br />
part (2), which is attached to the strip using adhesive. Opening (3) is for
access of the<br />
light source to the reagent part. A droplet of blood is applied at (4), which
is transported<br />
to the reagent part by capillary action along a capillary (5). The strip is
inserted in the<br />
device with the side of the reagent part first. The shape of the opening (3) is
chosen,<br />
such that the strip clicks into place.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">[004]
The device comprises an opening for inserting the strip, and a
spectrophotometer, <br />which measures light intensity at 635 nm. The
spectrophotometer comprises a light source, <br />a monochromator, a sample
compartment, and a detector, as shown in Figure 2.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">[005]
The present invention concerns the reagent strip. On the one hand, this strip<br />
separates red blood cells from the rest of the blood. The rest of the blood,
mostly<br />
plasma, reacts with two different reagents to generate a colour that can be
analysed by<br />
a spectrophotometer. The plasma first reacts with an enzyme called peroxidase,
which<br />
generates hydrogen peroxide from the glucose in the blood. The hydrogen
peroxide then<br />
reacts with a dye system to generate the colour. The colour intensity is
linearly<br />
determined by the amount of hydrogen peroxide and thus by the amount of glucose
in<br />
the blood.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">[006]
The reagent strip comprises a membrane that separates the red blood cells from<br />
the rest of the blood and comprises reagents that react with the permeate to make
the<br />
sugar level visible. The reagents are as described above. The membrane is made
of a<br />
hydrophilic material. Preferably, polyamide membranes are used, such as nylon.
The<br />
membranes have a smallest pore diameter of 0.1 to 5 µm. At these pore
diameters, a<br />
good separation of red blood cells from the plasma is possible without too much
lysis of<br />
the cells.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />
<u>Claims</u><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">1.
Strip for measuring blood sugar levels, comprising a capillary and a
hydrophilic<br />
membrane having a smallest pore diameter of between 0.1 and 5 µm.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">2.
Device for measuring blood sugar levels for use with a strip as defined in
claim 1,<br />
comprising an opening for inserting the strip, and a spectrophotometer, which
performs<br />
measurement at 635 nm.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmgoulRsQjTlRXVrKZrneymTV4F4BhE7NWsdbnCMUuNaWCCjGYthzN-S_4U5Unh8M_VCmyO6vS61JOU_3oMpvrJCug4Xc4j5D_DipZWX0lvex4g9I5-LFXlGvfJC_HeUzkKCaIoNwliVsIvxZqIu0rCr96-Dj689R1QB8XWLdFgcY3LiPtvhIR8UQ6/s1465/D1%20-%20Figs.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1465" data-original-width="1037" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmgoulRsQjTlRXVrKZrneymTV4F4BhE7NWsdbnCMUuNaWCCjGYthzN-S_4U5Unh8M_VCmyO6vS61JOU_3oMpvrJCug4Xc4j5D_DipZWX0lvex4g9I5-LFXlGvfJC_HeUzkKCaIoNwliVsIvxZqIu0rCr96-Dj689R1QB8XWLdFgcY3LiPtvhIR8UQ6/w142-h200/D1%20-%20Figs.png" width="142" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="fontstyle01"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">* Document D2 (pre-printable)<br />
<br />
</span></b></span><span class="fontstyle01"><u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Document
D2: EP1234567 (Article 54(3) EPC)</span></u></span><span class="fontstyle01"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="fontstyle01"><u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Description<o:p></o:p></span></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">[001]
This application is concerned with a membrane that is used in devices for the<br />
measurement of blood sugar levels, mostly for people with diabetes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">[002]
To mitigate the consequences of diabetes, people with the condition should<br />
measure their blood glucose level two to seven times a day, depending on the
nature<br />
and severity of their individual case. Based on the observed pattern in the
measured<br />
glucose levels, the patient and physician together make adjustments in diet,
exercise<br />
and insulin intake to better manage the disease. The measured glucose levels
should be<br />
available to the patient immediately, through the use of a simple-to-use meter
and strip<br />
system that is rapid, inexpensive, and accurate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">[003]
For such measurements to be performed, it is necessary that the red blood cells<br />
are separated from the rest of the blood, so that the plasma is retained. The
sugar level<br />
measurements are performed on the plasma. GB1234321 teaches us to separate the<br />
blood using a membrane. These membranes have a constant pore size. Good<br />
separation of the red blood cells is reported. However, it was found that some
cell lysis<br />
takes place. This means that some red blood cells break apart. These parts will
also<br />
pass the membrane and influence the measurement of the sugar level.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">[004]
We have now found an improved membrane that avoids most of the lysis of the<br />
red blood-cells. In addition, the improved membrane leads to a more accurate<br />
measurement of the sugar level. Our improved membrane does not have a uniform
pore<br />
size, but has a gradient of pore size, from large to small. Membranes may have
pores<br />
that taper in diameter from 200 µm on the upper membrane surface to 0.1 µm on
the<br />
lower. On the upper surface, the pore size is preferably in the range of 30 µm
to 100 µm.<br />
On the lower surface, the smallest pore size ranges from 0.1 to 5 µm. The
membranes<br />
have a thickness of around 200 µm. The membrane should not be too thick,
otherwise<br />
the pressure drop through the membrane will be too high.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">[005]
The membrane can be any kind of hydrophilic membrane, i.e. a membrane that<br />
has affinity with water.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">[006]
The membrane can be used in known strips, which can in turn be used in<br />
conventional devices for blood sugar measurement. In these devices, glucose
level is<br />
measured by measuring light intensity at a wavelength of 635 nm. The
measurement is<br />
performed using a spectrophotometer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">[007]
The colour that is measured based on the light intensity is generated by an<br />
oxidation reaction in the strip. The strip contains an enzyme, glucose oxidase,
which<br />
oxidises the glucose to gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen
peroxide<br />
then reacts with a dye to produce a colour. The colour intensity is a measure
of the<br />
amount of glucose in the blood.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />
<u>Claims<o:p></o:p></u></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">1.
Membrane for use in a strip for measuring blood sugar levels, which is
hydrophilic<br />
and which is characterised in that the membrane has pores that taper in
diameter from<br />
200 µm on the upper membrane surface to 0.1 µm on the lower.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">2.
Strip for measuring blood sugar levels, comprising a capillary and a membrane
as<br />
defined in claim 1.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />
(No Figures in D2)<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="fontstyle01"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br />
* Client‘s letter <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black;">Client’s
letter<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black;">To:
Ms Cyrille Ringe<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black;">Dear
Ms Ringe,<br />
<br />
We have reviewed the EPO communication and provide you in the following with
what is<br />
hopefully a helpful basis for filing a response to that communication. We have
also<br />
attached a new set of claims that we believe overcome the objections raised by
the<br />
examiner. We restricted our claims to the membranes with a pore-size gradient.<br />
However, we leave it to you to decide on the final wording of the claims, as
long as these<br />
claims cover the strip and the device.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black;">We
are currently testing membranes that are different from the polyamides of the<br />
examples. Most of the promising membranes are hydrophilic, but some hydrophobic<br />
membranes also show promise in the separation of red blood cells. The claims
should<br />
preferably cover the possibility of membranes other than polyamides. We have
deleted<br />
the term “hydrophilic” in claim 1. We believe that the fact that the membrane
is<br />
hydrophilic is not essential.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black;">Concerning
claim 4, directed to the device, we believe that further amendment is not<br />
necessary as the claim refers to the novel strip of claim 1.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black;">The
communication states that the claims are not novel over D2. We don’t think this<br />
objection is correct, because document D2 is an earlier application from our
own<br />
company. We don’t think we should be penalised in this application for a
previous<br />
development of our own technology.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black;">Finally,
the examiner noticed an editorial error in claim 3 and in the description. In<br />
claim 3 and in paragraph [017], the amount of liquid is indicated to be in ml.
This should<br />
have been in µl. This should be clear from the context in paragraph [017],
which refers to<br />
the volume of a droplet. Also, document D1 as cited by the examiner shows that
the<br />
amounts used in similar devices are in the range of µl and not ml. Also, D1
refers to a<br />
droplet. In addition, we attach an extract from Blood Science and Technology,
which<br />
shows that blood droplets are always in the range of 1 to 5 µl. This is a
well-regarded<br />
publication in the technical field.</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black;">We
will be on our annual retreat on Bora Bora and will not have internet access or
be<br />
contactable by phone. Please file a response reflecting the wishes we have
indicated<br />
above.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black;">Kind
regards,<br />
<br />
Dr. Keith Richards<br />
Bad Sugar PLC<br />
2023/B/EN/19<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black;">Annex
to the Client’s letter<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black;">Blood
Science and Technology<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black;">Blood
droplets<br />
<br />
The volume of blood droplets is relevant because blood droplets are often used
in<br />
medical analysis. When the finger of a healthy adult is pricked, the droplets
have a<br />
volume of 5 µl. Persons aged 65 and over often have less blood available when
pricked,<br />
usually less than 4 µl or even 3 µl.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="fontstyle01"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">* Amended claims <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">1.
Strip for measuring blood sugar levels, comprising:</span></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><br />
<span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">(a) a reagent part
comprising a membrane</span></span><br />
<span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">(b) a capillary for
transporting a blood sample to a reagent part</span></span><br />
<span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">(c) an opening for
measurement and putting into place the strip, the opening</span></span><br />
<span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">being present in the
reagent part;</span></span><br />
<span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">characterised in that
the membrane is a <s>hydrophilic</s> membrane <s>having a smallest</s></span></span><s><br />
<span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">pore diameter of
between 0.1 and 5 µm.</span></span></s><span class="fontstyle01"><u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> having pores that taper in diameter from 30 to
100 µm on the upper membrane surface to 0.1 to 5 µm on the lower.</span></u></span><br />
<br />
<span class="fontstyle01"><s><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">2. Strip according to
claim 1 in which the pores of the membrane taper in diameter</span></s></span><s><br />
<span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">from 30 to 100 µm on
the upper membrane surface to 0.1 to 5 µm on the lower.</span></span></s><br />
<br />
<span class="fontstyle01"><s><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">3</span></s></span><span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">.2. Strip according to <s>claims
</s><u>claim</u> 1 <s>or 2</s> that can perform a measurement on a blood</span></span><br />
<span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">sample of 3 to 5 <s>ml</s>
ul.</span></span><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span class="fontstyle01"><s><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">4.</span></s></span><span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">3. Strip according to
any of claims 1 to 2 <s>3</s> in which the reagent is attached to the</span></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black;"><br />
<span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">strip using adhesive.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="fontstyle01"><s><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">5.</span></s></span><span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">4. Device for measuring
blood sugar levels for use with a strip as defined in claims 1</span></span><br />
<span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">to <s>4</s>3,
comprising an opening for inserting the strip, and a spectrophotometer,</span></span><br />
<span class="fontstyle01"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">which uses a wavelength
of 635 nm to perform the measurement.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></p></div></div>Sander van Rijnswouhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08074604101159694993noreply@blogger.com226tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212461954471994208.post-18985730200187833792023-03-14T13:00:00.019+01:002023-03-14T13:36:37.709+01:00B 2023: first impressions?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS0J7sYPnIqyauXvmO1XW1KPOp3_Aoh7iLcIpFFbdxR8MXOspKTF6LlByT6EVpIWCA41fMP1pfJG1vUmre0Xa66nCRDR140uwcxHPNxQ02-cYWGjhD9yhdYVOaDltC2T10ENk2-sh3NDmqjUQHIecq35OhqQJ-n8YbLcrASe3pIjN2SIoxO6FCoHU6/s1932/B%20Flows%20Compendium%202022.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="671" data-original-width="1932" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS0J7sYPnIqyauXvmO1XW1KPOp3_Aoh7iLcIpFFbdxR8MXOspKTF6LlByT6EVpIWCA41fMP1pfJG1vUmre0Xa66nCRDR140uwcxHPNxQ02-cYWGjhD9yhdYVOaDltC2T10ENk2-sh3NDmqjUQHIecq35OhqQJ-n8YbLcrASe3pIjN2SIoxO6FCoHU6/w400-h139/B%20Flows%20Compendium%202022.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p> <b>To all who sat the B-paper today:</b></p><p><span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">What are your first impressions to this year's B-paper?</span><br /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Any general or specific comments?</span><br /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Surprising elements in the client's letter and the prior art?</span><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span><span style="background-color: white;">Did you have enough time?</span></span></p><p><span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">How many marks do you expect to have scored?</span><br /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">What is your expectation of the pass rate and the average score?</span><br /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">How did this year's paper compare to the 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022 papers?</span><br /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Similar difficulty level?</span><br /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Could you understand the examiner's objections? And the client's wishes based on his letter and his proposed amendments? Was the Art.123(2) argumentation difficult, if any? Clarity? Novelty? Closest prior art selection, distinguishing feature, effect, objective technical problem, and the rest of the inventive step argumentation?</span><br /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Was the subject-matter well understandable, for chemists as well as e/m candidates?<br />Multiple independent claims? Functional features?</span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">What was the effect of doing it online? Of typing your answer rather than writing it by hand? Could you benefit from being able to copy from the exam paper into your answer? And from copying parts of your answer elsewhere into your answer?</span></div><div><span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">How did you experience taking the exam from your home or office location rather than in an examination center?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">What was the effect of the situation that you had to take the exam largely from the screen (as only part of the paper could be printed) rather than from paper?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Did you experience any technical difficulties during the exam? How & how fast were they solved?</span></div><br /></span><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="margin: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">The paper and our answers</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0cm;"><b><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #990000;">Copies of the paper will be provided on this blog as soon as we have received copies of the papers, preferably in all three languages (English, French and German). <i>Should you have a copy, please send it to any of our tutors or to training@deltapatents.com.</i></span><i><br /></i></b><br style="background-color: white;" /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">The core of our answers will be given as soon as possible in a separate blog post.</span></div><div style="margin: 0cm;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0cm;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><div style="margin: 0cm;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif"><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Please be reminded that you can view and print/download copy of your exam answer after the exam, via the eye below the "1. Paper"-icon in the bottom left part of the flow window of the respective flow. (It may not be available immediately after the official end of the (part of the) paper, but only 30-60 minutes later.) Apart from the pre-printable parts, the paper itself cannot be downloaded (unless you copied it in full into your exam answer).</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQBH5ce5CgbVT1NR8v684F4J6sallEKypi6v3QZa-RQau1eqTo-nVdJ_w5bWhD136cu85FNBykJWCIUzV4sgnq1wuvEtBT0rbvzl3v_0GgZyV03kVeqVcLjTcNT-nmGssjj5X8zJ6fv_Qqvs70daJGAqBpHWjoag_CQb2Df0FxEWIQIMticQ_gNWJAQ/s2533/D2%20flow%20page%20after%20handin%20-%20detail%20annotated.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="927" data-original-width="2533" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtQBH5ce5CgbVT1NR8v684F4J6sallEKypi6v3QZa-RQau1eqTo-nVdJ_w5bWhD136cu85FNBykJWCIUzV4sgnq1wuvEtBT0rbvzl3v_0GgZyV03kVeqVcLjTcNT-nmGssjj5X8zJ6fv_Qqvs70daJGAqBpHWjoag_CQb2Df0FxEWIQIMticQ_gNWJAQ/w400-h146/D2%20flow%20page%20after%20handin%20-%20detail%20annotated.png" width="400" /></a></div></div></span></div></span></div><h4 style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><b><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></b></h4><h4 style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><b><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">We look forward to your comments!</span></i></b></h4><span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Comments are welcome in any official EPO language, not just English. So, comments in German and French are also very welcome!</span><br /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><b>Please do not post your comments anonymously</b> - it is allowed, but it makes responding more difficult and rather clumsy ("Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms Anonymous of 14-03-2023 14:14"), whereas using your real name or a nickname is more personal, more interesting and makes a more attractive conversation. <b>You do not need to log in or make an account - it is OK to just put your (nick) name at the end of your post.