Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 17/365,190

SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS FOR ESTABLISHING AND/OR MAINTAINING SYNCHRONIZATION BETWEEN ENTITIES IN AN ANALYTE MONITORING ENVIRONMENT

Final Rejection §103
Filed
Jul 01, 2021
Examiner
CATINA, MICHAEL ANTHONY
Art Unit
3791
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Abbott Laboratories
OA Round
4 (Final)
31%
Grant Probability
At Risk
5-6
OA Rounds
5y 6m
To Grant
61%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants only 31% of cases
31%
Career Allow Rate
167 granted / 535 resolved
-38.8% vs TC avg
Strong +30% interview lift
Without
With
+29.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
5y 6m
Avg Prosecution
54 currently pending
Career history
589
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
20.6%
-19.4% vs TC avg
§103
36.8%
-3.2% vs TC avg
§102
11.9%
-28.1% vs TC avg
§112
28.0%
-12.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 535 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 Receipt is acknowledged of applicant's amendment filed on 4/21/25. Claims 158, 159, 161, 168, 172-175 are cancelled. Claims 180-186 are new. Claims 156, 163, 165-167, 172-175 and 180-186 are currently pending and an action on the merits is as follows. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 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. Claim(s) 156, 163, 165-167, 172-175 and 180-186 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Larvenz et al. US 2015/0164390 in view of Karr US 2008/0165059. Regarding claim 156, Larvenz discloses an analyte monitoring system, comprising a plurality of devices, the plurality of devices comprising: an on body device ([FIG1] device 21), comprising: an analyte sensor, at least a portion of which is configured to be positioned under skin of a subject and in contact with a bodily fluid of the subject ([¶72,82,94] a continuous analyte sensor is used and it can be transdermal or subcutaneous); and sensor electronics disposed in an interior of the on body device and coupled with the analyte sensor, the sensor electronics configured to generate data representative of an in vivo analyte level of the subject ([¶98,102,116] controller 308); a smart phone ([¶79] the receiver device can be a smart phone or tablet), comprising: a first communication circuitry of the smart phone configured to wirelessly communicate according to a radio frequency (RF) protocol ([¶124] Bluetooth); a second communication circuitry of the reader device configured to wirelessly communicate according to a near field communication (NFC) protocol ([¶124]); a medication delivery device, comprising processing circuitry coupled with memory for storing instructions that, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to store a medication dosage amount ([¶73,132] a medicant pump is controlled by the system and has some form of memory to execute its operations and processing), wherein the smart phone is configured to wirelessly activate the on body device according to the NFC protocol ([¶94,125] the reader device can initiate the wearable device with a request and NFC is one of the possible communication protocols), wherein the smart phone is configured to wirelessly receive the data representative of the in vivo analyte level of the subject from the on body device according to either or both of the RF protocol or the NFC protocol ([¶94,124] sensor sends data to the receiving device), and Larvenz does not disclose wherein a first one of the plurality devices comprises timing circuitry and a non-transitory memory that stores a timing calibration value that is an offset of the timing circuitry from a predetermined target, the first one of the plurality of devices being configured to wirelessly communicate the timing calibration value to a second one of the plurality of devices, wherein the second one of the plurality of devices is configured to determine a start time for a receiving period based upon the timing calibration value, wherein the receiving period is for receipt of a transmission from the first one of the plurality of devices. Karr teaches a similar analyte sensor system that provides a timing calibration or offset. Specifically a timing circuit that stores a timing calibration value that is an offset of the timing circuitry from a predetermined target ([¶8,24,54,55] the clock frequency of the main device and the sensors is determined and synchronized during transmission). As well as, a device configured to wirelessly communicate the timing calibration value to a second one of the plurality of devices ([¶54-56,59-60] the information from the timing circuit or oscillator is encoded into the signal to the second device) to determine a start time for a receiving period based upon the timing calibration value ([¶8,69] the offsets of the clock are used to synchronize transmission and receiving). Therefore, It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the time of filing to combine the device of Larvenz with the timing of Karr in order to determining timing as part of the data transmission and synchronize the