`
`REMARKS
`
`Claims 25-45 are pending. By this amendment, claims 1-24 are cancelled as compared to
`
`the parent patent, claims 25-45 are added as compared to the parent patent, and claims 25, 26 and
`
`33-45 are amended as compared to the previously-pending new claims.
`
`AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS
`
`At the end of this REMARKS section, Applicant provides a summary of amendments
`
`made to the new claims as compared to the previously-pending new claims for the Examiner's
`
`convenience.
`
`INTERVIEW SUMMARY
`
`Applicant thanks Examiners Williams, Lillis, and Wehner for their time and courtesy
`
`during the telephone interview of January I 0, 2018. During the interview, the topics of recapture
`
`and amendments to the claims to overcome the rejections on this basis were discussed. Also
`
`discussed were the 35 U.S.C. § 102 rejection over Adams and the other rejections, including
`
`those under 35 U.S.C. § 112, made in the Office Action. There was further discussion during the
`
`interview of the Consent of Assignee and the required amendments to the Application Data Sheet
`
`in order that the claim to priority is in proper form.
`
`Agreement was reached that the amendments made herein overcome the recapture
`
`rejections, the 35 U.S.C. § 112 rejections, and move the claims toward allowance. Specific
`
`agreement as to allowability was not reached.
`
`17
`
`Page 1
`
`Medtronic Exhibit 1511
`
`
`
`REISSUE APPLICATIONS
`
`Application No. 14/984,273
`
`Applicant acknowledges the Examiner's comments with regards to reissue applications.
`
`Applicant takes this opportunity to further comply with the continuing obligation under
`
`3 7 CFR § l.178(b) to apprise the Office of any prior or concurrent proceeding in which patent
`
`U.S. Patent 8,292,850 is or was involved. There is currently litigation related to the above(cid:173)
`
`referenced '850 patent as well as to other patents in this family. Documents relevant to this
`
`litigation are included in an Information Disclosure Statement to be filed concurrent or
`
`proximate in time with the filing of this amendment. Applicant is currently unaware of any
`
`interferences, reissues other than this application, or re-examinations related to the parent patent
`
`or other family members of the parent patent.
`
`CONSENT OF ASSIGNEE
`
`The Office Action indicated that a proper Consent of Assignee is missing from the file.
`
`With this amendment, Applicant files a Consent of Assignee form to comply with the
`
`requirements. Applicant's undersigned representative notes that due to a corporate acquisition,
`
`ownership of this application has been further assigned to a new entity. Accordingly, a
`
`Statement under § 3.73(c) reflecting the status of assignment is also filed herewith or will be
`
`shortly hereafter.
`
`As reflected by the new assignee, Applicant also files or will file soon hereafter an
`
`updated Power of Attorney for this application.
`
`18
`
`Page 2
`
`Medtronic Exhibit 1511
`
`
`
`APPLICATION DATA SHEET
`
`Application No. 14/984,273
`
`The Office Action indicated that the Application Data Sheet must be updated and
`
`corrected. The new Application Data Sheet reflects the current assignment status of this
`
`application. This application is noted as a continuation and separately listed as a reissue of
`
`application number 13/359,059 (U.S. Patent 8,292,850). Applicant respectfully requests that the
`
`Examiner acknowledge these corrections. The updated ADS will be filed soon hereafter.
`
`AMENDMENT TO THE SPECIFICATION
`
`The Office objected to the amendment to the specification filed on December 30, 2015,
`
`as not including all current information for the priority application listed.
`
`In particular, the
`
`Office Action indicated that the current status of issued reissue patents should be included in the
`
`related application section of the application. By this amendment, Applicant has amended the
`
`specification to indicate that application number 14/195,435, filed March 3, 2014, is issued as
`
`U.S. Patent RE46,116, along with other status identifiers. Applicant respectfully requests that
`
`the Examiner withdraw the objection.
`
`INFORMATION DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
`
`Applicant thanks the Examiner for the indication that the Information Disclosure
`
`Statements filed January 24, 2017, and June 12, 2017, have been entered into the file and that all
`
`of the documents have been reviewed. Applicant notes that the Examiner has previously been
`
`made aware of pending litigation related to this reissue application and its patent family.