</b></span><br /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Please post your comments as to first impressions and general remarks to this blog.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Please post responses to our answer (as soon as available) to the separate blog post with our answer.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Thanks!</span></span></div>Roel van Woudenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15823355175016282250noreply@blogger.com284tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212461954471994208.post-38382246671463083362023-03-14T08:00:00.002+01:002023-03-14T08:00:00.163+01:00Our paper B blog will open for comments after the end of the exam, 14 March 2023, 13:00<p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Good luck with paper B!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black;">Our EQE blogs will be open for your comments and opinions w.r.t. the </span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://pre-exam.blogspot.nl/" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #da8044; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Pre-Exam</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black;">, </span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://eqe-a-em.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #da8044; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black;">, </span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://eqe-b-em.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #da8044; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">B</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black;">, </span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://eqe-c.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #da8044; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">C </span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black;">and </span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://eqe-d.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #da8044; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">D </span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black;">shortly after the exams. We will post our (provisional) answers to the various papers shortly after the exam. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #990000;">Do not post any comments as to the merits of the answers of a certain exam paper/flow on the blogs while an exam/flow is still ongoing. Also, do not post the invigilator password or anything else that may be considered the breach of the exam regulations, instructions to the candidates, code of conducts, etc </span></i></b><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #990000;">(see, e.g., <a href="https://www.epo.org/learning/eqe.html" target="_blank">EQE homepage</a>, <a href="https://www.epo.org/learning/eqe/notices.html" target="_blank">EQE notices,</a> </span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #990000;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #da8044; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="https://www.epo.org/learning/eqe/e-eqe.html" target="_blank">EQE online website</a></span></span></i></b><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #990000;">, MyEQE, and the emails from the EQE secretariat)</span></i></b><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #990000;">.</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><br /><br />All candidates, as well as tutors who helped candidates prepare for EQE 2023, are invited to contribute to the discussions on our EQE blogs! You can post your comments in English, French or German. You are invited to post your comments under your real name, but it is also possible to use a nickname if you wish to hide your identify.<br /><br /></span><span style="color: black;">The DeltaPatents team</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">NB: you can not comment to this blog post; comments will be accepted from a new blog post as of 13:00</span></p>Roel van Woudenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15823355175016282250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212461954471994208.post-80244416127897855892022-09-28T09:19:00.001+02:002022-09-28T09:19:54.672+02:00EQE 2023 exam schedule now available: Paper B<p>The <a href="https://documents.epo.org/projects/babylon/eponot.nsf/0/D0B406A4EAF99D0DC12588CA00285642/$FILE/Schedule_EQE2023_EN.pdf" target="_blank">"Information on the schedule for the EQE 2023 examination papers"</a> is now available on <a href="https://www.epo.org/learning/eqe.html" target="_blank">the EQE website</a>. </p><p>The EQE 2023 will take place online using the same setup as the EQE of 2021 and 2022.</p><p>Paper A will have the same syllabus and character as before. Paper B lasts 3.5 hours (9:30 - 13:30 CET)</p><p>Candidates will be allowed to print the prior-art documents and the drawing(s), but none of the following: the description and claims of the application, the EPO communication, the client's letter and the amended claims. The documents allowed for printing will be made available approximately ten minutes before the start of the examination.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz5fOUd482j2blccrDY_ib84xfoM3cStdbpSkxkY3zlFiQxlJwtmj8SEyBkcvYrRiJXYMc0e6r2xt0yA9nJWRK8aQi3G_00alZwYCgBYxfjD2vz9ZMxUgJZOFjQgZH6bwlb22jR_LcPjRVufMc4M-xUOHzL4A72FQ6tRA80qQuFNzSuVld5_p0oi-H/s993/Schedule_EQE2023_EN%20(27.09.2022)%20-%20Intro%20General.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="993" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz5fOUd482j2blccrDY_ib84xfoM3cStdbpSkxkY3zlFiQxlJwtmj8SEyBkcvYrRiJXYMc0e6r2xt0yA9nJWRK8aQi3G_00alZwYCgBYxfjD2vz9ZMxUgJZOFjQgZH6bwlb22jR_LcPjRVufMc4M-xUOHzL4A72FQ6tRA80qQuFNzSuVld5_p0oi-H/w400-h244/Schedule_EQE2023_EN%20(27.09.2022)%20-%20Intro%20General.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dM1c3KVCtW5i7ZGxfKOR9xzcWKGdjER92iqM0VoU7BrDJlj3V88Xoaz2MkSzz_obsmWKBkJdAzhAaW9pjtk1ZX9LVtLNMhIbUymUalPo6PoQBLK9vZtS0voUnLBiKnaj-rLesNCjyRgxUezfx1IoA6Ji2MoMh9Xrhpt4NUb1MTjqhDVrrJ_18lfh/s992/Schedule_EQE2023_EN%20(27.09.2022)%20-%20Paper%20B.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="509" data-original-width="992" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dM1c3KVCtW5i7ZGxfKOR9xzcWKGdjER92iqM0VoU7BrDJlj3V88Xoaz2MkSzz_obsmWKBkJdAzhAaW9pjtk1ZX9LVtLNMhIbUymUalPo6PoQBLK9vZtS0voUnLBiKnaj-rLesNCjyRgxUezfx1IoA6Ji2MoMh9Xrhpt4NUb1MTjqhDVrrJ_18lfh/w400-h205/Schedule_EQE2023_EN%20(27.09.2022)%20-%20Paper%20B.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>(Note that that the document may be subject to minor changes as testing continues. Please check the EQE website for updates)</p><p>Please feel invited to post your comments. You are allowed to post anonymously and do not need an account, but please give your name or a nickname for an easy and inter-human interaction.</p>Roel van Woudenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15823355175016282250noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212461954471994208.post-55270632667660321812022-03-15T16:50:00.004+01:002022-07-07T09:49:08.188+02:00Our attempt at e-EQE Paper B 2022 - Snowshoe<p>Here's our attempt at this year's seasonal paper B about snowshoes. Although the paper was rather mechanical, luckily a deep understanding of the intricacies of shafts, axles, and pulleys did not seem necessary to arrive at (what we expect to be) the right claim amendments. You can find our solution by clicking on "Read more" below.</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">We look forward to your comments!</h4><p>Comments are welcome in any official EPO language, not just English. So, comments in German and French are also very welcome!</p><p><b>Please do not post your comments anonymously</b> - it is allowed, but it makes responding more difficult and rather clumsy ("Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms Anonymous of 02-03-2021 22:23"), whereas using your real name or a nickname is more personal, more interesting and makes a more attractive conversation. You do not need to log in or make an account - it is OK to just put your (nick) name at the end of your post.</p><p><i>Update, July 7 2022: the examiner's report is now available on the <a href="https://www.epo.org/learning/eqe/compendium/b.html" target="_blank">EPO website</a>. We have added some references to this model solution in our answer below.</i></p><div><br /></div><p>Nico and Meilof</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><h2 style="text-align: left;">Our answer</h2><h3 style="text-align: left;">Claim amendments (marked w.r.t. application as filed)</h3><div><span class="fontstyle0">1. A snowshoe comprising a foldable deck (1), a footplate (2) and a binding (3), wherein the deck (1) is composed of tiles connected by joints (6) and the footplate (2) comprises elastic means (7) for contracting the foldable deck (1) and attaching means (8, 9, 10) for attaching the foldable deck (1) to the footplate (2)<u>, wherein the elastic means (7) comprises an elastic band (7), and wherein the attaching means (8, 9, 10) comprises pulleys (8) for guiding the elastic band (7), wherein the attaching means (8, 9, 10) further comprises guiding slots (9) in the footplate (2) and axles (10) of the pulleys (8) sliding in the guiding slots (9), each axle (10) being attached to a joint (6)</u>.</span></div><div><span class="fontstyle0"><br /></span></div><div><span class="fontstyle0"><i>Comment: the proposal by the client is doubtful both in terms of basis and in terms of novelty over D1. We follow the hint in the client's letter to use the wording of claim 6 to amend the claim without inserting the "expansion control means" (which is indeed possible in terms of basis). T</i></span><i>he "sliding" feature is not very nice in terms of being an active formulation in a product claim. A formulation such as "can slide" (cf. [7]) or "slidable" may be slightly preferred. [NB: the model solution also uses "sliding".]</i></div><div><span class="fontstyle0"><br /></span><span class="fontstyle0">2. The snowshoe according to claim 1, wherein the tiles have quadrangular (4) and curved triangular (5) shapes</span><span class="fontstyle0">.</span></div><div><span class="fontstyle0"><br /></span></div><div><span class="fontstyle0"><i>Comment: there does not appear to be good basis for generalizing this claim in the way proposed by the client. Paragraph [6] says that "</i></span><i>the tiles have a quadrangular 4 or a curved triangular 5 shape", but this is only the case for "the example shown", which clearly has a combination of both. Accordingly, we have not adopted the proposal of the client.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>[NB: according to the model solution, the above paragraph is considered to provide sufficient basis for "and/or"]</i></div><div><span class="fontstyle0"><br /></span><span class="fontstyle0">3. The snowshoe according to claim <u>1 or </u>2, wherein the tiles (4, 5) <strike>consist of</strike><u>comprise</u> two carbon fibre layers (20) sandwiching a joint layer (19) <strike>consisting of</strike><u>comprising</u> a flexible plastic sheet made of a material like polyvinyl acetate and/or polyethyl acetate.</span></div><div><span class="fontstyle0"><br /></span></div><div><span class="fontstyle0"><i>Comment: the client's proposed replacement of the first "consist" into "comprise" is OK in view of [11]. The same paragraph also uses the wording "comprising" for the joint layer, so we are adopting this as well. In view of [13] it is also possible to make this claim dependent on claim 1, and there may be marks available for doing so, as e.g. in EQE B 2018.</i></span></div><div><br /></div><div><i>[NB: the model solution did not add this claim dependency.]</i></div><div><span class="fontstyle0"><i><br /></i></span><span class="fontstyle0"><strike>4. The snowshoe according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the elastic element (7) comprises an elastic band (7).</strike></span></div><div><span class="fontstyle0"><strike><br />5. The snowshoe according to claim 4, wherein the attaching means (8, 9, 10) comprises pulleys (8) for guiding the elastic band (7).</strike></span></div><div><span class="fontstyle0"><br /><strike>6</strike><u>4</u>. The snowshoe according to <strike>claim 5</strike><u>any preceding claim</u>, <strike>wherein the attaching means (8, 9, 10) further comprises guiding slots (9) in the footplate (2) and axles (10) of the pulleys (8) sliding in the guiding slots (9), each axle (10) being attached to a joint (6); and</strike> wherein the attaching means (8, 9, 10) comprises expansion control means (17) for limiting the sliding of the pulleys (8) in the guiding slots (9), such that the expansion of the foldable deck (1) is limited.</span></div><div><span class="fontstyle0"><br /></span><span class="fontstyle0"><strike>7</strike><u>5</u>. The snowshoe according to <strike>claim 5 or 6</strike><u>any preceding claim</u>, <strike>wherein the binding (3) is detached from the footplate (2) by means of disconnecting means (18) and pivoting means (12)</strike><u>further comprising disconnecting means (18) and pivoting means (12) for detaching the binding (3) from the footplate (2)</u>.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Comment: this formulation, as also used in the application as filed in [13], is slightly clearer than the "detachable" formulation by the client since it makes it explicit that the disconnecting means and the pivoting means are part of the claimed snowshoe. The amendment by the client may also be OK.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><i>[NB: according to the model solution it was also allowed to keep the "detachable" phrasing.]</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /></i><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span class="fontstyle0">Letter to the EPO</span></h2><span class="fontstyle2">This letter is in response to the communication of the EPO in the present case.<br /></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span class="fontstyle0">Basis in the application as filed (art. 123(2) EPC)</span></h3><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span class="fontstyle2">Claim 1</span></h4><span class="fontstyle2">Claim 1 is based on original claim 1 and is amended by including the features of original claims 4 and 5, and by including from original claim 6 that "the elastic means (7) comprises an elastic band (7), and wherein the attaching means (8, 9, 10) comprises pulleys (8) for guiding the elastic band (7), wherein the attaching means (8, 9, 10) further comprises guiding slots (9) in the footplate (2) and axles (10) of the pulleys (8) sliding in the guiding slots (9), each axle (10) being attached to a joint (6)".</span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br />Original claim 6 was based on original claim 5, which was based on original claim 4, which was based on original claim 2 (or 3), which was based on original claim 1. Accordingly, claim 1 is amended by including the subject-matter of orginal claim 6 and its claim dependencies, except that the shape of the tiles according to original claim 2, and the expansion control means according to original claim 6, are not included.</span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br />In both cases this is allowed according to the intermediate generalization test, GL H-V 3.2.1. Namely, the features that are included are not related or inextricably linked to the features that have not been included, namely, the shape of the tile and the expansion control means.</span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br />In particular, with respect to the tile shape, the included features relate to a different part of the snowshoe. Moreover, the included features can be combined with tiles of a different shape, such as strips, as mentioned in the application as filed in [6] ("The tiles 4, 5 may, however, take different forms such as that of a strip.") and [13] ("The tiles 4, 5 may assume different shapes to those described above, e.g. they may take the form of strips.").</span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br />The included features are also not inextricably linked to the expansion control means since the application as filed explicitly mentions that the these expansion control means do not have to be included. This is explained in [12] of the application as filed where it is mentioned that "Expansion control means 17 can be positioned and fixed in the guiding slots 9", where it is also explained that the invention still works if the expansion control means are not included: "If the expansion control means 17 is not used, the deck 1 can expand to its maximum width. In this state it has a flat surface (Fig. 2a), providing maximum stability on powder snow.". This is also confirmed in [13] where it is mentioned that "In some embodiments the expansion control means 17 [...] may be omitted.".</span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br />Moreover, the overall disclosure justifies the generalising isolation of the included features and their introduction into the claim. This is because the application as filed explicitly mentions, e.g., in [13], that the shape of the tiles can be varied and the expansion control means do not have to be included. Accordingly, the inclusion of some but not all features of original claim 6 and its dependencies is an allowable intermediate generalization.</span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br />Further, claim 1 is amended by referring to "elastic means" instead of an "elastic element" as in original claim 4. This amendment also has basis since it </span>merely fixes an inconsistency in the wording; it is clear from the application as filed e.g. in [4] ("The footplate comprises elastic means for contracting the foldable deck and attaching means for attaching the footplate to the foldable deck. In preferred embodiments the elastic element may comprise ...") that the terms elastic means and elastic element can be used interchangeably.</div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br /></span><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span class="fontstyle2">Claim 2</span></h4><span class="fontstyle2">Claim 2 is based on original claim 2 and is itself unamended. Claim 2 depends on claim 1, which has been amended as outlined above. The features of claim 2 are compatible with the amendment of claim 1 as can be observed e.g., by the claim dependency of original claim 6 (which is now included in claim 1) on original claim 2. Moreover, the shape of the tiles is not related or inextricably linked to the expansion control means so that it is also allowable to specify the shape of the tiles without including the expansion control means.</span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br /></span><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span class="fontstyle2">Claim 3</span></h4><span class="fontstyle2">Claim 3 is based on original claim 2 and has been re-worded based on [11] of the application as filed, where it states that "In Fig. 4 the tiles 4, 5 comprise at least three layers, i.e. two carbon fibre layers 20 sandwiching a joint layer 19. The joint layer 19 comprises a flexible plastic sheet made of a material like polyvinyl acetate and/or polyethyl acetate.". According to this passage, it is clear that the tiles may comprise additional layers in adition to the three layers specified, and that the joint layer may comprise (as opposed to consist of) a flexible plastic sheet as specified. Claim 3 is further amended to make the claim dependent on claim 1 or 2.</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Claim 3 dependent on claim 1 is based on original claims 1, 4, 5, and 6, where the shape of the tiles and the expansion control means do not have to be included as argued above. In particular, the teaching of [13] that the tiles can take on various shapes relates to full embodiment so also to the teaching of [11] that describes the layers of the tiles.</div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br />Claim 3 dependent on claim 2 is based on original claims 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6, where the expansion control means do not have to be included as argued above.</span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br />Original claims 4 and 5 are cancelled without prejudice.</span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br /></span><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span class="fontstyle2">Claim 4</span></h4>Claim 4 corresponds to original claim 6 which is now renumbered and from which the attachment means, which has been incorporated into amended claim 1, has been omitted. The subject matter of claim 4 is supported by the combination of original claims 1, 4, 5 and 6 (where the specific shape of the tiles as per original claim 2 has been omitted and the elastic element has been changed into elastic means, see the allowability of these changes for claim 1 above). In addition, according to [0013], the expansion control means is in general an optional feature, which supports a combination with the</div><span class="fontstyle0">embodiments of any one of claims 1 to 3.</span>
