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 on 08/11/2025 has been entered. Claims 1 - 6 and 8 - 10 are pending. Claims 1 and 6 have been amended. The objection to claim 6 issued in the Non-Final rejection filed on 05/19/2025 has been addressed in the amendment. As such, the objection to claim 6 has been withdrawn.
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 - 6 and 8 - 10 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.
In regard to claim 1, lines 14 - 16 recite, “wherein on a side of the transmitter housing opposite to the bottom housing, the electrical connection area is exposed outside the transmitter housing and a portion of the electrical connection area corresponds to a position of the signal output end…” However, “the bottom housing” lacks antecedent basis. Additionally, it is unclear if “the bottom housing” refers to the bottom case, the bottom board of the bottom case, or the bottom side of the transmitter housing. Examiner is interpreting the claim to mean that the electrical connection area is exposed outside of the transmitter housing opposite the bottom side of the transmitter housing based on FIG. 7, which includes the electrical connection area as component 122, and paragraph [0068] of the Applicant’s specification as cited in “Description of Amendments” on page 1 of Remarks, filed 08/11/2025. Claims 2 - 6 and 8 - 10 are rejected by virtue of dependence on claim 1.
Allowable Subject Matter
In regard to claim 1, while Halac (US 20190120785 A1 - previously cited) discloses a micro-analyte detection device (FIG. 13A, component 600) comprising a bottom case (FIG. 13B, component 522), a bottom board of the bottom case with a mounting hole (FIG. 13B, component 526), a sensor structure (FIG. 13C, component 400) with a sensing area (FIG. 13C, component 138) and a sensor base (FIG. 4C, component 404) where the contour shapes of the edge of the sensor base and of the mounting hole match each other (FIG. 13B, Paragraph [0249]), the edge of the mounting hole and the edge of the sensor base are interlocked (FIG. 13B, Paragraph [0249]), and the sensor base is installed in the mounting hole (FIG. 13B, Paragraph [0249]). Halac further discloses a transmitter (FIG. 13C, components 520 & 530), where the transmitter comprises a transmitter housing (FIG. 13C, component 520) and an electronic device disposed in the transmitter housing (FIG. 13C, component 530, Paragraphs [0250], [0150], & [0175]), the electronic device is provided with an electrical connection area (Paragraph 0250, “electrical coupling”, FIG. 14C, conductive pins 712 and 714), when the transmitter is installed in a working position (FIG. 13A-13B). However, Halac does not specify that the electrical connection area is exposed outside the transmitter housing on a side of the transmitter housing opposite to the bottom housing, that the mounting hole (FIG. 13B, component 526) is a through hole, or that the bottom case and the sensor base interlock to form a plane.
Zhang (CN 103750819 A – previously cited) additionally teaches the first and second fastener parts that fasten with each other to interlock the edge of the mounting hole and the edge of the sensor base (FIG. 3, component 402). While the biosensor device discussed by Zhang does feature a mounting hole that is a through hole (FIG. 3, component 402), they do not suggest or teach that the bottom case and the sensor base interlock to form a plane, and instead show the sensor part at an angle to the mounting hole (FIG. 4, components 3 & 8). Zhang additionally does not include details that would suggest that the electrical connection area is exposed outside the transmitter housing on a side of the transmitter housing opposite to the bottom housing.
Heller (US 20170202491 A1) additionally teaches an analyte monitoring device (Abstract) with a sensor (FIG. 14, component 42) and sensor control unit (FIG. 14, component 44) that includes electronics that evaluate and transmit signals received from the sensor (paragraph [0075]) and a transmitter housing (FIGs. 14 - 16; component 45). While Heller teaches electrical contact areas that are exposed outside of the housing (FIGs. 15 & 16; components 80) on a side opposite to the bottom of the transmitter housing (See FIG. 15, which shows a top view of the sensor control unit (component 44) within transmitter housing (component 45)), they do not suggest or teach a mounting hole or that the bottom case and the sensor base interlock to form a plane.
As allowable subject matter has been indicated, applicant's reply must either comply with all formal requirements or specifically traverse each requirement not complied with. See 37 CFR 1.111(b) and MPEP § 707.07(a).
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see Remarks, filed 08/11/2025, with respect to the rejection of claims 1 - 6 and 8 - 10 under 35 U.S.C. 103 have been fully considered and are persuasive. The rejection of claims 1 - 6 and 8 - 10 under 35 U.S.C. 103 has been withdrawn.
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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/ERIC F WINAKUR/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3791
/S.C.P./Examiner, Art Unit 3791
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