`
`In
`
`particular, a complaint and letter related to the currently pending litigation were submitted with
`
`19
`
`Page 3
`
`Medtronic Exhibit 1511
`
`
`
`Application No. 14/984,273
`
`the Information Disclosure Statement filed June 12, 2017. Along with this amendment, a further
`
`Information Disclosure Statement is being filed which includes further prior art identified or that
`
`has arisen in the context of the litigation, as well as litigation documents relating to the
`
`concurrent proceedings in which the family members of this reissue application are involved.
`
`RECAPTURE
`
`The Office Action rejected claims 25-45 under 35 U.S.C. § 251 for allegedly recapturing
`
`subject matter surrendered in the application for the patent upon which the present reissue is
`
`based.
`
`In particular, the Examiner asserts that "independent claims 25 and 38 are broader in
`
`scope with respect to the limitation of "the standard guide catheter having a continuous lumen
`
`extending for a predefined length' which is present in original independent claims 1 and 11 of
`
`the '032 patent." Office Action, p. 6.
`
`Without acquiescing to the assertion, and solely to advance prosecution, the preamble of
`
`claim 25 has been amended to recite "A method of forming a device adapted for use with a
`
`standard guide catheter having a continuous lumen extending for a predefined length." The
`
`preamble of claim 38 has been amended similarly.
`
`In addition, the Office Action asserts that '"independent claims 25 and 38 are broader in
`
`scope with respect to the limitation of •a substantially rigid portion ... more rigid along a
`
`longitudinal axis than, the flexible tip portion' which is present in original independent claims 1
`
`and 11 of the '032 patent." Office Action, p. 7.
`
`20
`
`Page 4
`
`Medtronic Exhibit 1511
`
`
`
`Without acquiescing to the assertion, and solely to advance prosecution, claim 25 has
`
`been amended to recite "a flexible tip segment" and to specify that "the substantially rigid
`
`segment is more rigid along a longitudinal axis than the flexible tip segment." Claim 38 has
`
`Application No. 14/984,273
`
`been amended similarly.
`
`With these amendments, Applicant respectfully submits that the claims do not
`
`impermissibly recapture subject matter surrendered during prosecution of the now-issued '032
`
`patent, and requests that the rejections under 35 U.S.C. § 251 be reconsidered and withdrawn.
`
`DOUBLE PATENTING
`
`Claims 25-45 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting for being
`
`allegedly unpatentable over claims 25-42 of U.S. Patent RE45,380. Claims 25-45 are also
`
`rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting for being allegedly unpatentable over
`
`claims 25-53 of U.S. Patent RE45,760. Claims 25-45 are also rejected on the ground of
`
`nonstatutory double patenting for being allegedly unpatentable over claims 25-57 of U.S. Patent
`
`RE45,776. Claims 25-45 are also rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting for
`
`being allegedly unpatentable over claims 25-55 of U.S. Patent RE46, 116. Office Action, pp. 8-
`
`10.
`
`Along with this amendment or soon hereafter, a Terminal Disclaimer is filed to overcome
`
`the nonstatutory double patenting rejections. The Terminal Disclaimer filed is not intended, and
`
`shall not be construed under any circumstances, as an admission that any invention claimed in a
`
`patent granted on the instant application is obvious in view of the prior patent or that the prior
`
`patent constitutes prior art to the instant application. See MPEP 80 l .02(II) ( citing Quad
`
`21
`
`Page 5
`
`Medtronic Exhibit 1511
`
`
`
`Environmental Technologies Corp. v. Union Sanitary District, 946 F.2d. 870, 874 (Fed. Cir.
`
`Application No. 14/984,273
`
`1991)).
`
`35 u.s.c. § 112
`
`The Office Action rejected claims 25-45 under 35 U.S.C. § 112 (pre-AIA), first
`
`paragraph, for allegedly failing to comply with the written description requirement. Claims 25,
`
`26, 30, 38 and 39 are specifically rejected.