<br style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-size-adjust: auto;" /><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br /></span></div><div><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span class="fontstyle2">Claim 5</span></h4><span class="fontstyle0"><span class="fontstyle0">Claim 5 corresponds to original claim 7 which is now renumbered and of which the dependency has been changed to depend on any one of claims 1 to 4. The subject matter of claim 5 is supported by the combination of original claims 1, 4, 5 and 6 and 7 (where the specific shape of the tiles as per original claim 2 has been omitted and the elastic element has been changed into elastic means, see the allowability of these changes for claim 1 above). </span></span></div><div><span class="fontstyle0"><span class="fontstyle0"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="fontstyle0"><span class="fontstyle0">In additional, the claimis </span></span>amended by rephrasing the claim feature as a structural feature of the snowshoe itself, namely, by stating that the snowshoe further comprises disconnecting means and pivoting means for detaching the binding from the footplate. The wording of this clarification is taken literally from [13] of the application as filed.</div><div><span class="fontstyle0"><span class="fontstyle0"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="fontstyle0"><span class="fontstyle0">According to [0013], the disconnecting means and pivoting means are in general optional features, which supports a combination with the embodiments of any one of claims 1 to 4.</span>
<br style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br /></span></div><div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span class="fontstyle0">Clarity (art. 84 EPC)</span></h3><span class="fontstyle2">Claim 1 now consistently refers to an elastic "means" instead of an elastic "element", thus remedying the clarity objection under point 5 of the communcation.</span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br />Claim 5 now recites the disconnecting means and pivoting means as structural features of the snowshoe for detaching the binding from the footplate, thus remedying the clarity objection under point 6 of the communication.</span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br /></span><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span class="fontstyle0">Novelty (art. 52(1), 54 EPC)</span></h3><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span class="fontstyle2">Document D1</span></h4><span class="fontstyle2">Document D1 discloses a snowshoe that contracts and expands to facilitate a more natural gait. The snowshoe comprising a foldable deck that can be reduced in size during walking, the deck being composed of tiles connected by flexible joints, and the snowshoe further comprising an elastic band that creates a biasing force on the tiles such that when the deck is not pressed onto the ground, the tiles are folded inwards and the surface of the deck is reduced.</span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br />The snowshoe comprisings a foldable deck and a footplate. The elastic band is attached to the deck using attaching means. The attaching means is part of the footplate. The elastic band is guided by pulleys 108a-b attached to the central tiles. The pulleys do not necessarily need to rotate freely, but may be fixed rigidly at the deck and may consist of circular discs each with a guiding slot for the elastic band.</span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br /></span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><span class="fontstyle0">D1, however, does not describe attaching means which comprise guiding slots in the footplate and axles of the pulleys sliding in the guiding slots, each axle being attached to a joint of the deck. While D1 describes attaching means, they do not comprise the features of the attaching means as claimed. In addition, while D1 describes guiding slots, these guiding slots are for guiding the elastic band and not for allowing the pulleys to slide therein. In addition, while D1 describes pulleys, these are mounted only in/to the deck and not to the footplate.</span>
<br style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-size-adjust: auto;" /></span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br />Accordingy, claim 1 is novel over D1, and so are the other claims by virtue of their dependency on claim 1.</span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br /></span><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span class="fontstyle2">Document D2</span></h4><span class="fontstyle2"><div>D2 describes a foldable deck for snowshoes. The deck is composed of quadrangular and curved triangular tiles. The tiles are composed of three layers, i.e. two carbon fibre layers sandwiching a joint layer. The joint layer is made of a flexible plastic sheet. The joint layer facilitates both the free movement of carbon fibre tiles and acts as a robust joint between the tiles.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="fontstyle0">Document D2 mentions that it is impossible to combine the deck with the snowshoe of document D1, since no solution could be found to attach the joints to the footplate in a way that allows the joints to move when the deck contracts and expands. Accordingly, this document does not provide an enabled disclosure of the deck of D2 in combination with the snowshoe of document D1.</span><br style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-size-adjust: auto;" /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><span class="fontstyle0">Accordingly, D2 does not disclose a snowshoe in which a footplate is attached to the foldable deck, nor specifically the attaching means as claimed for attaching the footplate to the deck. In addition, D2 does not disclose elastic means for contracting the deck.</span>
<br style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-size-adjust: auto;" /></span></div><div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br /></span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2">Accordingy, claim 1 is novel over D2, and so are the other claims by virtue of their dependency on claim 1.</span></div></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br /></span></div></span><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span class="fontstyle2">Document D3</span></h4><span class="fontstyle2"><div><span class="fontstyle2"><span class="fontstyle0">D3 describes a snowshoe in the form of an ice climbing shoe. The ice climbing shoe comprises a footplate and binding. The footplate can be attached to a deck and pivots around a pivot pin. The footplate is detachable from the deck by means of a quick disconnect.</span></span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><span class="fontstyle0"><br />D3, however, does not describe a foldable deck as claimed, nor the attachment means which comprise guiding slots in the footplate and axles of the pulleys sliding in the guiding slots, each axle being attached to a joint of the deck. While D3 describes slots, they are formed in the deck and not in the footplate.</span>
<br style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-size-adjust: auto;" /></span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br /></span></div>Accordingy, claim 1 is novel over D3, and so are the other claims by virtue of their dependency on claim 1.<br /></span><span class="fontstyle0"><br /></span></div><div><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span class="fontstyle0">Inventive step (art. 52(1), 56 EPC)</span></h3><span class="fontstyle2"><b>Closest prior art</b></span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br />Document D1 is the closest prior art for claim 1. It lies in the same technical field as claim 1, namely, snowshoes; and has the similar purpose of providing a snowshow that contracts and expands while walking, D1 [1]. It also has various features in common, in particular a deck of tiles and joints and a mechanism with pulleys and an elastic band.</span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br />Document D2 is less close than D1. Although it relates to decks for snowshoes and thus lies in the same technical field, it does not </span>disclose how the foldable deck can actually be attached to a snowshoe (i.e., <span class="fontstyle0">it does not disclose a snowshoe with the foldable deck), noes it </span>address the problem of contraction and expansion. D2 also has less features in common with the claim than document D1. It is thus a less promising starting point than document D1.</div><div><span class="fontstyle2">Document D3 is also less close than D1. Although it also relates to snowshoes and thus lies in the same technical field, it
<span class="fontstyle0">does not comprise a foldable deck that can be reduced in size during walking and it is </span>directed to a different </span>purpose of making the footplate detachable from the deck and allowing adjustment of the pivoting pin for doing so. For this reason it is a less suitable starting point than document D1.</div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br /><b>Distinguishing feature</b><br /><br /></span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><span class="fontstyle0">The distinguishing features over D1 include the attaching means as claimed which comprise guiding slots in the footplate and axles of the pulleys sliding in the guiding slots, each axle being attached to a joint of the deck.</span><br style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-size-adjust: auto;" /><br /></span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><b>Technical effect of the distinguishing feature</b></span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><b><br /></b>A disadvantage of document D1 is that the elastic band of D1 breaks easily due to continuous friction with the ground. Furthermore, the rear tiles and </span><span class="fontstyle2">hinder each other while folding and are more likely to break as a result.</span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br />The technical effect of the distinguishing feature of claim 1 is that the axles of the pulleys are attached to the joints and the axles can slide in guiding slots of the footplate. Thereby the pulleys are attached to the footplate in an adjustable manner thereby allowing folding or unfolding of the deck. The elastic band around the pulleys provides reversible elastic expansion and compression. This allows the deck to expand and contract while remaining robustly attached to the footplate, thus providing a more robust mechanism than document D1. See [14] of the application as filed.</span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br /><b>Objective technical problem</b></span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><b><br /></b>The objective technical problem may be phrased as providing a snowshoe with a footplate and a foldable deck, with a more robust, yet movable attachment of the footplate onto the foldable deck.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><b>Inventiveness, D1 by itself<br /></b><br /></span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2">Starting with document D1 and being confronted with the objective technical problem, the skilled </span>person cannot come up with a solution falling under the scope of the claim.</div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br />Document D1 does not suggest the solution provided by the claim in any kind of way. W</span>hile D1 describes attaching means which appear to attach D1's footplate to its deck, they do not comprise the features of the attaching means as claimed by which the footplate is attached to the foldable deck by axles of the pulleys being on the one hand connected to the footplate via guiding slots in the footplate and on the other hand connected to the deck via the joints of the deck. Rather, in D1, the footplate appears to be non-movably attached to a part of the deck. The skilled person seeking to provide a robust yet movable attachment of the footplate onto the foldable deck would thus not find a solution which falls within the scope of claim 1.</div><div><br /></div><div>In particular, the pulleys are fixed rigidly to sides of the deck, D1 [6], and there is no suggestion that it is beneficial to modify this. Moreover, the pulleys of document D1 are oriented in such a way and at such a place that it is not possible for axles of the pulleys to slide in any guiding slots provided in the footplate. </div><div><br /><div><span class="fontstyle2">Moreover, although document D1 discloses slots 109a, 109b, D1 [3] as also mentioned by the examiner, these slots are used to separate respective tiles. These slots are not comprised in the footplate and cannot be used to let axles of the pulleys slide in them, and accordingly, do not help the killed person to arrive at the claim. </span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br />Instead, being confronted with the objective technical problem of improving robustness, the skilled person may use a more durable elastic band or a different configuration of the tiles. This does not lead the skilled person toward the claim. According, the skilled person cannot arrive at the claim.</span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br /><b>Inventiveness, D1+D2<br /></b><br /></span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2">The skilled person would not combine document D1 with document D2, since document D2 explicitly mentions that such a combination does not lead to a workable solution, D2 [2]. </span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br /></span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2">However, even if the skilled person would combine document D1 with document D2, this would not bring the skilled person any closer to the claim since document D2 fails to disclose any of the missing features. According, no combination of documents D1 and D2 leads the skilled person to claim 1.</span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br /><b>Inventiveness, D1+D3<br /></b><br /></span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2">The skilled person would not combine document D1 with document D3, since document D3 does not </span>address the objective technical problem that the skilled person wants to solve, namely, improved robustness.</div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br />However, even if the skilled person would try to combine documents D1 and D3, this would not allow the skilled person to arrive at the claim. As also mentioned by the examiner, document D3 does disclose a pivot pin that, at first glance, has a number of features in common with the claim, in particular, an axle, a pulley, and an elastic band. Namely, the pivot pin is implemented as an axle attached to the footplate. The axle is held by a slot in the deck and screwed to a pulley. The position of the pivot pin can be changed by moving the axle forwards and backwards in the slot, as indicated by<br />the arrows. An elastic band with a handle is attached to the pulley, D3 [4].</span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br /></span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2">However, these features are used in document D3 for a completely different purpose than in claim 1, and accordingly, the skilled person would not implement them. A goal of document D3 is to allows the position of the pivot pin to adjust to the snowshoe’s centre of gravity. Another goal is to be able to quickly disconnect the pulley from the axle. Neither goals relate to improving the robustness, so the skilled person would not consider to implement the features of document D3.</span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br />In any case, document D3 differs from the claim in that the position of the slots and the function of the axle are completely different (D3, [4]-[5]). In document D3, the slot is formed in the deck, and based on document D3 the skilled person would also not deviate this because "the inventive idea is that the slot 309 is formed in the deck 301", D3 [5]. According to the claim, however, the guiding slots are provided in the footplate and not in the deck, and the axles are attached to some of the joints. So also for this reason, the features do not allow the skilled person to arrive at the claim.</span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br />In conclusion, no combination of documents D1 and D3 leads the skilled person to claim 1.</span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br /><b>Inventiveness, D1+D2+D3 and conclusion</b></span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><b><br /></b>The skilled person would not combine documents D1, D2, and D3 for the reasons above, in particular since document D2 is explicitly mentioned to be incompatible with document D3 and since neither document D2 nor document D3 propose to solve the objective technical problem that the skilled person has.</span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br />However, in the unlikely case where the skilled person tried to combine the teachings of documents D1, D2, and D3, the skilled person would still not arrive at a solution falling under the scope of the claim. In particular, none of the documents teach to attach pulley axles to joints of the deck, so no combination of documents D1-D3 can provide this feature.</span></div><div><span class="fontstyle2"><br />Accordingly, new claim 1 is inventive over the cited art, and so are the depending claims by virtue of their claim dependency.</span><br /></div></div>Meilofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13658944369463258403noreply@blogger.com66tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212461954471994208.post-35957979073585678752022-03-15T13:00:00.011+01:002022-09-29T09:14:17.456+02:00Paper B Online EQE 2022: first impressions?<p><b>To all who sat the B-paper today:</b></p><span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">What are your first impressions to this year's B-paper?</span><br /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Any general or specific comments?</span><br /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Surprising elements in the client's letter and the prior art?</span><br /><br /></span><div><span style="background-color: white;">Did you have enough time?</span></div><span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">How many marks do you expect to have scored?</span><br /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">What is your expectation of the pass rate and the average score?</span><br /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">How did this year's paper compare to the 2017, 2018. 2019 and 2021 papers?</span><br /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Similar difficulty level?</span><br /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Could you understand the examiner's objections? And the client's wishes based on his letter and his proposed amendments? Was the Art.123(2) argumentation difficult, if any? Clarity? Novelty? Closest prior art selection, distinguishing feature, effect, objective technical problem, and the rest of the inventive step argumentation?</span><br /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Was the subject-matter well understandable, for chemists as well as e/m candidates?<br />Multiple independent claims? Functional features?</span></span><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">What was the effect of doing it online? Of typing your answer rather than writing it by hand? Could you benefit from being able to copy from the exam paper into your answer? And from copying parts of your answer elsewhere into your answer?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">How did you experience taking the exam from your home or office location rather than in an examination center?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">(How) was it different due to the due of the LockDown Browser?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">What was the effect of the situation that you had to take the exam largely from the screen (as only part of the paper could be printed) rather than from paper?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Did you experience any technical difficulties during the exam? How & how fast were they solved?</span></div><br /></span><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="margin: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">The paper and our answers</span></b></div><div style="margin: 0cm;"><span style="color: #990000;">We will upload the paper and the core of our answers once we received a copy of the paper.</span></div><h4 style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><b><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></b></h4><h4 style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><b><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">We look forward to your comments!</span></i></b></h4><span><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Comments are welcome in any official EPO language, not just English. So, comments in German and French are also very welcome!