Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 17/048,061

MOVABLE CATHETER

Final Rejection §103
Filed
Oct 15, 2020
Examiner
TRINH, HONG-VAN N
Art Unit
3783
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Zeon Corporation
OA Round
4 (Final)
62%
Grant Probability
Moderate
5-6
OA Rounds
3y 4m
To Grant
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 62% of resolved cases
62%
Career Allow Rate
160 granted / 260 resolved
-8.5% vs TC avg
Strong +59% interview lift
Without
With
+59.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 4m
Avg Prosecution
26 currently pending
Career history
286
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.5%
-39.5% vs TC avg
§103
39.9%
-0.1% vs TC avg
§102
25.6%
-14.4% vs TC avg
§112
28.4%
-11.6% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 260 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . Response to Amendment This office action is responsive to the amendment filed on 7/14/2025. As directed by the amendment: claims 1 and 4-5 have been amended; no claims have been cancelled; and no claims have been added. Thus, claims 1-6 are presently pending in this application. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action: A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made. The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows: 1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art. 2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue. 3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art. 4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness. Claims 1-6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over in view of Van Hoven et al. (US 20160367787 A1) in view of Kobayashi (WO 2013008490 A1) further in view of Cerier et al. (US 20040010245 A1). Regarding claim 1, Van Hoven discloses a movable catheter (Figs. 1C, 3A-3C and 5B-5C), comprising: a tube (380, 1000, Figs. 3C and 5B, Paragraph [0035]) comprising a main lumen (1163, Fig. 5C) and a plurality of wire lumens (386, 388, 1162, Figs. 3C and 5C) outside the main lumen, wherein the plurality of wire lumens are spaced apart from each other (Figs. 3C and 5C, Paragraphs [0033] and [0042]) and reach a distal end portion (384, 392, Fig. 3B) of the tube from a proximal end portion (394, Proximal end of 1000, Figs. 3B and 5B-5C) of the tube; one first wire (90, Fig. 3C) and one second wire (90, 1120, Abstract, Paragraphs [0042] and [0054]), wherein one end portion (Portion of 90 on the left side of 92) of each of the first wire and the second wire is inserted through one of the plurality of wire lumens (386, 1162, Figs. 3B-3C and 5B-5C, Paragraph [0054]), an intermediate part (92) of each of the first wire and the second wire is folded back on the distal end portion of the tube (Figs. 3B-3C), an other end portion (Portion of 90 on the right side of 92) of each of the first wire and the second wire is inserted through another one of the plurality of wire lumens (388, 1162, Figs. 3B-3C and 5B-5C, Paragraph [0054]), and the one end portion and the other end portion of each of the first wire and the second wire are disposed at the proximal end portion of the tube (Figs. 3B-3C and 5B-5C). Van Hoven further teaches that the pullwires 1120 are folded back in the middle of the wires and by pulling on the proximal end side of the pullwires 1120, the distal end side of the catheter 1000 bends in the pulling direction. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that pulling the pullwires 1120 would result in pulling both end portions (the one end portion and the other end portion) of each of the pullwires (Fig. 1C, Paragraphs [0031] and [0036]). Van Hoven is silent regarding an operation portion connected to the one end portion and the other end portion of each of the first wire and the second wire disposed at the proximal end portion of the tube, the operation portion configured to simultaneously pull both of the one end portion and the other end portion of each of the first wire and the second wire, and to simultaneously loosen both of the one end portion and the other end portion of each of the first wire and the second wire, the operation portion thereby configured so that, when the operation portion simultaneously pulls both of the one end portion and the other end portion of the first wire, the operation portion simultaneously loosens both of the one end portion and the other end portion of the second wire, and, when the operation portion simultaneously pulls both of the one end portion and the other end portion of the second wire, the operation portion simultaneously loosens both of the one end portion and the other end portion of the first wire; and a tip protection member configured to protect a tip of the catheter and provided at the distal end portion of the tube so that the intermediate parts of the two wires, the intermediate parts being folded back on the distal end portion of the tube, are not exposed on the tip of the catheter. In analogous prior art, Kobayashi teaches a movable catheter (10, 20, Figs. 1-4B), comprising: one first wire (31, Fig. 2) and one second wire (32); and an operation portion (22) connected to an end portion of each of the first wire and the second wire (Fig. 2), the operation portion configured to pull the end portion of each of the first wire and the second wire, and to loosen the end portion of each of the first wire and the second wire, the operation portion thereby configured so that, when the operation portion pulls the end portion of the first wire, the operation portion loosens the end portion of the second wire, and, when the operation portion pulls the end portion of the second wire, the operation portion loosens the end portion of the first wire (Figs. 2-4B, Page 51, 2nd paragraph, Page 52, 2nd paragraph, Page 53, 4th paragraph-8th paragraph). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the movable catheter of Van Hoven to incorporate the teachings of Kobayashi to incorporate an operation portion connected to the first wire and the second wire, the operation portion configured to pull the first wire and the second wire, and to loosen the first wire and the second wire, the operation portion thereby configured so that, when the operation portion pulls the first wire, the operation portion loosens the second wire, and, when the operation portion pulls the second wire, the operation portion loosens the first wire in order to perform a swinging operation (deflecting movement operation) of the distal end portion of the catheter tube (Page 52, 2nd paragraph, Kobayashi). In the combination, both end portions of the first wire and the second wire of Van Hoven would be connected to the operation portion of Kobayashi and the operation portion of Kobayashi would be configured to simultaneously pull both end portions of each of the first wire and the second wire, and to simultaneously loosen both end portions of each of the first wire and the second wire and would thereby be configured so that, when the operation portion simultaneously pulls both end portions of the first wire, the operation portion simultaneously loosens both end portions of the second wire, and, when the operation portion simultaneously pulls both end portions of the second wire, the operation portion simultaneously loosens both end portions of the first wire. Van Hoven in view of Kobayashi are silent regarding a tip protection member configured to protect a tip of the catheter and provided at the distal end portion of the tube so that the intermediate parts of the two wires, the intermediate parts being folded back on the distal end portion of the tube, are not exposed on the tip of the catheter. In analogous art, Cerier teaches a tip protection member (1242) configured to protect a tip of a device and provided at a distal end portion of the device (Fig. 40). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the catheter of Van Hoven in view of Kobayashi to incorporate the teachings of Cerier to incorporate a tip protection member configured to protect a tip of it and provided at the distal end portion of the tube in order to provide an atraumatic distal end (Paragraph [0212]). The modification of Van Hoven in view of Kobayashi further in view of Cerier would teach a tip protection member configured to protect a tip of the catheter and provided at the distal end portion of the tube so that the intermediate parts of the two wires, the intermediate parts being folded back on the distal end portion of the tube, are not exposed on the tip of the catheter because the end cap 1242 of Cerier would be provided at the distal end portion of the tube of Van Hoven, thus the intermediate parts of the two wires being folded back on the distal end portion of the tube of Van Hoven would not exposed on the tip of the catheter. Regarding claim 2, Van Hoven in view of Kobayashi further in view of Cerier disclose the movable catheter according to claim 1, wherein plurality of the wire lumens comprise three or more wire lumens (386, 388, 1162, Figs. 3B and 5C, Van Hoven). Regarding claim 3, Van Hoven in view of Kobayashi further in view of Cerier disclose the movable catheter according to claim 1, wherein the tube comprises a single-lumen tube (1000, 380, Van Hoven) having the main lumen (Fig. 5C, Van Hoven) and at least one multi-lumen tube (1160, Fig. 5C, Paragraph [0054], Van Hoven) integrally disposed outside the single-lumen tube and comprising a plurality of the wire lumens (1162, Fig. 5C, Van Hoven). Regarding claim 4, Van Hoven discloses a movable catheter (Figs. 3A-3C and 5B-5C), comprising: a tube (380, 1000, Figs. 3C and 5B, Paragraph [0035]) comprising a main lumen (1163, Fig. 5C) and a wire lumen (386, 388, 1162, Figs. 3C and 5C) outside the main lumen, wherein the wire lumen reaches a distal end portion (392, Image 1) of the tube from a proximal end portion (394, Proximal end of 1000, Figs. 3B and 5B-5C) of the tube; two wires (90, 1120, Fig. 3C, Abstract, Paragraphs [0042] and [0054]), wherein one end portion (Portion of 90 on the left side of 92) of each of the wires is inserted through the wire lumen (386, 1162, Figs. 3B-3C and 5B-5C), an intermediate part (Image 1) of each of the wires is folded back on the distal end portion of the tube (Figs. 3B-3C, Image 1), an other end portion (Portion of 90 on the right side of 92) of each of the wires is passed over an outside of the tube (Image 1), and the one end portion and the other end portion of each of the wires are disposed at the proximal end portion of the tube (Figs. 3B-3C and 5B-5C). Van Hoven further teaches that the pullwires 1120 are folded back in the middle of the wires and by pulling on the proximal end side of the pullwires 1120, the distal end side of the catheter 1000 bends in the pulling direction. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that pulling the pullwires 1120 would result in pulling both end portions (the one end portion and the other end portion) of each of the pullwires (Fig. 1C, Paragraphs [0031] and [0036]). Image 1: PNG media_image1.png 283 367 media_image1.png Greyscale Van Hoven is silent regarding an operation portion connected to the one end portion and the other end portion of each of the two wires disposed at the proximal end portion of the tube, the operation portion configured to simultaneously pull both of the one end portion and the other end portion of each of the two wires, and to simultaneously loosen both of the one end portion and the other end portion of each of the two wires, the operation portion thereby configured so that, when the operation portion simultaneously pulls both of the one end portion and the other end portion of one of the wires, the operation portion simultaneously loosens both of the one end portion and the other end portion of other one of the wires, and, when the operation portion simultaneously pulls both of the one end portion and the other end portion of the other one of the wires, the operation portion simultaneously loosens both of the one end portion and the other end portion of the one of the wires; and a tip protection member configured to protect a tip of the catheter and provided at the distal end portion of the tube so that the intermediate parts of the two wires, the intermediate parts being folded back on the distal end portion of the tube, are not exposed on the tip of the catheter. In analogous art, Kobayashi teaches a movable catheter (10, 20, Figs. 1-4B), comprising: two wires (31, 32, Fig. 2); and an operation portion (22) connected to an end portion of each of the two wires (Fig. 2), the operation portion configured to pull the end portion of each of the two wires, and to loosen the end portion of each of the two wires, the operation portion thereby configured so that, when the operation portion pulls the end portion of one of the wires, the operation portion loosens the end portion of the other one of the wires, and, when the operation portion pulls the end portion of the other one of the wires, the operation portion loosens the end portion of the one of the wires (Figs. 2-4B, Page 51, 2nd paragraph, Page 52, 2nd paragraph, Page 53, 4th paragraph-8th paragraph). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the movable catheter of Van Hoven to incorporate the teachings of Kobayashi to incorporate an operation portion connected to the two wires, the operation portion configured to pull the two wires, and to loosen the two wires, the operation portion thereby configured so that, when the operation portion pulls one of the wires, the operation portion loosens the other one of the wires, and, when the operation portion pulls the other one of the wires, the operation portion loosens the one of the wires in order to perform a swinging operation (deflecting movement operation) of the distal end portion of the catheter tube (Page 52, 2nd paragraph, Kobayashi). In the combination, both end portions of each of the two wires of Van Hoven would be connected to the operation portion of Kobayashi and the operation portion of Kobayashi would be configured to simultaneously pull both end portions of each of the two wires, and to simultaneously loosen both end portions of each of the two wires and would thereby be configured so that, when the operation portion simultaneously pulls both end portions of the one of the wires, the operation portion simultaneously loosens both end portions of the other one of the wires, and, when the operation portion simultaneously pulls both end portions of the other one of the wires, the operation portion simultaneously loosens both end portions of the one of the wires. Van Hoven in view of Kobayashi are silent regarding a tip protection member configured to protect a tip of the catheter and provided at the distal end portion of the tube so that the intermediate parts of the two wires, the intermediate parts being folded back on the distal end portion of the tube, are not exposed on the tip of the catheter. In analogous art, Cerier teaches a tip protection member (1242) configured to protect a tip of a device and provided at a distal end portion of the device (Fig. 40). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the catheter of Van Hoven in view of Kobayashi to incorporate the teachings of Cerier to incorporate a tip protection member configured to protect a tip of it and provided at the distal end portion of the tube in order to provide an atraumatic distal end (Paragraph [0212]). The modification of Van Hoven in view of Kobayashi further in view of Cerier would teach a tip protection member configured to protect a tip of the catheter and provided at the distal end portion of the tube so that the intermediate parts of the two wires, the intermediate parts being folded back on the distal end portion of the tube, are not exposed on the tip of the catheter because the end cap 1242 of Cerier would be provided at the distal end portion of the tube of Van Hoven, thus the intermediate parts of the two wires being folded back on the distal end portion of the tube of Van Hoven would not exposed on the tip of the catheter. Regarding claim 5, Van Hoven discloses a movable catheter (Figs. 3A-3C and 5B-5C), comprising: a tube (380, 1000, Figs. 3C and 5B, Paragraph [0035]) comprising a main lumen (386, 1162, Figs. 3C and 5C) and a wire lumen (388, 1162, Figs. 3C and 5C) outside the main lumen, wherein the wire lumen reaches a distal end portion (384, 392, Fig. 3B) of the tube from a proximal end portion (394, Proximal end of 1000, Figs. 3B and 5B-5C) of the tube; two wires (90, 1120, Fig. 3C, Abstract, Paragraphs [0042] and [0054]), wherein one end portion (Portion of 90 on the left side of 92) of each of the wires is inserted through the wire lumen (Fig. 3C), an intermediate part (92) of each of the wires is folded back on the distal end portion of the tube (Figs. 3B-3C), an other end portion of each of the wires is inserted through the main lumen (Figs. 3B-3C), and the one end portion and the other end portion of each of the wires are disposed at