`
`With respect to claim 25, the Examiner asserts that "the new claim term 'eccentrically
`
`positioning' does not have support in the specification of the '850 patent or the '059
`
`application." Office Action, p. 11.
`
`Applicant respectfully disagrees, and points to FIG. 1 of the '059 application for support.
`
`Figure 1 of the '059 application, annotated for clarity and reproduced below, shows the claimed
`
`position of the reinforced segment 18, represented here as a braided or coiled portion, relative to
`
`the substantially rigid segment 20, represented here as a hypotube or a section of stainless steel
`
`or Nitinol tubing. It is clear that the distal end portion of the substantially rigid segment 20 is
`
`indeed eccentrically positioned, i.e., not coaxial, relative to a longitudinal axis of the proximal
`
`end portion of the reinforced segment 18. As described on page 12 of the specification, lines 12
`
`and 13, "Rigid portion 20 may be secured to braid or coil reinforcement by, for example,
`
`welding or bonding."
`
`22
`
`Page 6
`
`Medtronic Exhibit 1511
`
`
`
`Application No. 14/984,273
`
`Fig.1
`,,ti 10
`
`12
`
`18
`
`substantially rigid
`segment
`
`eccentric relative
`positioning
`
`reinforced segment
`
`Similarly, support can also be found in FIGS. 4, 13 and 20. Accordingly, Applicant respectfully
`
`submits that the claim term "eccentrically positioning" is supported throughout the specification
`
`of the '850 patent, for example, at least at the drawings discussed above including FIG. 1.
`
`With respect to claims 26 and 38, the Examiner asserts that the catheter wall opening
`
`described in the specification is not "its own segment apart from the rigid portion." Office
`
`Action, p. 12.
`
`Without acquiescing to this assertion, and solely to advance prosecution, claim 25
`
`(incorporating the relevant recitations of claim 26) and claim 38 have been amended to recite
`
`"defining a side opening portion, including forming, in a proximal to distal direction, an arcuate
`
`cross-sectional shape and a hemicylindrical cross-sectional shape."
`
`With respect to claims 30 and 39, the Examiner further asserts on page 12 of the Office
`
`Action:
`
`the claim language of "providing the substantially rigid segment and the
`reinforced segment includes, starting at the distal end portion of the
`reinforced segment and moving proximally toward the proximal end
`
`23
`
`Page 7
`
`Medtronic Exhibit 1511
`
`
`
`Application No. 14/984,273
`
`portion of the substantially rigid segment, forming or obtaining at least a
`first device portion having a first flexural modulus and a second device
`portion having a second flexural modulus" is inconsistent with the
`disclosure of the '850 patent. Instead the disclosure states that the first
`through fourth portions having different flexural modulus values are
`located from the distal tip to the proximal end of the reinforced segment.
`See col. 7, IL 14-30.
`
`Applicant respectfully disagrees with this assertion. The portion of column 7 cited by the
`
`Examiner to support the rejection merely states that from a tip segment of the coaxial guide
`
`catheter 12 to "the most proximal portion of braid or coil reinforcement 32," the catheter may
`
`include, in some examples, four portions having different flexural moduli.
`
`Example
`
`demarcations defining these four portions are described in the text immediately following the
`
`flexural modulus discussion, from line 21 to line 30:
`
`Coaxial guide catheter 12 may be formed, for example, of 4033 Pebax® at
`bump tip 22 for the first 0.1 cm. This portion may [be] followed by a
`section about three cm long of 5533 Pebax® that covers marker band 24
`and the distal portion of braid or coil reinforcement 32. Next may come
`an approximately five cm portion of 6333 Pebax® which encloses part of
`braid or coil reinforcement 32 followed by an approximately twenty seven
`cm portion of 7233 Pebax® covering the most proximal portion of braid
`or coil reinforcement 32.