</span><br /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Please do not post your comments anonymously - it is allowed, but it makes responding more difficult and rather clumsy ("Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms Anonymous of 15-03-2022 15:15"), whereas using your real name or a nickname is more personal, more interesting and makes a more attractive conversation. You do not need to log in or make an account - it is OK to just put your (nick) name at the end of your post.</span><br /><br style="background-color: white;" /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Please post your comments as to first impressions and general remarks to this blog.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Please post responses to our answer (as soon as available) to the separate blog post with our answer.</span><br /><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Thanks!</span></span></div>Roel van Woudenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15823355175016282250noreply@blogger.com191tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212461954471994208.post-53793599896179546242022-03-15T10:00:00.004+01:002022-03-15T12:58:31.430+01:00Paper B 2022 blog will open after the end of the exam, 15 March 2022 13:00<p><span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Good luck with paper B!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black;">Our EQE blogs will be open for your comments and opinions w.r.t. the </span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://pre-exam.blogspot.nl/" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #da8044; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Pre-Exam</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black;">, </span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://eqe-a-em.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #da8044; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black;">, </span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://eqe-b-em.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #da8044; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">B</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black;">, </span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://eqe-c.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #da8044; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">C </span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black;">and </span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://eqe-d.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #da8044; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">D </span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black;">shortly after the exams. We will post our (provisional) answers to the various papers shortly after the exam. To facilitate the discussions, we will also post copies of the papers as soon as possible after we received reasonably clean copies.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #990000;">Do not post any comments as to the merits of the answers of a certain exam paper/flow on the blogs while an exam/flow is still ongoing. Also, do not post the invigilator password or anything else that may be considered the breach of the exam regulations, instructions to the candidates, code of conducts, etc (see, e.g., </span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #990000;"><a href="https://www.epo.org/learning/eqe/e-eqe.html" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #da8044; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">e-EQE website</span></a></span></i></b><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #990000;"> and the emails from the EQE secretariat).</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><br /><br />All candidates, as well as tutors who helped candidates prepare for EQE 2022, are invited to contribute to the discussions on our EQE blogs! You can post your comments in English, French or German. You are invited to post your comments under your real name, but it is also possible to use a nickname if you wish to hide your identify.<br /><br /></span><span style="color: black;">The DeltaPatents team</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">NB: you can not comment to this blog post; comments will be accepted from a new blog post as of 13:00</span></p>Roel van Woudenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15823355175016282250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212461954471994208.post-47896027159095123132021-11-25T15:18:00.006+01:002022-01-13T17:26:18.715+01:00 Mock B under exam conditions on 2 December 2021 (and in 3 Feb 2022)<p> <span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">A mock B exam under exam conditions </span>allowing you to test the updated WISEflow version with video/audio invigilation is available on 8 December 2021. See <a href="http://eqe-deltapatents.blogspot.com/2021/08/detailed-time-schedule-eqe-2022.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p>The main purpose of the December Mocks is to test your equipment and settings, including camera and audio.</p><p>You can practice the papers at a later moment, as they will again be made available as Mock papers for a longer period, but without invigilation.</p><p><span style="background-color: white;">It has also been announced by email from the EQE secretariat to all candidates that, i</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #990000;"> <b>a further mock under exam conditions</b> </span><span style="background-color: white;">will be conducted on <b style="color: #990000;">3 February 2022</b><span style="color: #990000;">. </span>The purpose of this mock is to check your equipment and settings. This mock will not contain a new paper</span><span style="background-color: white;">, but a known paper used in t</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e;">he currently open mocks. </span></p><p><b style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #990000;">Please feel invited to post your experiences with the Mock and the platform, comments and tips</span></b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> as comments to this blog. It is appreciated if you use your name or a nickname in your post, for easy reference (you can use the Anonymous option and close the message with your name, or use the google account or name option).</span></p>Roel van Woudenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15823355175016282250noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212461954471994208.post-62409463691177264202021-03-07T11:39:00.009+01:002021-03-08T11:57:34.427+01:00Paper B e-EQE 2021: The jury is still outThis year’s paper B was very difficult. The client's wishes and proposed amendments could scarcely be reconciled with the disclosure of the application as filed. Even among DP's experienced attorneys and tutors, this year’s paper led to dramatically different solutions.<div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Although it was <a href="http://documents.epo.org/projects/babylon/eponot.nsf/0/66EB601464EC7BECC12586320050164F/$FILE/ExamPapers%20EQE%202021_EN.pdf">promised that</a> <i>"Paper B will have the same syllabus and character as before"</i>,</span> Paper B looked different in design from previous years. This year’s candidates were confronted, for the first time, with third-party observations, a computer-implemented invention (or not?), and client's claims with unusual (and incomplete) tracking of changes. In particular, the accumulation of these issues appears to have placed a very high burden on the candidates.</div><div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">So far, we have been able to draw up several "solutions", each of which has its strengths and shortcomings - both in the light of meeting the wishes of the client, as well as good defensibility against the requirements of Art. 123(2), and with a clear narrative for the problem-solution approach.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">For that reason, we will present below, for the first time, several proposals for amended claims, and our considerations thereof. </span></div></div><div><span><a name='more'></a></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Claim 1 could have been amended as follows:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">1. A container (1) for organic refuse, comprising</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">a. an upper compartment (3) having a support (3a) for
holding the refuse (7) populated with earthworms (8);</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">b. a lower compartment (4) for collecting excess moisture (6<u>),
wherein optionally the lower compartment (4) is removable</u>;</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">c. drain holes (5) permitting moisture to drain from the
upper to the lower compartment<u>, or when the lower compartment (4) is
removable directly into soil if the</u></span><span style="color: #990000;"><u> upper </u></span><span style="color: #990000;"><u>compartment (3) is placed directly on the soil</u></span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">; and</span></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">d. an upwardly opening covering lid (2) which fits over the
container (1)<u>, wherein the container comprises a water spraying device (13)
<i>connected to a water container (14)</i></u><i>.</i></span></p></div></blockquote><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The client had removed "for organic refuse", but there only seems to be support for a container for "organic (kitchen) refuse"</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The client had added "<span class="fontstyle0">and/or housefly eggs"; while there is basis for (earth)worms <u>and</u> optional additives (cf. [022]), which may be
<span class="fontstyle0">housefly eggs (cf. [003])</span>, there seems to be no basis for </span>"housefly eggs" alone as implied by the "or" language; the "housefly eggs" as additives can be put in a dependent claim</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The client had deleted the "lower compartment" and the "drain holes", because, according to the client, "<span class="fontstyle0">the lower compartment and the drain holes are both optional and are not essential to the container</span></span></li><ul><li>deleting both the lower compartment and the drain holes, without adding a replacement feature, seems to certainly contravene Art. 123(2) as the invention clearly requires excess water to be drained. A possible solution is to replace both features by a more <u>functional </u>definition, e.g., “means for draining moisture from the refuse”, with possible support from [020] combined with [004], but ultimately we expected it not to be directly and unambiguously derivable from the application as filed, i.e., to contravene Art. 123(2) (and it would be very much against the established style of Paper B in which the wording of amendments are directly derivable from the wording of the application as filed - including for functional claim language)</li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">the drain holes seem essential, because they not only are a means for controlling the moisture of the refuse, but they also <span class="fontstyle0">prevent the earthworms from falling from the upper compartment into the lower compartment (and the soil) (cf. [017])</span><br style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /></span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="fontstyle0">the lower compartment is trickier: both embodiments described and in the drawings have the lower compartment. But [018] says it<u> may be removable</u>; does this mean that it is non-essential and can be deleted? Indeed, we can argue that it was not explicitly explained as essential, is not indispensable for the invention (it can e.g. also drain on soil) and no compensating features are required for its removal - but is a container with only an "upper compartment" directly and unambiguously derivable </span>from the application as filed as being an invention per se? </span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The present amendment "<u>wherein optionally the lower compartment (4) is removable</u>" is our safe bet (and not completely in line with the client's wishes) - but we feel that a claim without the lower compartment and a convincing Art. 123(2) argumentation should get (more?) marks, too</span></li></ul><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">The client had added "<span class="fontstyle0">a water spraying device (13) for adjusting the moisture" and argued that this created novelty over D2 as <i>"</i></span><span class="fontstyle0"><i>in D2 the water spraying device is exclusively used for cleaning"</i>. </span> That argument does not hold, since the spraying device of D2 - attached to a tap - is of course also <i>suitable</i> for adjusting the moisture. [012] mentions a <span class="fontstyle0">water spraying device (13) <u>connected to a water container (14)</u></span></span></li><ul><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">it is easy to see that the amendment "connected to a water container" creates novelty over the tap of D2. It also allows arguing a convincing PSA starting from D1 as CPA: a skilled person seeking to improve moisture control in the refuse, would not consider D2 as it is concerned with removing water, and it merely teaches to use a spraying device connected to a tap for cleaning the container</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">however, we can also understand that candidates struggled with adding the "water container" part to the claim, as this seems to be an external component to the container (see Fig. 2), and therefore seems to modify the claim in a "kit-of-parts". We also struggled with that, and with the fact that it results in a claim that is easy to circumvent.</span></li></ul></ul><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><u>An alternative solution could be:</u></span></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">1. A container (1) for organic refuse, comprising</span></p></div></div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">a. an upper compartment (3) having a support (3a) for holding the refuse (7) populated with earthworms (8);</span></p></div></div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">b. a <u>removable</u> lower compartment (4) for collecting excess moisture (6<u>)</u>;</span></p></div></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">c. drain holes (5) permitting moisture to drain from the upper to the lower compartment<u>, or directly into soil i</u></span><span style="color: #990000;"><u>f the</u></span><span style="color: #990000;"><u> upper </u></span><span style="color: #990000;"><u>compartment (3) is placed directly on the soil</u></span><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">; and</span></p></div><div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">d. an upwardly opening covering lid (2) which fits over the container (1)<u>, wherein the container comprises a water spraying device (13)
<span class="fontstyle0">for spraying water on the refuse</span></u></span></p></div></div></blockquote><p></p><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Novel over D1 (no spraying device at all) and over D2 (no removable lower compartment) and similar PSA story, with the addition that a removable lower compartment is undesirable w.r.t. <span class="fontstyle0">larvae</span> being present there<br style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-size-adjust: auto;" /></span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">But: rather limited w.r.t. to the original claim, and also not fully in line with client's wishes.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">In this solution, the connection to the water container is removed, but could also be included (see above for arguments; if you conclude that the water container as such is not indispensible for the function it serves, which is to supply water to the water spraying device, as it could be any type of water source/supply)</span></li></ul></div><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Further possible amendments (possibly as alternative solutions to limiting claim 1 to "connected to water container" and/or "removable") were:</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">a </span><u style="font-family: inherit;">moisture detector</u><span style="font-family: inherit;"> (</span><span class="fontstyle0" style="font-family: inherit;">with a display)</span></span></li><ul><li><span class="fontstyle0"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">In D1, but not in D2</span></span></li><li><span class="fontstyle0"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">present in all embodiments that use a water spraying device</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;"><span class="fontstyle0">seems required for the moisture data step of the </span><span class="fontstyle0">calculation method</span></span></li><li><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;"><span class="fontstyle0">not suggested in any way by client, so rather arbitrary (not B style) amendment</span><br style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-size-adjust: auto;" /></span></li></ul><li><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;"><u>adjustable size</u> of the drain holes (cf. [017])</span></li><ul><li><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">it contributes to the invention's effect of <u>active control of the moisture</u></span></li><li><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">however, again arbitrary in view of the client's wishes</span></li></ul></ul><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>As far as the other (independent) claims are concerned:</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The claim to a <span class="fontstyle0">method for producing a fertilizer (original claim 4) was amended by the client to include</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="fontstyle0">"</span><span class="fontstyle0">and/or housefly eggs"; as for claim 1, not supported</span></span></li><li><span class="fontstyle0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"earthworms" instead of "worms"; this amendment (supported by [006]) is indeed required to overcome the Examiner's objection </span></span></li><li><span class="fontstyle0"><span style="font-family: inherit;">a backreference to the preceding container claims; that makes sense for restoring novelty over D1 and D2</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="fontstyle0">specifying "</span><span class="fontstyle0">by spraying water on said refuse" (NB: not tracked, and not explained by the client!) in step b</span></span></li></ul><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">The following claim seems to be an acceptable amendment, also taking into account the removable lower compartment/soil option of amended claim 1:</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">X. A method for producing a fertilizer, the method
comprising the following steps</span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">a. providing a container (1) <u>according to any of claims 1-xx,
</u>comprising organic refuse (7) and <u>earth</u>worms (8);</span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">b. <s>optionally, </s>adjusting the moisture of the refuse<u> by spraying water on the refuse and/or by draining moisture
from the refuse</u>;</span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">c. composting the refuse with the <u>earth</u>worms for a
time sufficient to convert the refuse into fertilizer, and,</span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">d. optionally, separating <u>earth</u>worms from the
fertilizer.</span></p></blockquote><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>the step "<u>and/or by draining moisture from the refuse</u>" is likely not required because it can also be achieved automatically by the container. Novelty is already conferred by the use of the container of the invention itself</li></ul><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Finally, again - in our view - two viable options for dealing with "mental act" claim 6:</div><div><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;">9. A <u>computer-implemented </u>calculation method for optimizing processing organic
refuse, comprising the steps of<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;">a. defining a target value TV at time point tp > 0 for
the amount of the earthworms (8) present in the refuse (7) at said time point
tp;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;">b. receiving data relating to the moisture of refuse (7) and
the amount of earthworms (8) at a plurality of time points tp;<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;">c. determining if the value for the amount of earthworms (8)
present in the refuse (7) at tp > 0 is equal to the defined target value TV
for the amount of earthworms (8); and<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;">d. recommending adjusting the amount of moisture added to
