Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 17/754,899

SYSTEM AND METHOD OF AEROSOL DELIVERY

Final Rejection §102
Filed
Apr 15, 2022
Priority
Oct 16, 2019 — GB 1914948.3 +1 more
Examiner
NGUYEN, PHU HOANG
Art Unit
1747
Tech Center
1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering
Assignee
Nicoventures Trading Limited
OA Round
4 (Final)
66%
Grant Probability
Favorable
5-6
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
84%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 66% — above average
66%
Career Allowance Rate
460 granted / 701 resolved
+0.6% vs TC avg
Strong +19% interview lift
Without
With
+18.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 10m
Avg Prosecution
52 currently pending
Career history
759
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.3%
-39.7% vs TC avg
§103
71.7%
+31.7% vs TC avg
§102
3.6%
-36.4% vs TC avg
§112
4.3%
-35.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 701 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 § 102 The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action: A person shall be entitled to a patent unless – (a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claim(s) 1, 3-9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Dagnello et al. (WO 2018098371). Regarding claim 1, Dagnello discloses a computing device for use with an aerosol provision system configured to generate aerosol from an aerosol generating material for user inhalation (see fig. 1), the computing device configured to: obtain a first data set, the first data set including data relating to one or more aspects of usage of the aerosol provision system, wherein the usage of the aerosol provision system relates to delivering vapor to the user ([0051] and Abstract); obtain one or more further data sets via physiological sensors, each further data set including data associated with the user of the aerosol provision system and not relating to usage of the aerosol provision system; wherein the data relating to the current physical state of the user [0078-79]; identify a correspondence between the one or more aspects of usage in the first data set and one or more respective characteristic features of at least one of the one or more further data sets [0075] ; and in response to a circumstance having a feature similar to a respective characteristic feature in the at least one further data set, adjust one or more operational parameters of the aerosol provision system responsive to the corresponding aspect of usage of the aerosol provision system indicated in the first data set which corresponds to the respective characteristic feature in the further data set ([0007-0008], [0010-0012], [0091] and [0107-0108]). Regarding claim 3, Dagnello discloses the computing device is configured to: identify a correspondence between usage in the first data set and one or more respective types of feature of each further data set; and in response to a circumstance having a feature of the respective type identified in at least one further data set, adjust the operational parameters of the aerosol provision system responsive to the corresponding type of event in the first data set [0012] and [0107-0108] . Regarding claim 4, Dagnello discloses at least one further data set of the one or more further data sets [0075] relates to one selected from the list consisting of: i. an environmental condition; and ii. a user interaction with a website. Regarding claim 5, Dagnello discloses each further data set does not relate to a physiological aspect of the user ([0077] and [0082]). Regarding claim 6, Dagnello discloses the first data set [0068] relates to one or more selected from the list consisting of: i. an inhalation profile of the user; and ii. an amount of inhaled aerosol. Regarding claim 7, Dagnello discloses the identified correspondence between usage in the first data set and one or more respective characteristic features of at least one of the one or more further data sets is a correspondence in time [0007], [0011] and [0075]. Regarding claim 8, Dagnello discloses operational parameters are adjusted in anticipation of the corresponding usage [0007], [0011] and [0075]. Regarding claim 9, Dagnello discloses operational parameters are adjusted at a predetermined variance to the corresponding usage [0007], [0011] and [0075]. Response to Arguments Applicant's arguments filed 4/6/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicant essentially argues that the “BRAD profile” at [0050] of Dagnello does not disclose data relating to the current physical state of user as recited in amended claim 1. The new ground of rejection points out the disclosure of Dagnello wherein the current physical state of user can be obtained via physiological sensors [0078-0079]. Therefore, the disclosure of Dagnello meets this feature of the amended claim 1. 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 PHU H NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)272-5931. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9-5. 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, Michael H Wilson can be reached at 5712703882. 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. /PHU H NGUYEN/Examiner, Art Unit 1747
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Show 2 earlier events
Feb 26, 2025
Response Filed
May 29, 2025
Final Rejection mailed — §102
Jul 16, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Oct 23, 2025
Request for Continued Examination
Oct 24, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Jan 12, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102
Apr 06, 2026
Response Filed
Jun 12, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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SMOKING ARTICLE
1y 10m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026
Patent 12660845
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FILLING SMOKING CONES
3y 1m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026
Patent 12653969
LEAK-RESISTANT VAPORIZER DEVICE
2y 0m to grant Granted Jun 16, 2026
Patent 12648590
HARM-REDUCING CIGARETTE FILTER, PREPARATION METHOND AND APPLICATION THEREOF
2y 9m to grant Granted Jun 09, 2026
Patent 12642294
AEROSOL GENERATING ARTICLE COMPRISING COMBUSTIBLE HEAT SOURCE
3y 8m to grant Granted Jun 02, 2026
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
66%
Grant Probability
84%
With Interview (+18.9%)
3y 10m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 701 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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