`
`Thus, the four portions having different flexural moduli referenced in lines 14-20 may, in at least
`
`some examples, refer to: (1) the bump tip 22, (2) a portion encompassing the marker band 24 and
`
`a distal portion of the reinforcement 32, (3) a portion of the reinforcement 32, and (4) the most
`
`proximal portion of the reinforcement 32. Based on this disclosure, the reinforcement 32
`
`includes three portions having different flexural moduli that range from low to high in a distal to
`
`proximal direction. Consistent with this disclosure, claim 30 recites:
`
`The method of claim 25, wherein providing the substantially rigid segment
`and the reinforced segment includes, starting at the distal end portion of
`the reinforced segment and moving proximally toward the proximal end
`24
`
`Page 8
`
`Medtronic Exhibit 1511
`
`
`
`Application No. 14/984,273
`
`portion of the substantially rigid segment, forming or obtaining at least a
`first device portion having a first flexural modulus and a second device
`portion having a second flexural modulus, the second flexural modulus
`greater than the first flexural modulus. (Emphasis added).
`
`The recitation of "at least" a first and second device portion, which is also included in
`
`claim 39, each having a different flexural modulus, reflects the column 7 excerpt shown above,
`
`which discloses that the reinforcement 32 may define three segments having different flexural
`
`moduli.
`
`With these amendments and remarks, Applicant respectfully submits that the claims are
`
`properly supported by the original written description, and requests that the rejections under 35
`
`U.S.C. § 112 (pre-AIA), first paragraph, be reconsidered and withdrawn.
`
`35 U.S.C. § 102
`
`The Office Action rejected claims 25, 29, 33-34 and 36-37 under 35 U.S.C. § I02(b) for
`
`being allegedly anticipated by U.S. Patent 5,527,292, issued to Adams et al. ("Adams").
`
`Applicant respectfully traverses the rejection because Adams fails to teach or suggest all claimed
`
`limitations included in at least independent claim 25.
`
`As amended, claim 25 recites in part, "defining a side opening portion, including
`
`forming, in a proximal to distal direction, an arcuate cross-sectional shape and a hemicylindrical
`
`cross-sectional shape."
`
`Adams does not teach or suggest at least this recited limitation as claimed, nor does the
`
`Office Action assert that it does.
`
`Instead, the Examiner brings in U.S. Patent Publication
`
`2003/0195546, to Solar et al. ("Solar"), to reject the side opening concept originally recited in
`
`25
`
`Page 9
`
`Medtronic Exhibit 1511
`
`
`
`claim 26, pointing to FIG. 4 and paragraph 51 of the cited reference to support the rejection. See,
`
`Application No. 14/984,273
`
`Office Action, p. 17.
`
`Figure 4 of Solar does not disclose, teach or suggest ''defining a side opening portion,
`
`including forming, in a proximal to distal direction, an arcuate cross-sectional shape and a
`
`hemicylindrical cross-sectional shape" as recited in claim 25. As shown below and described in
`
`paragraph 51 of Solar, FIG. 4 instead illustrates a multi-lumen tracking member 19 that defines
`
`transversely-extending holes 21 through a sidewall thereof, rather than a side opening portion
`
`including an arcuate cross-sectional shape and a hemicylindrical cross-sectional shape, as
`
`presently claimed:
`
`F/G.4
`
`Accordingly, claim 25 as amended should be patentable over Adams and Solar, whether
`
`considered separately or in combination, and Applicant respectfully requests reconsideration and
`
`withdrawal of the rejection of claims 25, 29, 33-34 and 36-37 under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b).
`
`26
`
`Page 10
`
`Medtronic Exhibit 1511
`
`
`
`Application No. 14/984,273
`
`Rejections under 35 U.S.C. § 102 in view of Kraus
`
`Claims 38 and 40-45 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § I02(b), as allegedly being anticipated
`
`by U.S. Patent 5,578,009, issued to Kraus et al. ("Kraus"). Applicant respectfully traverses the
`
`rejection because Kraus fails to teach or suggest all of the limitations recited in independent
`
`claim 38.
`
`Like claim 25, independent claim 38 has been amended to recite in part, "'defining a side
`
`opening portion, including forming, in a proximal to distal direction. an arcuate cross-sectional
`
`shape and a hemicylindrical cross-sectional shape, the side opening portion extending for a
`
`distance along a longitudinal axis of the device such that the side opening portion is accessible
`
`from a longitudinal side, defined traverse to the longitudinal axis. to receive a balloon catheter
`
`and stent."