transmissions ([¶8]). Regarding claim 163, Larvenz discloses the on body device further comprises an adhesive patch configured to attach the on body device to the skin of the subject ([¶80] device 21 can be attached with adhesive). Regarding claim 165, Larvenz discloses the RF protocol is a formed in an ultra-high frequency (UHF) band ([¶124] Bluetooth operates in the UHF band). Regarding claim 166, Larvenz discloses the smart phone further comprises a shared antenna coupled with the first communication circuitry and the second communication circuitry ([¶92,101] The device had an antenna and smart phones if that is the reader have antenna). Regarding claim 167, Larvenz discloses an antenna but does not disclose the reader device further comprises a first antenna coupled with the first communication circuitry and a second antenna coupled with the second communication circuitry. However, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing to include a second antenna as it is no more than the duplication or parts to arrive at the predictable result of having two antennas one for each communication protocol. Regarding claim 172, Larvenz discloses the smart phone is further configured to wirelessly receive an indication of an alarm condition from the on body device according to the RF protocol ([¶77,100] alarms for glucose levels). Regarding claim 173 and 174, Larvenz discloses the alarm condition comprises a predicted low analyte level condition and a predicted high analyte level ([¶109,114] alerts for high and low levels). Regarding claim 175, Larvenz discloses wherein the analyte sensor is a glucose sensor ([¶68] glucose is measured). Regarding claim 177, Karr teaches wherein the second one of the plurality of devices comprises non-transitory memory that stores a data structure that translated the code to a corresponding value ([¶60]). Regarding claim 180, Karr teaches the data structure is a lookup table ([¶60]). Regarding claim 181, Karr teaches the timing calibration value is an offset of a frequency of the timing circuitry ([¶53,54,56] the clock signal is a frequency). Regarding claim 182, Karr teaches the timing calibration value is an offset of a time ([¶53,54,56] the clock signal is a frequency used to determine time differences so the offset is a time). . Regarding claim 183, Karr teaches the timing calibration value is an offset of the time of a communication interval ([¶53,54,56,69] the offset in the clock signal accounts for delays from transmission and processing). Regarding claim 184, Karr teaches the smart phone is the first one of the plurality of devices and the on body device is the second one of the plurality of devices ([¶53,54,56] timing correction is performed by a main device and a remote device). Regarding claim 185 and 186, Karr teaches the timing circuitry comprises a clock and the clock comprises a crystal oscillator ([¶53-56]). Response to Arguments Applicant's arguments filed 8/20/25 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Regarding Applicant’s arguments against Larvenz and Karr, see pg. 7, Examiner respectfully disagrees. Applicant argues that Karr does not teach the new limitations but as shown in the rejection above Karr does indeed teach wherein a first one of the plurality devices comprises timing circuitry and a non-transitory memory that stores a timing calibration value that is an offset of the timing circuitry from a predetermined target, the first one of the plurality of devices being configured to wirelessly communicate the timing calibration value to a second one of the plurality of devices, wherein the second one of the plurality of devices is configured to determine a start time for a receiving period based upon the timing calibration value, wherein the receiving period is for receipt of a transmission from the first one of the plurality of devices. 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 MICHAEL ANTHONY CATINA whose telephone number is (571)270-5951. The examiner can normally be reached 10-6pm. 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, Robert Chen can be reached on 5712723672. 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. /MICHAEL A CATINA/Examiner, Art Unit 3791 /TSE W CHEN/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3791
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Prosecution Timeline

Jul 01, 2021
Application Filed
May 17, 2024
Non-Final Rejection — §103
Nov 18, 2024
Response Filed
Dec 06, 2024
Final Rejection — §103
Apr 21, 2025
Request for Continued Examination
Apr 22, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
May 17, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §103
Aug 20, 2025
Response Filed
Dec 08, 2025
Final Rejection — §103 (current)

Precedent Cases

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

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Prosecution Projections

5-6
Expected OA Rounds
31%
Grant Probability
61%
With Interview (+29.7%)
5y 6m
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 535 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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