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
Claim(s) 1,2,13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1),102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Oliverius et al (WO 2017/192712), submitted by applicant.
1. A catheter, comprising:
an elongate shaft including a proximal end and a distal end, the elongate shaft
defining a shaft longitudinal axis; (see at least figure 8B, (389))
a coupler (see at figure 12D, ‘720’) disposed within a distal end of the elongate shaft, wherein the coupler defines:
a first sensor groove and a second sensor groove in an exterior surface of the
coupler and a coupler longitudinal axis; (see at least figure 12D and ¶178 which shows grooves 732-1,732-2)
a first and second wire management feature located at a proximal end of each
one of the first sensor groove and the second sensor groove. (see at least figure 12d which shows rounded cutouts at the proximal end of the grooves 732-1,732-2. Figure 12d below shows proximal end cutouts in yellow)
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Figure 12D
2. The catheter of claim 1, wherein the first and second wire management features
include a first and second recessed area defined in a proximal end of the coupler, at a
proximal end of the first and second sensor grooves. (see at least figure 12d, as mentioned supra. The recessed area is the curved end of the groove)
13. A catheter, comprising:
an elongate shaft including a proximal end and a distal end, the elongate shaft
defining a shaft longitudinal axis; (see at least figure 8B, (389))
a coupler (see at figure 12D, ‘720’) disposed within a distal end of the elongate shaft, wherein the coupler defines:
a first sensor groove and a second sensor groove in an exterior surface of the
coupler and a coupler longitudinal axis; (see at least figure 12D which shows grooves 732-1,732-2)
a first and second recessed area in a proximal end of the coupler, at a proximal
end of the first and second sensor grooves; (see at least figure 12d which shows rounded cutouts at the proximal end of the grooves 732-1,732-2.)
a first and second sensor disposed in the first sensor groove and the second sensor
groove, respectively; (see at least ¶183)
connecting wires that extend from the proximal ends of each one of the sensors
toward the coupler longitudinal axis and through each one of the first and second recessed
areas. (see at least ¶182)
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
Claim(s) 14,15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Oliverius et al (WO 2017/192712) and Lobl et al (2008/0065002).
14. The catheter of claim 13, further comprising a tube, defining a tubular lumen
extending therethrough, wherein the connecting wires extend through the tubular lumen. (Oliverius is silent as to heat shrink tubing. At least ¶55 of Lobl teaches heat shrink tubing for a wire. It would have been obvious to use such with the device of Oliverius since it would yield predictable results such as a safe and effective manner to shield the wires from interference)
15. The catheter of claim 14, wherein the tube is disposed proximally with respect to the
proximal end of the coupler. (see at least figure 12c of Oliverius)
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 3-12 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Re claim 3, the closest art is Oliverius, as set forth above. However, the reference does not teach a recessed area extending distally from the proximal end of the coupler, along each of the sensor grooves, as taught in at least figure 2b and ¶38 of applicant’s published application. Re claim 8, the Oliverius reference does not teach beveled proximal edges of each of the sensor grooves, as taught in at least ¶39 of applicant’s published application, but only the curved features shown in figure 12d above.
Claims 16-20 are allowed. Re claim 16, Oliverius reference does not teach first and second wire management grooves in the exterior surface of the coupler defined between the distal end each first and second sensor grooves and a proximal end of the coupler, as set forth in at least figure 2b of applicant’s published application.
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/Scott M. Getzow/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3792
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