`
`Kraus does not disclose, teach or suggest at ]east these claimed recitations, nor does the
`
`Examiner assert that it does. Accordingly, Applicant respectfully requests reconsideration and
`
`withdrawal of the rejection of claims 38 and 40-45 in view of Kraus under 35 U.S.C. § I02(b).
`
`Reiections under 35 U.S.C. § 103 in view of Solar and Adams
`
`35 u.s.c. § 103
`
`Claims 25-26, 29-32 and 35-40 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § I03(a), as allegedly
`
`unpatentable over Solar in view of Adams.
`
`As discussed above, the combination of Solar and Adams fails to teach or suggest at least
`
`the recitations of "defining a side opening portion, including forming, in a proximal to distal
`
`27
`
`Page 11
`
`Medtronic Exhibit 1511
`
`
`
`Application No. 14/984,273
`
`direction, an arcuate cross-sectional shape and a hemicylindrical cross-sectional shape," as
`
`recited in claim 25 and similarly recited in claim 38.
`
`Accordingly, Applicant respectfully requests reconsideration and withdrawal of the
`
`rejection of claims 25-26, 29-32 and 35-40 under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a).
`
`Reiections under 35 U.S.C. § 103 in view of Adams and Klein
`
`Dependent claims 27-28 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a), as allegedly unpatentable
`
`over Adams in further view of U.S. Patent 5,562,620, issued to Klein et al. ("Klein"). Even if
`
`Klein discloses the subject matter asserted by the Examiner, which Applicant does not concede,
`
`Klein does not remedy the deficiencies of Adams at least with respect to claim 25. Because
`
`Applicant submits that claim 25 is patentable over Adams, Applicant has not provided further
`
`comment regarding Klein. Applicant, however, also traverses this § I03(a) rejection, reserves
`
`the right to argue the additionally applied reference, and Applicant's silence should not be
`
`interpreted as an agreement with the Examiner's characterization of Klein.
`
`Reiections under 35 U.S.C. § 103 in view of Solar, Adams and Klein
`
`Claims 27-28 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a), as allegedly unpatentable over Solar
`
`in view of Adams, and further in view of Klein. Even if Klein discloses the subject matter
`
`asserted by the Examiner, which Applicant does not concede, Klein does not remedy the
`
`deficiencies of Adams and Solar at least with respect to claim 25. Because Applicant submits
`
`that claim 25 is patentable over Adams and Solar, Applicant has not provided further comment
`
`regarding Klein. Applicant, however, also traverses this § I 03(a) rejection, reserves the right to
`
`28
`
`Page 12
`
`Medtronic Exhibit 1511
`
`
`
`argue the additionally applied reference, and Applicant's silence should not be interpreted as an
`
`agreement with the Examiner's characterization of Klein.
`
`Application No. 14/984,273
`
`SUMMARY LISTING OF AMENDMENTS TO THE NEW CLAIMS AS COMPARED
`TO THE PREVIOUSLY PENDING CLAIMS
`
`For the Examiner's convenience, Applicant provides the following listing of new claims
`
`25-45 in this reissue application with additions to the claims underscored and deletions to the
`
`claim stricken through as compared to the previously pending new claims.
`
`25.
