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 .
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, 21, 22, and 23 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 1
“the system is in the first configuration” is indefinite as Claim 1 only recites that the flexible container is in “a first configuration”.
Claim 21
“the filter element” lacks antecedent basis in the claim. A filter element is never positively recited in Claim 18 and, therefore, “the filter element” is indefinite.
Claim 22
“the filter element” lacks antecedent basis in the claim.
Claim 23
“the filter element” lacks antecedent basis in the claim.
“the system is in the first configuration” is indefinite as Claim 18 only recites that the flexible container is in “a first configuration”.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, and 18-23 are allowed over the prior art.
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 does not provide any specific arguments to the 112 rejections. Two of the 112 rejections with respect to Claim 21 are overcome but the rest of the 112 rejections put forth in the Final Rejection mailed 6/16/2025 remain.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ALLISON FITZSIMMONS whose telephone number is (571)270-1767. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:30 am - 2:00 pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Benjamin Lebron can be reached at (571)272-0475. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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ALLISON FITZSIMMONS
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 1773
/ALLISON G FITZSIMMONS/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1773