the refuse (7) at said time point tp, if the value for the amount of earthworms
(8) present in the refuse at tp > 0 is not equal to the defined target value
TV for the amount of earthworms (8).</span></p></blockquote><p> </p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Basis in [024]: "</span><span class="fontstyle0">One, more or all steps of the method can be implemented by a computer"</span><br style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-size-adjust: auto;" /></li><li><span class="fontstyle0"><a href="https://www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/html/guidelines/e/g_ii_3_5_1.htm" target="_blank">GL G-II 3.5.1</a>: <i>"</i></span><i>Where a claim defining a method for performing mental acts as such is limited by specifying that the method is carried out by a computer, not only the use of a computer but also the steps carried out by the computer themselves may make a technical contribution if they are based on technical considerations and serve a technical purpose"</i></li><li>The main argument against this claim is that a large majority of EQE candidates is not familiar with computer-implemented inventions; on the other hand, any EQE candidiate is expected to be familiar with the main concepts of any technical field at a base level when sitting the exam, and you do not need to be more familiar CII than what the Guidelines and G 3/08 tell to be able to amend this claim as proposed above. In that sense, CII is not different from, e.g., second medical use.</li></ul><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">However, based on the proposal of the client, the following claim should also be allowable:</span></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;">X. A calculation method for optimizing processing organic
refuse, comprising the steps of</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;"><u>a. providing a container according to any one of claims 1
to xx comprising organic refuse and earthworms</u>,</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;">b<strike>a</strike>. defining a target value TV at time point tp > 0 for
the amount of the earthworms (8) present in the refuse (7) at said time point
tp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;">c<strike>b</strike>. receiving data relating to the moisture of refuse (7)
and the amount of earthworms (8) at a plurality of time
points tp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;">d<strike>c</strike>. determining if the value for the amount of earthworms (8)
present in the refuse (7) at tp > 0 is equal to the defined target value TV
for the amount of earthworms (8); and</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #990000;">e<strike>d</strike>. recommending adjusting the amount of moisture added to
the refuse (7) at said time point tp, if the value for the amount of earthworms
(8) present in the refuse at tp > 0 is not equal to the defined target value
TV for the amount of earthworms (8).</span></p></blockquote><p> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>It should be specified that the container comprises <u>organic refuse and earthworms</u> as the container of claim 1 itself does not necessarily has them present</li><li>With the container in the claim, the claim can no longer be objected to under Art.52(2)&(3)</li><li><a href="https://www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/html/guidelines/e/g_ii_3_5_1.htm" target="_blank">GL G-II 3.5.1</a>: <i>"A claimed method is not a method for performing mental acts as such if it requires the use of technical means (e.g. a computer, a measuring device, etc.) to carry out at least one of its steps or if it provides a physical entity as the resulting product"</i></li><li>With the container with the earthworms and the organic refuse in the claim, also the earthworms and the organic refuse are no longer abstract concepts but real things with technical character, so that also the further method steps are clearly technical and well-linked.</li><li>Main argument against this claim is that the "steps can be executed by a computer" information is not used.</li></ul><div><br /></div><div>With respect to the third party observations, we note that:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The announcement was published on the internet under www.opendayincotsford.com on 6 June 2018 does not disclose any container</li><li>Even though there were over 100 visitors who were impressed by the guided tour on 02 August 2018 at 11:45, where the public had access to the facilities and where the apparatus of claim 1 was located, the public could not see the internals of the container, not could they see the drain holes at the bottom of the container. There is no indication that the public could hold or open the containers to inspect them. As these claimed features were not visible, the open day on 02 Aug 2018 does not impact novelty of inventive step of the claim.</li><li>Further, there are no details given as to how the public could "learn how our earthworms and house flies produce fertilizer and feed", nor any evidence.</li></ul></div><div><br /></div>We did not want to delay posting a reasonable effort; however, because we feel we still may have overlooked something, we may post an updated answer in a few day's time. We will also provide at a later date (more of) our findings, including the dependent claims.<div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="color: #990000;">We look forward to your comments!</span></i></strong><span lang="EN-US" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;">Comments are welcome in any official EPO language, not just English. So, </span><b style="background-color: white;"><i>comments in German and French are also very welcome</i></b><span style="background-color: white;">!</span><br style="background-color: white;" /></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="background-color: white; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Please do not post y</span>our comments anonymously - use a nickname (or your real name) instead </span></b>- it makes responding more difficult and rather clumsy ("Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms Anonymous of 02-03-2021 22:23"), whereas using your real name or a nickname is more personal, more interesting and makes a more attractive conversation.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>You do not need to log in or make an account - it is OK to just put your (nick) name at the end of your post. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks!</span></div></div><div><br /></div><div>The DeltaPatents Team</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Note: you may also wish to check the comments posted to our first impressions blog, <a href="http://eqe-b-em.blogspot.com/2021/03/b-2020-first-impressions.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</div></div></div><div><br /></div>Jessica Kroezehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18066380138516465741noreply@blogger.com421tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212461954471994208.post-65258281403839831322021-03-04T13:00:00.002+01:002021-03-07T12:14:51.437+01:00Paper B e-EQE 2021: first impressions?<h4 style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 0px 12px;">
<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">To all who sat the B-paper today:</span></b></h4>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">What are your first impressions to this year's B-paper?</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Any general or specific comments?</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Surprising elements in the client's letter and the prior art?</span><br />
<br /></span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">What was the effect of doing it online? Of typing your answer rather than writing it by hand? Could you benefit from being able to copy from the exam paper into your answer? And from copying parts of your answer elsewhere into your answer?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">How did you experience taking the exam from your home or office location rather than in an examination center?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">(How) was it different due to the due of the LockDown Browser?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">What was the effect of the situation that you had to take the exam largely from the screen (as only part of the paper could be printed) rather than from paper?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Did you experience any technical difficulties during the exam? How & how fast were they solved?</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Did you have enough time?</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">How many marks do you expect to have scored?</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">What is your expectation of the pass rate and the average score?</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white;" />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">How did this year's paper compare to the 2017, 2018 and 2019 papers?</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Similar difficulty level?</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Could you understand the examiner's objections? And the client's wishes based on his letter and his proposed amendments? Was the Art.123(2) argumentation difficult, if any? Clarity? Novelty? Closest prior art selection, distinguishing feature, effect, objective technical problem, and the rest of the inventive step argumentation?</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white;" />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Was the subject-matter well understandable, for chemists as well as e/m candidates?<br />Multiple independent claims? Functional features?</span><br />
<br />
</span><div style="margin: 0cm;"><b><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">UPDATED! The paper and our answers</span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span></span><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://documents.epo.org/projects/babylon/eponot.nsf/0/3003815DE4A96079C125868E00487577/$File/B_2021_en.pdf" target="_blank">EQE 2021 Paper B (EN)</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://documents.epo.org/projects/babylon/eponot.nsf/0/3003815DE4A96079C125868E00487577/$File/B_2021_de.pdf" target="_blank">EQE 2021 Paper B (DE)</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://documents.epo.org/projects/babylon/eponot.nsf/0/3003815DE4A96079C125868E00487577/$File/B_2021_fr.pdf" target="_blank">EQE 2021 Paper B (FR)</a></span></li></ul></div><br style="background-color: white;" />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;"><i>[Update 7 March 2021:] </i>The core of our answers is provided <a href="https://eqe-b-em.blogspot.com/2021/03/paper-b-e-eqe-2021-jury-is-still-out.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br /></span>
<br />
</span><h4 style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><b><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></b></h4><h4 style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 0px 12px;">
<b><i><span style="color: #990000; font-family: inherit;">We look forward to your comments!</span></i></b></h4>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Comments are welcome in any official EPO language, not just English. So, comments in German and French are also very welcome!</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white;" />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Please do not post your comments anonymously - it is allowed, but it makes responding more difficult and rather clumsy ("Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms Anonymous of 04-03-2021 20:21"), whereas using your real name or a nickname is more personal, more interesting and makes a more attractive conversation. You do not need to log in or make an account - it is OK to just put your (nick) name at the end of your post.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white;" />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Please post your comments as to first impressions and general remarks to this blog.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Please post responses to our answer (as soon as available) to the separate blog post with our answer.</span><br />
<span face=""arial" , sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">Thanks!</span></span>DeltaPatents EQE Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926591520841144736noreply@blogger.com461tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212461954471994208.post-53849605848990968042021-03-04T09:30:00.002+01:002021-03-04T09:30:01.377+01:00Paper B 2021 blog will open after the end of the exam, 4 March 2021 13:00<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Good
luck with paper B!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black;">Our
EQE blogs will be open for your comments and opinions w.r.t. the </span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://pre-exam.blogspot.nl/" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #da8044; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Pre-Exam</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black;">, </span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://eqe-a-em.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #da8044; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">A</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black;">, </span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://eqe-b-em.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #da8044; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">B</span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black;">, </span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://eqe-c.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #da8044; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">C </span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black;">and </span><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://eqe-d.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #da8044; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">D </span></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: black;">shortly after
the exams. We will post our (provisional) answers to the various papers shortly
after the exam. To facilitate the discussions, we will also post copies of the
papers as soon as possible after we received reasonably clean copies.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #990000;">Do not post any comments as to
the merits of the answers of a certain exam paper/flow on the blogs while an
exam/flow is still ongoing. Also, do not post the invigilator password or
anything else that may be considered the breach of the exam regulations,
instructions to the candidates, code of conducts, etc (see, e.g., </span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #990000;"><a href="https://www.epo.org/learning/eqe/e-eqe.html" target="_blank"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #da8044; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">e-EQE
website</span></a></span></i></b><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #990000;"> and the emails from the EQE secretariat).</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: black;"><br />
<br />
All candidates, as well as tutors who helped candidates prepare for EQE 2021,
are invited to contribute to the discussions on our EQE blogs! You can post
your comments in English, French or German. You are invited to post your
comments under your real name, but it is also possible to use a nickname if you
wish to hide your identify.<br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: black;">The DeltaPatents team</span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">NB: you can not comment
to this blog post; comments will be accepted from a new blog post as of 13:00</span></p>Roel van Woudenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15823355175016282250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212461954471994208.post-68939227762205187282021-02-04T11:03:00.003+01:002021-02-04T12:20:43.196+01:00Mock's 2 Paper B (4 Feb 2021)<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px;">"</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b2a43; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px;">To allow candidates to test the system also close to the real examination conditions, a second mock (Mock 2) is planned for the week of 1 to 5 February 2021. The examination papers will take place during that week at the same week days and times as the real examination, see </span><a href="http://documents.epo.org/projects/babylon/eponot.nsf/0/66EB601464EC7BECC12586320050164F/$FILE/ExamPapers%20EQE%202021_EN.pdf" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: no-repeat; background-size: initial; background: url("../images/icon_sprite.gif") no-repeat rgb(255, 255, 255); box-sizing: border-box; color: #0b2a43; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b2a43; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px;">.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px;">" (see <a href="https://www.epo.org/learning/eqe/e-eqe.html" style="background: transparent; color: #da8044;" target="_blank">e-EQE webpage</a>)</span></p></blockquote><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">Today</span></b>, 4 February 2021, <b><span style="color: #990000;">Paper B of Mock 2 was organized</span></b>, using the Wiseflow platform </span>which will be used for the e-EQE 2021 in the week of 1-5 March 2021<span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 12px;">The Mock 2 Paper B is based on <a href="http://documents.epo.org/projects/babylon/eponot.nsf/0/65F6574D5C878B9BC1257833003C2337/$File/2009_PaperB_elec-mech_en.pdf" target="_blank">Paper B EM 2009</a>, with some modifications w.r.t. the number of claims (reduced), the inclusion of the client's proposal for amendments, and the omission of a prior art document D3.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 12px;">The model solution is made available by the EPI <a href="https://www.epi-learning.org/course/view.php?id=18" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">Please share your experiences with the platform, as well as any comments to the paper. Particularly, </span></b></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>What was your experience doing the paper online in general, e.g. typing your answer rather than writing it by hand?</li><li>How did you manage keeping a clear overview of the various pieces of information (client's letter, prior art, description)?</li><li>Could you benefit from being able to copy from the exam paper into your answer? And from copying parts of your answer elsewhere into your answer?</li></ul><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><i>We allow you to post your comments anonymously, but it is <span style="color: #990000;"><b>recommended and appreciated if you identify yourself using your true name or a nick name</b> </span>- that makes communication much more pleasant and efficient than talking to "Anonymous 19 January 2021 22:23" and alike. </i></div><div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><i>Please refer to the "Problems with commenting" link on the top right of this blog page if you have problems with commenting (which may occur due to security settings, cookies, etc, esp when using Captcha with anonymous posts).</i></div>Jessica Kroezehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18066380138516465741noreply@blogger.com65tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212461954471994208.post-16484052409196304522021-01-28T09:53:00.006+01:002021-01-28T10:02:39.506+01:00B paper in e-EQE 2021<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T-dTl5_iag0/YBJ7cUihVPI/AAAAAAAABFI/QufLr4NNoV0cumRGS6pSob2iMIbR6cvHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s942/2020.12.02%2BExamPapers%2BEQE%2B2021_EN_page3%2B-%2BB.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="942" height="209" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T-dTl5_iag0/YBJ7cUihVPI/AAAAAAAABFI/QufLr4NNoV0cumRGS6pSob2iMIbR6cvHQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h209/2020.12.02%2BExamPapers%2BEQE%2B2021_EN_page3%2B-%2BB.png" width="400" /></a></div><p>The EQE of 2021 will be conducted online (<a href="http://documents.epo.org/projects/babylon/eponot.nsf/0/a3fe9e76fa0f2964c12585ae004462ac/$FILE/Announcement%20Online%20EQE%202021.pdf">Annoucement</a>). </p><p>Important information was given in “Information on the schedule for the EQE 2021 examination papers” (<a href="http://documents.epo.org/projects/babylon/eponot.nsf/0/66EB601464EC7BECC12586320050164F/$FILE/ExamPapers%20EQE%202021_EN.pdf" target="_blank">link</a>) of 2 December 2020 provides. </p><p>The "Information" provides:</p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p><b>General</b></p><p>The EQE 2021 exam schedule is now available. Candidates are advised that this document may be subject to minor changes as testing continues.</p><p>The EQE 2021 will take place online using LockDown Browser. On examination days, candidates are advised to log on to the online examination system's internet platform at least 20 minutes before the start of the relevant paper. Information on how to register and log on to the online examination system will be communicated in due course.</p><p><b><span lang="EN-US"></span></b></p></blockquote><p> </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p><b><span lang="EN-US">Paper B –
