European Patent Office

T 0182/90 (Blood flow) of 30.07.1993

European Case Law Identifier
ECLI:EP:BA:1993:T018290.19930730
Date of decision
30 July 1993
Case number
T 0182/90
Petition for review of
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Application number
86102544.3
Language of proceedings
English
Distribution
Published in the EPO's Official Journal (A)
Other decisions for this case
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Abstracts for this decision
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Application title
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Applicant name
See-Shell
Opponent name
-
Board
3.2.02
Headnote

I. The presence of a surgical step in a multi-step method for treatment of the human or animal body normally confers a surgical character on that method (cf. point 2.5.1).

II. However, a method which includes a surgical step practised on a living laboratory animal and, in addition, a step of sacrificing said animal, which step is also necessary to carry out the method, cannot be regarded in its entirety as a method for treatment of the animal by surgery in the sense of Article 52(4) EPC (cf. point 2.5.2).

Keywords
Patentable inventions - surgical treatment (no)
Catchword
-
Cited cases
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ORDER

For these reasons, it is decided that:

1. The decision under appeal is set aside.

2. The case is remitted to the first instance for further prosecution on the basis of the claims filed on 13 July 1993.

3. The request for reimbursement of the appeal fee is rejected.