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
The amendment filed January 30th, 2026 has been entered. Claims 1-15 and 19-22 remain pending in the application. Claims 16-18 have been cancelled. Applicant’s amendments to the claims have overcome some of the objections and rejections previously set forth in the Non-Final Office Action mailed October 7th, 2025.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see Pages 8-19, filed January 30th, 2026, with respect to the rejections of claims 1-15 and 19-20 have been fully considered and are persuasive. The rejection of claims 1-12 under 35 U.S.C. 103 over Devlin in view of Brodnick, Machon and Loutis, claims 13, 14, 15, and 19-20 under 35 U.S.C. 103 over Afanasewicz in view of Su, Machon, and Loutis has been withdrawn. However upon further consideration claims 1-15 and 19-22 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b).
Claim Objections
Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 1, line 17 recites, “shielding for reduced” should read – shielding for reduced noise; --. 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 1-15, and 19-22 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 jointht inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claims 1 recites “electrode front comprising a male snap connector configured of a size of shape to allow for the use of a non-standard lead having improved shielding for reduced”. It is unclear as to how the non-standard lead provides for improved shielding for reduced noise. The specification discloses on Page 6, lines 12-29, “having a snap connector that varies in size or shape from a standard connector enforces the use of a non-standard lead known to have superior performance such as better shielding for lower noise, or various other proprietary improvements”. The specification appears to recite the claim language and therefore it is unclear as to how the non-standard lead provides for improved shielding and reduces noise.
Claims 9 and 13 recite “the electrode front further comprising a male snap connector configured of a size of shape to allow for the use of a non-standard lead known to have better shielding for lower noise”. It is unclear whether the label and the alignment indicators are meant to be the same thing or different things? Is the label made up of alignment indicators? It is unclear as to how the non-standard lead provides for improved shielding for reduced noise. The specification discloses on Page 6, lines 12-29, “having a snap connector that varies in size or shape from a standard connector enforces the use of a non-standard lead known to have superior performance such as better shielding for lower noise, or various other proprietary improvements”. The specification appears to recite the claim language and therefore it is unclear as to how the non-standard lead provides for improved shielding and reduces noise.
Claims 2-8, 10-12, 14-15, and 19-22 are rejected by virtue of dependency on claims 1, 9, and 13.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-15 and 19-22 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.
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.
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/D.S./Examiner, Art Unit 3794 /JOANNE M RODDEN/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3794
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