Thursday 4 March 2021</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><b><span style="color: #990000;">Paper B
will have the same syllabus and character as before. </span></b></span> </p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><b><span style="color: #990000;">
Paper B lasts 3.5 hours. </span></b><br />
[Note from the editor: this corresponds to the 3 hours from Rule 24(1) IPREE
plus the additional 30 minutes from the Decision of the Supervisory Board of 17
November 2016]<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Candidates
will be allowed to print the prior-art documents and the drawing(s), but none
of the following: the description and claims of the application, the EPO communication,
the client's letter and the amended claims. The documents allowed for printing
will be made available approximately ten minutes before the start of the
examination.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Part Content Time CET time<br />
Paper B Full paper
3.5 hours 9.30-13.00 hrs<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Candidates
may take unscheduled breaks. Further instructions relating to taking unscheduled
breaks will be communicated at a later stage. It should be noted, however, that
the exam clock will continue to run during unscheduled breaks, i.e. the
examination will not be stopped.</span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b>FAQ on e-EQE, incl. Paper B aspects</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">The <a href="http://eqe-deltapatents.blogspot.com/2021/01/e-eqe-faq-extended.html" target="_blank">FAQ</a> provides additional information for the e-EQE in general, as well as for paper B
specifically:</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><span><a name='more'></a></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><div class="accordion-header" style="background-color: #efefef; box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0.73326em 1em 0.6666em; text-align: left; transition: all 0.25s ease 0s;"><h4 id="faq-92" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 15px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><span style="color: #2a323d;">Updated 01/2021 - How can I indicate text in</span><span style="color: #990000;"> paper B</span><span style="color: #2a323d;"> which is deleted or added?</span></h4></div><div class="accordion-content clearfix" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.45em; margin: 0px; padding: 1.26654em 1em 1em; text-align: left;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3b4e60; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;">If you wish to indicate changes you should proceed as follows:</p></div><div class="accordion-content clearfix" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.45em; margin: 0px; padding: 1.26654em 1em 1em; text-align: left;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Deletions</span> should be indicated with square brackets “[ ]”</span><span style="color: #3b4e60;">.</span></p></div><div class="accordion-content clearfix" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.45em; margin: 0px; padding: 1.26654em 1em 1em; text-align: left;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #3b4e60; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Added text</span> should be shown by <span style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: underline;">underlining </span>the respective text.</p></div><div class="accordion-content clearfix" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.45em; margin: 0px; padding: 1.26654em 1em 1em; text-align: left;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><i><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #3b4e60;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Note from the blog editor: </span></span></i></p></div><div class="accordion-content clearfix" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.45em; margin: 0px; padding: 1.26654em 1em 1em; text-align: left;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><i><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #3b4e60;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">the editor of WiseFlow/LockDown browser does not provide for strike-through.So,if you wish to indicate deletions, you have to use an alternative method: use square brackets (as also commonly used in various jurisdictions). Thus:</span></span></i></p></div><div class="accordion-content clearfix" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.45em; margin: 0px; padding: 1.26654em 1em 1em; text-align: left;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><i><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #3b4e60;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"> A </span></span><strike style="color: #3b4e60; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">car </strike><u style="color: #3b4e60; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">vehicle </u><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #3b4e60;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">comprising </span></span><strike style="color: #3b4e60; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">at least two seats</strike> <u style="color: #3b4e60; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">a driver seat and a passenger seat.</u></i></p></div><div class="accordion-content clearfix" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.45em; margin: 0px; padding: 1.26654em 1em 1em; text-align: left;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><i><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #3b4e60;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">shall be indicated as:</span></span></i></p></div><div class="accordion-content clearfix" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.45em; margin: 0px; padding: 1.26654em 1em 1em; text-align: left;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 23px; margin: 0px 0px 1.5em; padding: 0px;"><i style="color: #3b4e60; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> A [car] <u>vehicle </u>comprising [at least two seats] <u>a driver seat and a passenger seat.</u></i><i style="color: #3b4e60; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> <br /></i></p></div></blockquote><p></p><p><b>Exam platform and Mocks</b></p><p>The exam platform is available since late December, and a first set of exam papers (earlier EQE papers) was made available as Mock 1 paper to allow candidates to familiarize with the system (see <a href="https://www.epo.org/learning/eqe/e-eqe.html" target="_blank">here </a>and our blog post <a href="http://eqe-deltapatents.blogspot.com/2020/12/e-eqe-platform-will-go-online-on-21.html" target="_blank">here</a>).</p><p>To allow candidates to test the system also close to the real examination conditions, a second mock (Mock 2) is planned for the week of 1 to 5 February 2021. (see <a href="https://www.epo.org/learning/eqe/e-eqe.html" target="_blank">here </a>and our blog post <a href="http://eqe-deltapatents.blogspot.com/2020/12/e-eqe-mock-2-1-5-february-2020.html" target="_blank">here</a>).</p><p>A <a href="https://www.epo.org/learning/eqe/faq.html" target="_blank">FAQ</a> provides additional information for the e-EQE in general.</p><p>Also note the information given in the e-EQE tutorials/ information sessions (recording available on the <a href="https://www.epo.org/learning/eqe/e-eqe.html" target="_blank">e-EQE website</a>); see our blog post <a href="http://eqe-deltapatents.blogspot.com/2021/01/information-from-training-sessions-2021.html" target="_blank">here</a> for some highlights of the session of 14 January 2021.</p><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Paper B details</b></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mock 1 (see comments to <a href="http://eqe-deltapatents.blogspot.com/2020/12/e-eqe-platform-will-go-online-on-21.html" target="_blank">our blog on Mock 1</a>) gives an example as to <span style="color: #990000;"><b>what is printable and what not:</b></span></span></div><div><ul><li></li><li style="text-align: justify;">the complete description and claim set of the application as filed is only online as part of the pdf of the paper, and <b><span style="color: #990000;">cannot </span></b>be printed;</li><li style="text-align: justify;">the drawings of application are available in advance for printing, and are also part of the pdf of the exam paper</li><li style="text-align: justify;">the communication from the EPO is only online as part of the pdf of the paper, and <b><span style="color: #990000;">cannot </span></b>be printed;</li><li style="text-align: justify;">all prior is available in advance for printing, and is also part of the pdf of the exam paper</li><li style="text-align: justify;">the clients letter and amended claims only online as part of the pdf of the paper, and <b><span style="color: #990000;">cannot </span></b>be printed</li></ul><div>You will thus need to read the description, claims as filed, clients letter, and proposed amended claims from the screen, in the pdf viewer.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately, you cannot annotate the pdf. So you can only annotate the paper printouts of the prior art and the drawings, but not the description, claims and communication.<br /><b><i><span style="color: #990000;">Tip</span></i></b>: So, <b><span style="color: #990000;">if you wish to annotate, you will need to use a workaround</span></b>: you can copy the relevant parts of the B paper in your answer (and reformat those parts), and then sue the boldface, underline and italics formatting options of the editor. (Refer to our DI and II blogs for tips.)</div><div><br /></div><div>While you are working on the paper,<b><span style="color: #990000;"> you can open the pdf of the exam paper in multiple tabs of the Lockdeown browser</span></b>. So, you can have the description in one tab, the claims as filed in another, the claims as proposed in again another, and the communication in again another, ... that reduces the amount of browsing and allow you to work more efficiently.<br /><b><i><span style="color: #990000;">Warning</span></i></b>: It has been reported that <b><span style="color: #990000;">the browser may crash if you open too many tabs</span></b> - the limit seem to be at 9 in Mock 1. It is recommended to check in Mock 2 what the limit is, so you do not run into a crash in the exam. According to the information at the <a href="http://eqe-deltapatents.blogspot.com/2021/01/information-from-training-sessions-2021.html" target="_blank">webinar/information session of 14 January</a>, the issue is under investigation, but it is not know whether it will be solved before the e-EQE.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #990000;">You can search in the pdf.</span></b> You can copy parts of the pdf into your answer (but you will need to reformat thereafter, as it cuts all lines at about 30 characters).</div><div><b><i><span style="color: #990000;">Tip</span></i></b>: In Mock 1, the search functionality in the pdfs of paper A and B does not work properly: when you search for a term, you get a search result that does not match the search term; however, if you look carefully, you will see that the term you looked for is exactly one line below the search result - so, if you want to use searching in the pdfs of A and B in Mock 1, always check the line below, at the same horizontal position! The search works properly in C and D, so no issues are to be expected in Mock 2 and in the real e-EQE.</div><div><br /></div><div>When you write your answer, <b><span style="color: #990000;">use the formatting options of the editor</span></b> to your advantage!</div><div>You can add headings, which have a larger font size, and which appear in a Table of Contents in the right menu (See DII blog for details). Unfortunately, you cannot click on the entries in the ToC to use it as a navigation pane, as you can e.g. in Word. But you get a bit of an overview as to where you discuss which topics of you add headers like Art.123(2), novelty, etc or objection 1.1, objection 1.2, ... </div><div>Use underlining (e.g., for additions made to claims), boldface and italics to structure your answer. if you wish to indicate deletions, you cannot use strike-through, but you can use square brackets (refer to the FAQ entry cited above). </div><div><br /></div><div><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><i>Also refer to our other blog posts on the FAQ (e.g., <a href="http://eqe-deltapatents.blogspot.com/2020/12/faq-on-e-eqe-extended-with-new.html" style="background: transparent; color: #da8044;" target="_blank">here</a>) and on other aspects of the e-EQE (on our <a href="http://eqe-deltapatents.blogspot.com/" style="background: transparent; color: #da8044;" target="_blank">EQE blog</a> page, or on the blogs for the specific papers).</i></p><p style="background-color: white; margin: 0px 0px 12px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><div style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><u><b><span style="color: #990000;">Please feel invited to provide your comments</span></b></u></i><i>. </i></span></div><div style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i><div><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">We allow you to post your comments anonymously, but it is <span style="color: #990000;"><b>recommended and appreciated if you identify yourself using your true name or a nick name</b> </span>- that makes communication much more pleasant and efficient than talking to "Anonymous 19 January 2021 22:23" and alike. </span></i></div><div><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Please refer to the "Problems with commenting" link on the top right of this blog page if you have problems with commenting (which may occur due to security settings, cookies, etc, esp when using Captcha with anonymous posts).</span></i></div></div></div>Roel van Woudenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15823355175016282250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212461954471994208.post-44952800602844541482019-02-28T16:11:00.000+01:002019-03-01T16:41:22.305+01:00EQE Paper B 2019 - Cooking with solar radiation<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://documents.epo.org/projects/babylon/eponot.nsf/0/E8C2F690932D5366C12583B0002E2C9E/$File/B_2019_EN.pdf" target="_blank">EQE Paper B of 2019</a> concerned cooking using concentrated solar radiation. Candidates needed to evaluate carefully amendments suggested by the client, to see if they were novel/inventive and supported by the application. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The claims as filed and as amended by the client had several problems for which the candidates had to find solutions. The comments below are not a full response to the office action, but give an indication of the problems that had to be solved. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Claim 1 in the application as filed is not novel over D1. The client has suggested to add that the storage unit contains a salt composition, but this claim </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">seems to be not inventive over the combination of D1 and D2. Putting the pot of D2 on the cooker of D1 seems an obvious combination, and would fall under this suggested claim. So more is needed. Fortunately, the client already remarks that it is the melting of the salt that is important. Since melting of salt does not occur in the combination of D1 and D2, this further addition seems to solve the problems. The addition is supported by section [0009]. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">New claim 1 is novel over D3 since D3 does not disclose cooking food.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The closest prior art for claim 1 is D1 since it is the only document that discloses a process for cooking with solar radiation. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Claim 2 in the application as filed is not novel over D2 and D3. Furthermore, the Examiner objected to a lack of essential features. The client's amendments do not complete solve these problems. Adding that there is an empty space is not enough; D2 also has empty space in the form of gaps between the salt. The application adds that the empty space should be dimensioned to allow the salt to expand upon melting. This is supported by sections [010] and [013].</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The other amendment in claim 2 </span></span>is needed to make the claim novel over D3. However,<span style="font-family: inherit;"> the range is not supported by the application, since the end point 120 is not disclosed. Instead of the point 120, the point 130 is disclosed. Accordingly, a better range is to use 130-350. This will be sufficient for the goals of the client according to his letter.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One could wonder if it is allowed under A.123(2) to restrict a range on the basis of an isolated value given as an example. The guidelines do not give this particular example, but in part </span><a href="https://www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/html/guidelines/e/h_iv_2_4.htm" style="font-family: inherit;">H-IV, 2.4</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> a somewhat </span>similar<span style="font-family: inherit;"> example is given with two ranges instead of with a range and an isolated value. The case law book does give this particular scenario, in <a href="https://www.epo.org/law-practice/legal-texts/html/caselaw/2016/e/clr_ii_e_1_3_2.htm">II-E, 1.3.2</a>. The case law cited there, e.g., T201/83 require an additional test, namely that the </span></span> 'this value was not so closely associated with the other features of the example as to determine the effect of that embodiment of the invention as a whole'. Here that is not the case. We conclude that restricting the range to 130-350 does not constitute added subject matter. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Conceivably, one could disclaim the salt 'magnesium chloride hexahydrate' instead of adding a range to claim 2. This would be allowed under <a href="https://www.epo.org/law-practice/case-law-appeals/pdf/g100002ex1.pdf">G 2/10</a> since it disclaims a disclosed embodiment. This seems to run counter the wishes of the client though. </div>
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<br /></div>
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The closest prior art for new claim 2 seems to be D2. Only document D1 and D2 are related to cooking, but the latter has more features in common. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Claim 4 and 5 were switched around by the client. This switch appears to be supported by the application as filed. The embodiment of figure 3 of the application has handles with which unit 3 can be transported, an so it is portable.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The claims for our solution for paper B 2019 are as follows: </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1. A cooking process
including the steps:<br />
providing a heat storage unit (3)<u> containing a salt composition (6)</u>;<br />
concentrating solar radiation (12) onto the heat storage unit (3) to heat it<u>
and to melt the salt composition</u>; and<br />
cooking food (8) placed on the heat storage unit (3).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"><br />
2. A heat storage unit (3) for use in the process of claim 1, <s>characterised
by</s><u>comprising</u>:<br />
a box (4) having heat-insulating walls and an opening,<br />
the box (4) containing a salt composition (6),<br />
a light-absorbing plate (5) fitted in the opening and in thermal contact with
the salt<br />
composition (6), and<br />
a cooking surface (9) in thermal contact with the salt composition (6)<u>,<br />
characterized
</u></span><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;">in that:</span></u><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;">the box (4) contains an
empty space (7) dimensioned to allow the salt composition to expand upon
melting, and in that<br />
the salt composition (6) has <a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk2245414">a melting temperature from 130C
to 350C</a></span></u><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk2245414;"></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;">.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">3. Heat storage unit
according to claim 2, wherein the cooking surface (9) is a surface of a cooking
plate (2) fitted in a second opening of the box (4) and in thermal contact with
the salt composition (6).<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Nico%20Cordes" datetime="2019-02-28T11:05">4</ins></span><span class="msoDel"><del cite="mailto:Nico%20Cordes" datetime="2019-02-28T11:06">5</del></span>.
