The Director can reissue a patent whenever any patent, through error without deceptive intention, is deemed wholly or partly inoperative or invalid by reason of a defective specification/drawing, or by reason of the patentee’s claim of more or less than that to which he had a right to claim. Prior to any reissuance the applicant must surrender the patent and pay the required fee. The patent can then be reissued (for the remainder of the original patent’s unexpired term) for the invention disclosed in the original application, and in accord with a new and amended application. No new matter can be introduced with the application for reissue (35 USC §251).
