Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 25, 2026
Application No. 17/339,565

System and Method for Treating Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI) via the Superficial Femoral Arteries (SFA)

Final Rejection §103§112
Filed
Jun 04, 2021
Priority
Jun 04, 2020 — provisional 63/034,623
Examiner
KNAUSS, CHRISTIAN D
Art Unit
3771
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Micro Medical Solutions Inc.
OA Round
5 (Final)
71%
Grant Probability
Favorable
6-7
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 71% — above average
71%
Career Allowance Rate
306 granted / 429 resolved
+1.3% vs TC avg
Strong +33% interview lift
Without
With
+32.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 3m
Avg Prosecution
26 currently pending
Career history
474
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.1%
-38.9% vs TC avg
§103
49.2%
+9.2% vs TC avg
§102
19.3%
-20.7% vs TC avg
§112
26.2%
-13.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 429 resolved cases

Office Action

§103 §112
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 Claims 11, 12, 14, 16, 18-26, and 28-30 are pending in the application. Claims 1-10, 13, 15, 17, 27, and 29 have been canceled. Claims 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24-26, and 28-30 have been amended. Claim Objections Claim 11 is objected to because of the following informalities: in line 10, “the stent device” should read --the 3.2Fr. stent device--. Appropriate correction is required. Claim 14 is objected to because of the following informalities: in lines 2-3, “wherein the 3.2Fr. stent device wherein the platinum content ranging from 5 percent” should read --wherein the platinum content ranges from 5 percent--. Appropriate correction is required. Claim 16 is objected to because of the following informalities: in lines 2-3, “the support PT guidewire” should read --the at least one support percutaneous transluminal (PT) guidewire--. Appropriate correction is required. Claim 20 is objected to because of the following informalities: in line 2, “the stent device” should read --the 3.2Fr. stent device--. Appropriate correction is required. Claim 22 is objected to because of the following informalities: in line 3, “PTA balloon catheter” should read --a percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) balloon catheter--. Appropriate correction is required. Claim 23 is objected to because of the following informalities: in line 3, “a PTA balloon catheter” should read --a percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) balloon catheter--. Appropriate correction is required. Claim 24 is objected to because of the following informalities: in line 3, “a stent” should read --the 3.2Fr. stent device--. Appropriate correction is required. Claim 25 is objected to because of the following informalities: in line 2, “the stent device” should read --the 3.2Fr. stent device--. Appropriate correction is required. Claim 26 is objected to because of the following informalities: in line 2, “the stent device” should read --the 3.2Fr. stent device--. Appropriate correction is required. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b): (b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph: The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention. Claims 28-30 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. Claim 28 recites the limitation "the stent delivery system" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Appropriate correction is required. Claim 28 recites “advancing at least one support PT guidewire retrograde into a parallel artery” in lines 8-9. It is unclear if this limitation is reciting the “at least one support percutaneous transluminal (PT) guidewire” that is recited in claim 11, or a different guidewire. If the claim intends to refer to the same guidewire, the claim should read: --advancing the at least one support percutaneous transluminal (PT) guidewire” into a parallel artery--. Appropriate correction is required. Claim 28 recites “the stent device” (line 10), “a stent” (line 13), and “the stent” (line 17). It is unclear if claim 28 is reciting “the 3.2Fr. stent device” in claim 11 or a different stent device/stent. The Examiner requests the Applicant use consistent terminology. Appropriate correction is required. Claim 29 recites the limitation "the stent delivery system" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Appropriate correction is required. Claim 29 recites “advancing at least one support PT guidewire retrograde into a parallel artery” in lines 8-9. It is unclear if this limitation is reciting the “at least one support percutaneous transluminal (PT) guidewire” that is recited in claim 11, or a different guidewire. If the claim intends to refer to the same guidewire, the claim should read: --advancing the at least one support percutaneous transluminal (PT) guidewire” into a parallel artery--. Appropriate correction is required. Claim 29 recites “the stent device” (line 10), “the 4Fr. compatible stent device” (line 13), “the stent” (line 14 and line 18). It is unclear if claim 29 is reciting “the 3.2Fr. stent device” in claim 11 or a different stent device/stent. The Examiner requests the Applicant use consistent terminology. Appropriate correction is required. Claim 29 recites the limitation "the 4Fr. compatible stent’s placement" in lines 16-17. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Appropriate correction is required. Claim 30 recites the limitation "the stent delivery system" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Appropriate correction is required. Claim 30 recites “advancing at least one support percutaneous transluminal (PT) guidewire antegrade into a plantar arch” in lines 8-9. It is unclear if this limitation is reciting the “at least one support percutaneous transluminal (PT) guidewire” that is recited in claim 11, or a different guidewire. If the claim intends to refer to the same guidewire, the claim should read: --advancing the at least one support percutaneous transluminal (PT) guidewire” into a parallel artery--. Appropriate correction is required. Claim 30 recites “the stent device” (line 10), “the 4Fr. compatible stent” (line 13 and line 18), and “the stent” (line 14). It is unclear if claim 28 is reciting “the 3.2Fr. stent device” in claim 11 or a different stent device/stent. The Examiner requests the Applicant use consistent terminology. Appropriate correction is required. Claim 30 recites the limitation "the 4Fr. compatible stent’s placement" in lines 16-17. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Appropriate correction is required. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 11, 12, 14, 16, and 18-26 are allowed. NOTE: claims 11, 14, 16, 20, and 22-26 require correction of the minor informalities above. Claims 28-30 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Claim 11 has been amended to incorporate the subject matter from claim 13, which has been canceled. Claim 13 was indicated allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in the previous Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Claims 12, 14, 16, and 18 are dependent on claim 11, thus are also allowable over the prior art of record. Claims 28-30 have been amended to require the system of claim 11, thus would also be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action. Claim 19 was indicated allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in the previous Office action. Claim 19 has been amended accordingly. Claims 20-26 are all dependent on claim 19, thus are also allowable over the prior art of record. Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments filed 7/13/26, with respect to the claim rejections under 35 U.S.C. § 103 and § 112, 4th paragraph from the previous Office Action, have been fully considered and are persuasive. These rejections have been withdrawn. Applicant’s arguments filed 7/13/26, with respect to the rejection(s) of claims 11-14, 16-26, and 28-30 under U.S.C. § 112, 2nd paragraph have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new grounds of rejection is made in view of the amendments made to claims 28-30, which now recite that the system of claim 11. 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 CHRISTIAN D KNAUSS whose telephone number is (571)272-8641. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 12:30-8:30. 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, Darwin Erezo can be reached at 571-272-4695. 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. /C.D.K/Examiner, Art Unit 3771 /BRIGID K BYRD/Examiner, Art Unit 3771
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Show 4 earlier events
Aug 26, 2024
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103, §112
Feb 26, 2025
Response Filed
Apr 04, 2025
Final Rejection mailed — §103, §112
Oct 06, 2025
Request for Continued Examination
Oct 10, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Jan 13, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103, §112
Jul 13, 2026
Response Filed
Sep 21, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §103, §112 (current)

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

6-7
Expected OA Rounds
71%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+32.9%)
3y 3m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 429 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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