Heat storage unit according to claim 2, wherein the cooking surface (9) is a surface
of the light-absorbing plate (5).<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Nico%20Cordes" datetime="2019-02-28T11:06">5</ins></span><span class="msoDel"><del cite="mailto:Nico%20Cordes" datetime="2019-02-28T11:06">4</del></span>.
Heat storage unit according to <span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Nico%20Cordes" datetime="2019-02-28T11:07">any of </ins></span>claim<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Nico%20Cordes" datetime="2019-02-28T11:07">s</ins></span> 2 <span class="msoDel"><del cite="mailto:Nico%20Cordes" datetime="2019-02-28T11:07">or </del></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Nico%20Cordes" datetime="2019-02-28T11:07">to </ins></span><span class="msoDel"><del cite="mailto:Nico%20Cordes" datetime="2019-02-28T11:07">3</del></span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Nico%20Cordes" datetime="2019-02-28T11:07">4</ins></span>,
wherein the heat storage unit (3) is portable by means of handles (10).</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">6. A solar cooker (1)
comprising:<br />
a heat storage unit (3) according to any of claims 2 to 5;<br />
a parabolic mirror (11) for concentrating solar radiation (12) on the
light-absorbing plate (5) of the heat storage unit (3).</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="line-height: 107%;">
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<br />Sander van Rijnswouhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08074604101159694993noreply@blogger.com102tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212461954471994208.post-26199939556394050792018-03-01T16:53:00.001+01:002018-03-02T15:26:42.860+01:00Paper B 2018 Fuse for protecting an electronic circuitBelow a short answer to start the discussion.<br />
<br />
The DeltaPatents team,<br />
<br />
Jelle, Jessica, Nico.<br />
<br />
===========================================================<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ylKobk7IYng/WpghHYDzW1I/AAAAAAAAVQ0/l-Kg7YFWojQ6_WwynEIOqIcrDfcG1xYeACLcBGAs/s1600/claims.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="800" height="545" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ylKobk7IYng/WpghHYDzW1I/AAAAAAAAVQ0/l-Kg7YFWojQ6_WwynEIOqIcrDfcG1xYeACLcBGAs/s640/claims.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><b>Brief explanation</b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u>Client's letter</u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Our invention has the advantage that the quality score (Q)
of the fuse is much improved”. In draft claim 1 two ‘measures’ are introduced:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- cover layer covering the fuse track<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
- quality score is at least 60.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<br />
<u>Description:</u><br />
<br />
[002]: Two categories: fuses for low-sensitivity electronic components and fuses for high-sensitivity components.<br />
<br />
[011] To protect low-sensitivity electronic components quality score Q should be greater than 30. To protect high-sensitivity electronic components quality score Q should be greater than 60.<br />
<br />
First conclusion: client wants to provide a fuse for protecting high-sensitivity electronic components [= field].<br />
<br />
[009] makes clear that the high quality score is a parameter determined according to an in-house protocol which is not specified in detail. Such a parameter may not be used. It also indicates that a high Q value indicates a low degree of metal reflow. <br />
<br />
[004] makes clear that blowing of the fuse should be irreversible. Metal reflow endangers this.<br />
<br />
[005] Aim of the invention is to provide a fuse which overcomes that problem.<br />
<br />
The purpose is thus to provide an irreversible fuse for high-sensitivity electronic components which avoid/overcome reflow issues. <br />
<br />
[005] (part of the solution) using a fuse track formed of AlCu.<br />
<br />
Table 1, table 2, [011]: to have Q above 60 we need that the metal of the fuse track is AlCu alloy having a content of Cu in the range of 10-20% by weight and a cover layer made of epoxy resin.<br />
<br />
This should be introduced in claim 1 replacing the quality score. It makes original claim 4 redundant.<br />
<br />
The cover layer is part of the second embodiment described in [008] for Fig.2. The neck portion is optional and does not need to be incorporated into claim 1 (allowable intermediate generalisation with respect original claim 3.<br />
<br />
[012] gives a nice definition of ‘smooth surface’ referring to Ra, better than the active formulation proposed by the client. This should be introduced in original claim 5. <br />
<br />
<u>Closest prior art</u>:<br />
<br />
Field: high quality fuse for protecting high-sensitivity electronic components <br />
<br />
Purpose: provide an irreversible fuse which avoids/overcomes reflow issues<br />
<br />
Structurally close: fuse track of AlCu alloy<br />
<br />
D1: uses AlCu alloy with 15% Cu by weight, no protective cover. According to table 1: not high quality, not suitable for high-sensitivity electronic components. No further measure to deal with reflow. Conclusion: not close. <br />
<br />
D2: Is irreversible (thus high quality), but solves the problem rather differently – not structurally close. The fuse is covered by glass causing an explosion. Reflow issues are thus avoided. Walls are needed to avoid that metal sprays from the fuse to the circuit. Seems not great for high-sensitivity circuits. Conclusion: not close.<br />
<br />
D3: uses an AlCu fuse track and focusses on dealing with metal reflow [01]. Close in field and purpose. Structurally close enough.<br />
<br />
Conclusion: go for D3 as the closest prior art. Jelle Hoekstrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06066000039386452752noreply@blogger.com80tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212461954471994208.post-79576484164263896842017-03-10T12:54:00.002+01:002017-03-13T08:21:02.392+01:00Our attempt at Paper B 'Monitoring vital signs'Herewith our attempt at Paper B 2017, which is available here: <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B8fBrgnlxF67OVd4Ukg5M2ZVY0k" target="_blank">EN</a>, <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B8fBrgnlxF67eVRReEpBRlZQSEU" target="_blank">FR </a>and <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B8fBrgnlxF67RWMxZmJjN1F0Mms" target="_blank">DE</a><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<b><span lang="EN-US">Claims</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">1. System for monitoring at least
one vital sign of a human body, the system comprising:</span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">-<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><s><span lang="EN-US">holding </span></s><u><span lang="EN-US">attaching
</span></u><span lang="EN-US">means (1, 11, 21) for <s>holding </s><u>attaching
</u>an optical sensor (2, 12, 22) and a motion sensor (3, 13, 23) <s>close </s>to
the human body (10, 21), the <s>holding </s><u>attaching
</u>means (1, 11, 21) comprising in addition to the sensors (2, 12, 22, 3, 13,
23) transmitting means (4, 14, 24) for transmitting output signals from the
sensors (2, 12, 22, 3, 13, 23),<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: 150%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US">-<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US">evaluation means (5, 25) for receiving the output
signals and calculating from the output signals the at least one vital sign,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">characterised in that <u>the attaching means is a garment,<o:p></o:p></u></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><span lang="EN-US">and
in that </span></u><span lang="EN-US">the evaluation means (5, 25) is configured to correct
the output signal from the optical sensor (2, 12, 22) based on the output
signal of the motion sensor (3, 13, 23) or to correct the output signal from
the motion sensor (3, 13, 23) based on the output signal of the optical sensor<s><o:p></o:p></s></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><s><span lang="EN-US">and in that the
transmitting means (4, 14, 24) is a wireless transmitting means</span></s><span lang="EN-US">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2. System according to claim 1,
wherein the <u>transmitting means (4, 14, 24) is
a wireless transmitting means</u><s>at least one vital sign is pulse, body temperature,
blood pressure and/or blood oxygen saturation</s>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">3. System according to claim <s>1
or </s>2, wherein the wireless transmitting means (4, 14, 24) is a wireless
local network emitter.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">4. System according to any of
claims 1 to 3, further comprising a screen (6) and configured to display the at
least one vital sign on the screen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">5. System according to any of
claims 1 to 4, wherein the <s>holding means is an </s>attaching means (1, 11) <u>is one of </u><s>such as </s>a sock (1)<s>,</s> <u>or </u>a wristband (11)<s>, and a glove</s>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">6.
System according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the attaching means is a
headband (21) for goggles (20).</span></span></u><br />
<u><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><span lang="EN-US">7</span></u><s><span lang="EN-US">6</span></s><span lang="EN-US">.
System according to any of claims 1 to <u>6</u><s>5</s>,
wherein the attaching means (1, 11, 21) is at least partly made of <s>Optitex</s><u>a material comprising 50-60% cotton, 30-40%
polyurethane and 10-20% polyethylene glycol in % by weight</u>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; page-break-before: always;">
<b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Amendments<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<u><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Claim 1<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">‘Holding means’ has been amended to
‘attaching means’ and ‘close to the human body’ has been amended to an
attachment ‘to the human body’, both of which are supported by [02] first and
second sentence. Thereby, objection 3.1 is addressed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The attaching means being a garment
is supported by [02] third sentence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The transmitting means being a
wireless transmitting means has been deleted (claimed now as dependent claim
2). This deletion satisfies the essentiality test of GL H-V 3.1; namely,
(i)-(iii) are all clearly satisfied since [02] last sentence states that “<i>it is not important for the invention how
the signals are transmitted to the evaluation means</i>”, while [04] for the Fig.1
embodiment and [12] for the Fig. 3 embodiment state that “<i>the transmitting means may be any kind of transmitting means</i>”. Equivalent
support is provided for the Fig. 2 embodiment by [09] “<i>remaining technical features … are identical to the first embodiment</i>”.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><span lang="EN-US">Claim 2</span></u><span lang="EN-US">
corresponds to the deleted feature of the transmitting means being a wireless
transmitting means, and is supported by claim 1 as filed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><span lang="EN-US">Claim 3</span></u><span lang="EN-US"> has
been amended to limit the dependency to claim 2.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><span lang="EN-US">Claim 5</span></u><span lang="EN-US"> has been
brought into conformity with amended claim 1, while deleting the ‘glove’
embodiment. Thereby, objection 3.2 is addressed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><span lang="EN-US">Claim 6</span></u><span lang="EN-US"> has
been newly added and corresponds to the Fig. 3 embodiment described in [10] and
[11]. It is noted that claim 6’s dependency has been limited to claims 1-3
(rather than also referring to claim 4) to satisfy Art. 123(2) in view of
the first sentence of [12].<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><span lang="EN-US">Claim 7</span></u><span lang="EN-US"> has
been amended to directly claim the technical features of the Optitex material
as described in [09].<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Novelty<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">D1 describes an optical pulse
oximeter for measuring the pulse and the oxygen saturation in the blood. D1
uses a clip which attaches to a finger and which houses two LEDs and an optical
sensor. </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The optical sensor measures the intensity of the light emitted by the
LEDs after passing through the finger. An evaluation means is provided for
calculating the oxygen saturation and the pulse from the light measurements. A
motion sensor may be provided in the clip to measure the pulse independently
from the optical pulse oximeter.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">However, D1 does not disclose the features
in the characterizing portion.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">D2 describes measuring the pulse of
a baby with a camera and adjusting the position of the camera with an infra-red
sensor. It is also described to correct the sound and image signals from the
camera on the basis of motion data from a motion sensor in the camera. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">However, D2 does not disclose the
characterizing portion nor in general attachment means for attaching sensors to
the human body. Rather, D2 uses a separate, non-body attached camera and
infrared sensor (described by [01] of D2 to be “out of reach of the baby”).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">D3 describes an electrical sensor
attached by a garment to the human body. However, D3 does not disclose
monitoring vital signs (only ECG), nor an optical sensor (only electrical
sensor, optical sensor is unsuitable [03]), nor a motion sensor, nor the evaluation
means being configured to improve the quality of the output signals of the
sensors.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Inventive step<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">D1 is closest prior art as it also
relates to monitoring vital signs using body-attached sensors. D2 is more
remote since it does not use body-attached sensors but rather a camera. D3 is
also more remote since it is not suitable for monitoring vital signs ([03] last
sentence).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The distinguishing features over D1
are set out in the characterizing portion.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The technical effect is that a
reliable and comfortable system is provided for long-term remote monitoring of
vital signs of patients. This effect is already indicated in the application as
filed, namely in [01], last sentence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The objective technical problem is
how to obtain a reliable and comfortable system for long-term remote monitoring
of vital signs of patients.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">By using a garment as attaching
means, the optical sensor and the motion sensor are comfortably attached to the
human body. </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Although this may in principle
result in poor signal quality by introducing noise into the output signals of
the sensors, the evaluation means is configured to improve the quality of the
output signals of the sensors by correcting the output signal from the optical
sensor based on the output signal of the motion sensor or to correct the output
signal from the motion sensor based on the output signal of the optical sensor.