`
`A method of forming a device adapted for use with a standard guide catheter having a
`
`continuous lumen extending for a predefined length, the method comprising:
`
`providing a flexible tip segment having a lumen therethrough;
`
`providing a reinforced segment having a lumen therethrough, including one or more
`
`metallic elements covered with a polymer, and extending from a proximal end portion to a
`
`distal end portion, the proximal end pertien more rigid er having a fle1HH"al moeh:tlHs greater
`
`then the tip segment;
`
`providing a substantially rigid segment extending from a proximal end portion to a
`
`distal end portion, wherein the substantially rigid segment is more rigid along a longitudinal
`
`axis than the flexible tip segment;
`
`defining a side opening portion, including forming, in a proximal to distal direction, an
`
`arcuate cross-sectional shape and a hemicylindrical cross-sectional shape;
`
`eccentrically positioning the distal end portion of the substantially rigid segment relative
`
`to a longitudinal axis of the proximal end portion of the reinforced segment; and
`
`29
`
`Page 13
`
`Medtronic Exhibit 1511
`
`
`
`coaxially aligning the distal end portion of the reinforced segment and a proximal end
`
`Application No. 14/984,273
`
`portion of the flexible tip segment,
`
`wherein providing the substantially rigid segment, the reinforced segment, and the
`
`flexible tip segment includes forming a device length that is longer than the predefined length
`
`of the continuous lumen of the guide catheter such that when a distal end portion of the flexible
`
`tip segment is extended distally of a distal end of the guide catheter, at least part of the proximal
`
`end portion of the substantially rigid segment extends proximally of a proximal end of the guide
`
`catheter.
`
`26.
`
`The method of claim 25, further comprising providing a segmeat defining a siele
`
`opeaing encl positioaiag the segment proximal of the proximal end portion of the reiaforeed
`
`segment, extending the side opening portion e1ctending for a distance along a longitudinal axis
`
`of the segmeat device such that the side opening portion is[[ and]] accessible from a
`
`longitudinal side~ defined transverse to the longitudinal axis, along the distance.
`
`27.
`
`The method of claim 25, wherein providing the substantially rigid segment includes
`
`providing one or more relief openings at its distal end portion.
`
`28.
`
`The method of claim 27, wherein the one or more relief openings include a first relief
`
`opening and a second relief opening, the openings spaced apart from one another.
`
`29.
`
`The method of claim 25, wherein providing the substantially rigid segment includes
`
`30
`
`Page 14
`
`Medtronic Exhibit 1511
`
`
`
`forming or obtaining a hypotube or a metal rail structure.
`
`Application No. 14/984,273
`
`30.
`
`The method of claim 25, wherein providing the substantially rigid segment and the
`
`reinforced segment includes, starting at the distal end portion of the reinforced segment and
`
`moving proximally toward the proximal end portion of the substantially rigid segment, forming
`
`or obtaining at least a first device portion having a first flexural modulus and a second device
`
`portion having a second flexural modulus, the second flexural modulus greater than the first
`
`flexural modulus.
`
`31.
`
`(Previously Presented) The method of claim 25, wherein providing the reinforced
`
`segment includes covering one or more braided or coiled metallic elements with the polymer.
`
`32.
`
`The method of claim 31, wherein a length of the one or more braided or coiled metallic
`
`elements is in a range of 20 centimeters to 30 centimeters.
`
`33.
`
`The method of claim 25, wherein providing the reinforced segment includes forming or
`
`obtaining a reinforced segment including a lumen having a uniform inner diameter that is about
`
`one French smaller than an inner diameter of the continuous lumen of the guide catheter.
`
`34.
`
`The method of claim 33, wherein the lumen of the reinforced segment is greater than or
`
`equal to 0.056 inches and the continuous lumen of the guide catheter is greater than or equal to
`
`0.070 inches.
`
`31
`
`Page 15
`
`Medtronic Exhibit 1511
`
`
`
`Application No. 14/984,273
`
`35.
`
`The method of claim 25, wherein providing one or both of the reinforced segment and
`
`the flexible tip segment includes lining the lumens thereof with polytetrafluoroethylene.
`
`36.
`
`The method of claim 25, wherein providing the flexible tip segment includes providing
`
`an atraumatic bumper formed of a polymer or an elastomeric material.
`
`37.
`
`The method of claim 36, wherein providing the flexible tip segment includes covering
`
`a marker band with the polymer or the elastomeric material.
`
`38.