the proximal end portion of the tube (Figs. 3B-3C and 5B-5C). Van Hoven further teaches that the pullwires 1120 are folded back in the middle of the wires and by pulling on the proximal end side of the pullwires 1120, the distal end side of the catheter 1000 bends in the pulling direction. One of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that pulling the pullwires 1120 would result in pulling both end portions (the one end portion and the other end portion) of each of the pullwires (Fig. 1C, Paragraphs [0031] and [0036]). Van Hoven is silent regarding an operation portion connected to the one end portion and the other end portion of each of the two wires disposed at the proximal end portion of the tube, the operation portion configured to simultaneously pull both of the one end portion and the other end portion of each of the two wires, and to simultaneously loosen both of the one end portion and the other end portion of each of the two wires, the operation portion thereby configured so that, when the operation portion simultaneously pulls both of the one end portion and the other end portion of one of the wires, the operation portion simultaneously loosens both of the one end portion and the other end portion of other one of the wires, and, when the operation portion simultaneously pulls both of the one end portion and the other end portion of the other one of the wires, the operation portion simultaneously loosens both of the one end portion and the other end portion of the one of the wires; and a tip protection member configured to protect a tip of the catheter and provided at the distal end portion of the tube so that the intermediate parts of the two wires, the intermediate parts being folded back on the distal end portion of the tube, are not exposed on the tip of the catheter. In analogous art, Kobayashi teaches a movable catheter (10, 20, Figs. 1-4B), comprising: two wires (31, 32, Fig. 2); and an operation portion (22) connected to an end portion of each of the wires (Fig. 2), the operation portion configured to pull the end portion of each of two wires, and to loosen the end portion of each of the two wires, the operation portion thereby configured so that, when the operation portion pulls the end portion of one of the wires, the operation portion loosens the end portion of the other one of the wires, and, when the operation portion pulls the end portion of the other one of the wires, the operation portion loosens the end portion of the one of the wires (Figs. 2-4B, Page 51, 2nd paragraph, Page 52, 2nd paragraph, Page 53, 4th paragraph). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the movable catheter of Van Hoven to incorporate the teachings of Kobayashi to incorporate an operation portion connected to the two wires, the operation portion configured to pull the two wires, and to loosen the two wires, the operation portion thereby configured so that, when the operation portion pulls one of the wires, the operation portion loosens the other one of the wires, and, when the operation portion pulls the other one of the wires, the operation portion loosens the one of the wires in order to perform a swinging operation (deflecting movement operation) of the distal end portion of the catheter tube (Page 52, 2nd paragraph, Kobayashi). In the combination, both end portions of each of the two wires of Van Hoven would be connected to the operation portion of Kobayashi and the operation portion of Kobayashi would be configured to simultaneously pull both end portions of each of the two wires, and to simultaneously loosen both end portions of each of the two wires and would thereby be configured so that, when the operation portion simultaneously pulls both end portions of the one of the wires, the operation portion simultaneously loosens both end portions of the other one of the wires, and, when the operation portion simultaneously pulls both end portions of the other one of the wires, the operation portion simultaneously loosens both end portions of the one of the wires. Van Hoven in view of Kobayashi are silent regarding a tip protection member configured to protect a tip of the catheter and provided at the distal end portion of the tube so that the intermediate parts of the two wires, the intermediate parts being folded back on the distal end portion of the tube, are not exposed on the tip of the catheter. In analogous art, Cerier teaches a tip protection member (1242) configured to protect a tip of a device and provided at a distal end portion of the device (Fig. 40). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the catheter of Van Hoven in view of Kobayashi to incorporate the teachings of Cerier to incorporate a tip protection member configured to protect a tip of it and provided at the distal end portion of the tube in order to provide an atraumatic distal end (Paragraph [0212]). The modification of Van Hoven in view of Kobayashi further in view of Cerier would teach a tip protection member configured to protect a tip of the catheter and provided at the distal end portion of the tube so that the intermediate parts of the two wires, the intermediate parts being folded back on the distal end portion of the tube, are not exposed on the tip of the catheter because the end cap 1242 of Cerier would be provided at the distal end portion of the tube of Van Hoven, thus the intermediate parts of the two wires being folded back on the distal end portion of the tube of Van Hoven would not exposed on the tip of the catheter. Regarding claim 6, Van Hoven in view of Kobayashi further in view of Cerier disclose the movable catheter of claim 1, wherein: the plurality of wire lumens