Accordingly, the system is not only comfortable but also reliable for long-term
remote monitoring of vital signs of patients.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">D1 does not hint nor suggest the
distinguishing features. Accordingly, the skilled person would not find a
solution to the objective technical problem in D1.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">D2 also does not provide a solution
which falls within the scope of the claims, since D2 does not use body-attached
sensors and fails to disclose the attaching means.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">D3 does not relate to monitoring
vital signals. The skilled person would thus not consider D3. However, even if
the skilled person would consider D3, he/she would see that a garment is
described as attachment means but with the garment being described as unsuitable
for recording vital signs due to the attachment means introducing too much
noise. D3 does not disclose the claimed correcting of the output signals which
reduces the noise. As such, the skilled person would not find a solution for
the objective technical problem in D3 either.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;">The invention as
claimed is thus inventive over D1-D3.</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Looking forward to your comments.<br />
<br />
Nico Cordes, Roel van Woudenberg, Sander van Rijnswou</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
(c) DeltaPatents 2017</div>
Nico Cordeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18418422722416402064noreply@blogger.com104tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212461954471994208.post-60413529935893184792017-03-08T17:03:00.000+01:002017-03-08T17:03:02.453+01:00B 2017: first impressions of the first one-for-all B-paper?<h4>
<b>To all who sat the B-paper today:</b></h4>
What are your first impressions to this year's B-paper?<br />
Any general or specific comments?<br />
Surprising elements in the client's letter and the prior art?<br />
<br />
How many marks do you expect to have scored?<br />
What is your expectation of the pass rate and the average score?<br />
<br />
How did this year's paper compare to the <a href="http://documents.epo.org/projects/babylon/eponot.nsf/0/e1558f38ad0987cbc1257f780055e08d/$FILE/MockPaperB.pdf" target="_blank">mock paper</a>?<br />
Similar difficulty level?<br />
Did it meet expectations, in view of the <a href="https://media.epo.org/play/EQE_ABPapers2017" target="_blank">video </a>about the one-for-all A and B papers, the <a href="http://documents.epo.org/projects/babylon/eponot.nsf/0/e1558f38ad0987cbc1257f780055e08d/$FILE/MockPaperB.pdf">mock B paper </a>and <a href="http://documents.epo.org/projects/babylon/eponot.nsf/0/603E34C657386DECC1257FA200300DBF/$File/ExReport_MockB.pdf">its examiners report</a>?<br />
Could you understand the examiner's objections? And the client's wishes based on his letter and his proposed amendments? Was the Art.123(2) argumentation difficult, if any? Clarity? Novelty? Closest prior art selection, distinguishung feature, effect, objective technical problem, and the rest of the inventive step argumentation?<br />
<br />
Was the subject-matter well understandable, for chemists as well as e/m candidates?<br />
<br />
<h4>
<b>The paper and our answers</b></h4>
<i>Copies of the paper will be provided on this blog as soon as we have received copies of the papers, in all three languages</i> (English, French and German).<br />
<br />
The core of our answers will be given as soon as possible in a separate blog post.<br />
<br />
<h4>
<b><i><span style="color: #990000;">We look forward to your comments!</span></i></b></h4>
Comments are welcome in any official EPO language, not just English. So, comments in German and French are also very welcome!<br />
<br />
Please do not post your comments anonymously - it is allowed, but it makes responding more difficult and rather clumsy ("Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms Anonymous of 09-03-2017 09:09"), whereas using your real name or a pseudonym is more personal, more interesting and makes a more attractive conversation. You do not need to log in or make an account - it is OK to just put your (nick) name at the end of your post.<br />
<br />
Please post your comments as to first impressions and general remarks to this blog.<br />
Please post responses to our answer (as soon as available) to the separate blog post with our answer.<br />
Thanks!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Roel van Woudenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15823355175016282250noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212461954471994208.post-47087449494223359642016-06-20T09:32:00.000+02:002016-06-20T09:32:02.331+02:00Examination Papers A and B – Examination Board made mock papers available<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #0b2a43;">With effect from 2017, a single Paper
A and a single Paper B will be set each year. As for current Paper C and the
Pre-Examination, Papers A and B will be set in technical fields that are
accessible to everyone. The Examination Board has made mock papers available
for<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: #0b2a43;"><a href="http://documents.epo.org/projects/babylon/eponot.nsf/0/e1558f38ad0987cbc1257f780055e08d/$FILE/MockPaperA.pdf" target="_blank"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0b2a43; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Paper A</span></b></a></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #0b2a43;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #0b2a43;">(</span><span style="background: white; color: #0b2a43;"><a href="http://documents.epo.org/projects/babylon/eponot.nsf/0/603e34c657386decc1257fa200300dbf/$FILE/ExReport_MockA.pdf" style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0b2a43; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">examiner report</span></i></b></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #0b2a43;">) and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="background: white; color: #0b2a43;"><a href="http://documents.epo.org/projects/babylon/eponot.nsf/0/e1558f38ad0987cbc1257f780055e08d/$FILE/MockPaperB.pdf" style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;" target="_blank"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0b2a43; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Paper B</span></b></a></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #0b2a43;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #0b2a43;">(</span><span style="background: white; color: #0b2a43;"><a href="http://documents.epo.org/projects/babylon/eponot.nsf/0/603e34c657386decc1257fa200300dbf/$FILE/ExReport_MockB.pdf" style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #0b2a43; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">examiner report</span></i></b></a></span><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; color: #0b2a43;">). The examiner reports are currently available in English
only.</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Roel van Woudenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15823355175016282250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212461954471994208.post-18399802286979405752016-03-03T16:30:00.000+01:002016-03-03T16:55:42.653+01:00Paper B Electricity Mechanics 2016 - our claims <span style="font-family: inherit;">Here it is: our claims and a brief explanation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><u>Claim 1</u></span></b>. Warning system for a driveway crossing (3,
13), comprising:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">a control unit (5),</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">a pavement sensor (7, 8, 17)
connected to the control unit (5) and configured tom detect pedestrians on a
pavement (2, 12) approaching the driveway crossing (3, `13),</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">a first display means (6, 16)
connected to the control unit (5),</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;">the control
unit (5) being configured so that the first display means (6, 16) gives the
warning signal to the driver of a vehicle in the driveway (1, 16) in response
to the output of the pavement sensor (7, 8, 17),<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;">characterised
in that:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">the system further comprises a driveway sensor (4, 14) connected to the
control unit (5) and configured to detect a vehicle in the driveway (1, 11)
approaching the driveway crossing (3, 13); and</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">the control unit (5) being
configured to activate the pavement sensor (7, 8, 17) in response to the output
of the driveway sensor (4, 14)</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Basis: original claim 1, further limited based on:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Claim 2:<u> the system further
comprises a driveway sensor (4, 14) and
configured to detect a vehicle in the driveway (1, 11) approaching the driveway
crossing (3, 13)</u></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Claim 4: also depended on claim 2):
[driveway sensor is] <u>connected to the control unit (5);</u> the control unit (5)
being configured to activate the pavement sensor (7, 8, 17) in response to the
output of the driveway sensor (4, 14).<br />This is also clear from [012],
wherein a warning pole is described comprising such a warning system (see
[005]). In lines 24-28 the now introduced feature is described.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not taking over the second display
means of claim 2 is an allowable intermediate generalisation:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The description in [008] introduces
the driveway sensor. In [009] it shows a first use of the driveway sensor,
being to warn pedestrians that a vehicle is exiting from the driveway. For this
function the second display means is required. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;">However,
[009] 1st sentence indicates that the second display means is preferred; thus
optional. In [011] and [012] it becomes clear what a second, unrelated,
function of the driveway sensor is: to ensure that the pavement sensor is
activated only when the driveway sensor detects a vehicle, saving electricity.
For this function no display is required. Thus indeed the second display means
is optional and not mandatory to be used for the driveway sensor [not
structurally and functionally linked such that they can only be used in
combination].<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u><span style="color: #990000;">Claim 2</span></u></b>. Warning
system according to claim 1, comprising a second display means (9) configured
to warn pedestrians on the pavement (2, 120) that a vehicle is exiting from the
driveway (1,11).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Basis:
remainder of original claim 2, dependency unchanged.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u><span style="color: #990000;">Claim 3</span></u></b>. Warning system according to any of the
previous claims, wherein the first display means is an LCD screen and the
control unit (5) is an integral component of the LCD screen (6).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Basis:
original claim 3, properly introducing the LCD screen, overcoming clarity
objection (Art.84) raised under item 3 of the communication.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Reason for
not broadening to ‘first display means’ is that the control unit being an
integral component is only shown for an LCD screen (see [008], line 15). In real life we expect this generalisation not to have been problematic, but not having any own knowledge of the field there may not be enough basis for a generalisation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Original
claim 4: incorporated into claim 1.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="color: #990000;"><u>Claim 4</u></span></b>. Warning
system according to any of the previous claims, characterised by the first
display means being a traffic light, the system being configured so that the
red light of the traffic light indicates the detection of a pedestrian on the
pavement. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Basis:
[010]<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Note: not
taken over is a dependency only on the preamble of claim 1; this would result
into two separate, non-unitary inventions. Claim 5 proposed by the client
relates arguably not to searched subject-matter. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Also
avoiding introducing a clarity issue in the client’s claim of whether the
traffic light is additional or is in place of the first display means.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Also
avoiding a clarity issue of whether the driveway is claimed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #990000;"><b><u>Claim 5</u></b></span>. Warning
pole (20) comprising a warning system according to claim 1. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Basis: [005], [012]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Note:
‘preferably’ has been scrapped. Only referring back to claim 1, since the pole
is not shown in combination with the features of claims 2-4.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.8px;">Looking forward to your comments,</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.8px;" /></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.8px;">All blog threads allow anyone to add comments and already have a lot of valuable, interesting and sometimes surprising discussions between many candidates who posted their comments as well as tutors resulted from those.Any remarks, (different) opinions and questions as are welcome! Please post your contribution as comments to this blog, so everybody can paticipate in and benefit from the discussion/ explanation.</span></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.8px;" /></span></span><span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.8px;">Please do not post your comments anonymously - it is allowed, but it makes responding more difficult and rather clumsy ("Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms Anonymous of 02-03-2016 14:56"), whereas using your real name or even a pseudonym (nick-name) is more personal, more interesting and makes a more attractive conversation</span></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.8px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20.8px;">Jelle, Sander, Tanja</span>Jelle Hoekstrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06066000039386452752noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212461954471994208.post-27874144578502962302016-03-02T14:30:00.000+01:002016-03-03T09:55:13.286+01:00B-Electricity/Mechanics 2016: First impressions?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hYAJGtRec-I/VPk8bMDyJKI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/MULEz-FY-gE/s1600/B-EM%2B2016%2Bcover%2Bpage%2Bmock.jpg" width="228" /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<strong><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></i></strong></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<strong><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt;">To all who sat the B-paper today:</span></i></strong></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt;">What are your first impressions to <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8fBrgnlxF67Z1BpM0hwX1UyN1k/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">this year's B-paper</a>? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Any
general or specific comments?</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt;">Surprising elements in the client's letter, client's claims proposal or EPO communication?</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt;">How many marks do you expect to have scored?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">What
is your expectation of the pass rate and the average score?</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">How
did this year's paper compare to the 2014 and 2015 papers (assuming your
practiced those)</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The paper and our answers</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Copies of the paper will be provided on this blog as
soon as we have received copies of the papers, in all three languages here</span></em><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> (<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8fBrgnlxF67Z1BpM0hwX1UyN1k/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">English [available]</a>,<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>French<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>German).</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt;">The core of our answers will be given as soon as possible in a separate
blog post.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">We look forward to your comments!</span></i></strong><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: white;">Comments are welcome in any official EPO
language, not just English. So, <b><i>comments in German and French
are also very welcome</i></b>!</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Please do not post your comments anonymously - it is allowed, but it
makes responding more difficult and rather clumsy ("Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms
Anonymous of 05-05-2015 05:05"), whereas using your real name or a
pseudonym is more personal, more interesting and makes a more attractive
conversation.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>You do not need to
log in or make an account - it is OK to just put your (nick) name at the end of
your post.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Please post your comments as to <strong><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">first impressions</span></strong> and <strong><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">general remarks</span></strong> to
this blog.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt;">Please post <strong><span style="font-family: "inherit" , "serif";">responses
to our answer </span></strong><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">(as soon as available)</span></strong> to the
separate blog post with our answer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: inherit , serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Thanks!</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 13.5pt;">Sander, Jelle, Nico</span></div>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<u1:p></u1:p>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
DeltaPatents EQE Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926591520841144736noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212461954471994208.post-52130001958405898372015-07-02T16:30:00.002+02:002015-07-02T16:30:24.163+02:00Results Main Exam EQE 2015 now available!<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background: white;">Today, 2 July 2015, the results from the EQE Main
Exam 2015 were made available on the EQE webpages (</span><a href="http://documents.epo.org/projects/babylon/eponot.nsf/0/833E9CC22475C968C1257E7600320C80/$File/2015_MainEx_ResultsOnline.pdf" target="_blank">pdf</a><span style="background: white;">),
as a list showing the marks per EQE regnr. The pdf-file also indicates that the
official results letters will be dispatched as of 14 July onwards, and that
only the results as notified in the official results letter are legally binding.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u1:p></u1:p>
</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Pass rates for each of the papers papers and score distributions
are presented in our general EQE blog: <a href="http://eqe-deltapatents.blogspot.nl/">http://eqe-deltapatents.blogspot.nl/</a></span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
Roel van Woudenberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15823355175016282250noreply@blogger.com0