`
`A method of forming a device adapted for use with a standard guide catheter having a
`
`continuous lumen extending for a predefined length, the method comprising:
`
`providing a flexible tip segment having a lumen therethrough;
`
`providing a reinforced segment including one or more metallic elements covered with a
`
`polymer and having a lumen for coaxial alignment with the lumen of the flexible tip portion
`
`segment;
`
`providing a substantially rigid segment extending from a proximal end portion to a
`
`distal end portion, wherein the substantially rigid segment is more rigid along a longitudinal
`
`axis than the flexible tip segment;
`
`providing a segment defining a side opening portion, including forming. in a proximal to
`
`distal direction, an arcuate cross-sectional shape and a hemicylindrical cross-sectional shape, the
`
`side opening portion extending for a distance along a longitudinal axis of the device[[ and]] such
`
`32
`
`Page 16
`
`Medtronic Exhibit 1511
`
`
`
`Application No. 14/984,273
`
`that the side opening portion is accessible from a longitudinal side, defined transverse to the
`
`longitudinal axis, to receive a balloon catheter[[ or]] and stent; and
`
`arranging, in a proximal to distal direction, the substantially rigid segment, the segment
`
`defiaiag the side opening portion, the reinforced segment, and the flexible tip segment such that
`
`when the flexible tip segment is extended distally of a distal end of the guide catheter, the
`
`proximal end portion of the substantially rigid segment extends proximally of a proximal end of
`
`the guide catheter and the side opening portion is positioned within the continuous lumen of the
`
`guide catheter.
`
`39.
`
`The method of claim 38, wherein providing the substantially rigid segment, the segmem
`
`defining the side opening portion, and providing the reinforced segment includes, starting at a
`
`distal end portion of the reinforced segment and moving proximally toward the proximal end
`
`portion of the substantially rigid segment, forming or obtaining at least a first device portion
`
`having a first flexural modulus, a second device portion having a second flexural modulus
`
`greater than the first flexural modulus, and a third device portion having a third flexural
`
`modulus greater than the second flexural modulus.
`
`40.
`
`The method of claim 38, wherein providiag tke segmeat defining the side opening
`
`portion includes providing an angled entrance into the lumen of the reinforced segment.
`
`33
`
`Page 17
`
`Medtronic Exhibit 1511
`
`
`
`41.
`
`The method of claim 38, wherein providing the segment defining the side opening
`
`portion includes forming an arcuate cross-sectional shape having a length of about 15
`
`Application No. 14/984,273
`
`centimeters.
`
`42.
`
`The method of claim 25, further comprising defining the side opening portion in the
`
`substantially rigid segment 3 8, ·.·,herein providiag the segment defining the side openiag
`
`iadudes forming, in a prmdmal to distal direetion, an areuate eross sectional shape aad a
`
`hemieylindrieal cross sectional shape.
`
`43.
`
`The method of claim 38, wherein providing the segment defining the side opening
`
`portion includes forming a concave track.
`
`44.
`
`The method of claim 38, wherein previdiag the segmeat defining the side opening
`
`portion includes forming a first inclined sidewall, forming a second inclined sidewall, and
`
`separating the first inclined sidewall and the second inclined sidewall by a non-inclined region.
`
`45.
`
`The method of claim 38, wherein providing the substantially rigid segment,-the
`
`segment defining the side opening portion, providing the reinforced segment, and providing the
`
`flexible tip segment includes forming a device cross-sectional size and shape configured to be
`
`passed, at least in part, into the continuous lumen of the guide catheter.
`
`34
`
`Page 18
`
`Medtronic Exhibit 1511
`
`
`
`Application No. 14/984,273
`
`CONCLUSION
`
`In view of the foregoing, it is submitted that this application is in condition for allowance.
`
`Favorable consideration and prompt allowance of the application are respectfully requested.
`
`The Examiner is invited to telephone the undersigned if the Examiner believes it would
`
`be useful to advance prosecution.
`
`~ctfully submitted,
`
`l_f..fl 0
`
`Paul C. Onderick
`Registration No. 45354
`
`Customer No. 24113
`Patterson Thuente Pedersen, P.A.
`4800 IDS Center
`80 South 8th Street
`Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402-2 l 00
`Telephone: 612.349.5766
`
`35
`
`Page 19
`
`Medtronic Exhibit 1511
`
`