comprise four wire lumens (386, 388, 1162, Figs. 3B and 5C, Van Hoven), the operation portion comprises two grip sections (221, Kobayashi), when one of the grip sections is operated, both ends of the first wire are pulled at the same time, and a tip of the tube is deflected in a specific direction (Van Hoven teaches that when the wire is pulled, a tip of the tube is deflected in a specific direction, as shown in Fig. 1C and in the combination, when one of the grip sections, as taught by Kobayashi, is operated, both ends of one wire are pulled at the same time, and a tip of the tube is deflected in a specific direction, as taught by Van Hoven), and when the other grip section is operated, both ends of the second wire are pulled at the same time, and the tip of the tube is deflected in a direction opposite to the specific direction (Van Hoven teaches that when another wire is pulled, the tip of the tube is deflected in a an opposite direction, as shown in Fig. 1C and in the combination, when the other grip section, as taught by Kobayashi, is operated, both ends of the other wire are pulled at the same time, and the tip of the tube is deflected in the direction opposite to the specific direction, as taught by Van Hoven). Response to Arguments Applicant's arguments filed 3/7/2024 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1 and 4-5 regarding “a tip protection member configured to protect a tip of the catheter and provided at the distal end portion of the tube so that the intermediate parts of the two wires, the intermediate parts being folded back on the distal end portion of the tube, are not exposed on the tip of the catheter” have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument. Applicant’s arguments on pages 11-12 are not persuasive for similar reasons given in response to similar arguments on page 10 of the Non-Final Rejection mailed 1/13/2025. Specifically, Applicant cites paragraph [0031] of Van Hoven, stating that tension can be applied to both of the two wires provided so as to face each other in the radial direction, therefore there is no disclosure in Van Hoven about the constitution that when both ends of one of the two wires are simultaneously pulled, both ends of the other wire are simultaneously loosened, and when both ends of the other wire are simultaneously pulled, both ends of one wire are simultaneously loosened. The Examiner notes that Paragraph [0031] is only stating that if tension is applied to one pullwire, as illustrated by arrow 1124 in Fig. 1C, to create a curvature, one of ordinary skill in the art can lessen the curvature by applying tension to the other pullwire, as illustrated by arrow 1122. In a first scenario, in which tension is applied to one pullwire to create a curvature, as illustrated by arrow 1124, both ends of one wire would be simultaneously pulled while both ends of the other wire would be simultaneously loosened and in the second scenario, in which tension is applied to other pullwire to create a curvature, as illustrated by arrow 1124, both ends of one of the other wire would be simultaneously pulled while both ends of the one wire would be simultaneously loosened. Applicant’s arguments on page 12 are not persuasive for similar reasons given in response to similar arguments on pages 10-11 of the Non-Final Rejection mailed 1/13/2025. While the references alone do not teach the limitations of claims 1 and 5-6, it is the modification of Van Hoven in view of Kobayashi that would teach both end portions of each of the two wires of Van Hoven being connected to the operation portion of Kobayashi and the operation portion of Kobayashi would be configured to simultaneously pull both end portions of each of the two wires, and to simultaneously loosen both end portions of each of the two wires and would thereby be configured so that, when the operation portion simultaneously pulls both end portions of the one of the wires, the operation portion simultaneously loosens both end portions of the other one of the wires, and, when the operation portion simultaneously pulls both end portions of the other one of the wires, the operation portion simultaneously loosens both end portions of the one of the wires. Conclusion Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a). A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HONG-VAN N TRINH whose telephone number is (571)272-8039. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9:15-5:45 ET. Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Chelsea Stinson can be reached at (571) 270-1744. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /HONG-VAN N TRINH/Examiner, Art Unit 3783 /James D Ponton/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3783
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Oct 15, 2020
Application Filed
Oct 15, 2020
Response after Non-Final Action
Feb 01, 2023
Non-Final Rejection — §103
Aug 04, 2023
Response Filed
Aug 28, 2023
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Aug 28, 2023
Examiner Interview Summary
Sep 04, 2023
Final Rejection — §103
Mar 01, 2024
Examiner Interview Summary
Mar 01, 2024
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Mar 07, 2024
Request for Continued Examination
Mar 15, 2024
Response after Non-Final Action
Jan 07, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §103
Jul 14, 2025
Response Filed
Oct 22, 2025
Final Rejection — §103 (current)

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Prosecution Projections

5-6
Expected OA Rounds
62%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+59.3%)
3y 4m
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
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