What is the standard for determining if a specification is enabling for inventions involving multiple technologies?

This page is an FAQ based on guidance from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only: it is not legal advice.

For inventions involving multiple technologies, the standard for determining if a specification is enabling is based on whether experts in each relevant field can understand and implement their respective parts of the invention.

The MPEP 2164.05(b) cites a key legal precedent: “If two distinct technologies are relevant to an invention, then the disclosure will be adequate if a person of ordinary skill in each of the two technologies could practice the invention from the disclosures.” (Technicon Instruments Corp. v. Alpkem Corp., 664 F. Supp. 1558, 1578, 2 USPQ2d 1729, 1742 (D. Ore. 1986)). This standard ensures that the specification provides sufficient information for experts in all relevant fields to understand and implement the invention.