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 § 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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 a1/a2 as being anticipated by U. S. Publication No. 2020/0170619 to O’Brien et al.
Regarding Claim 1, O’Brien teaches an apparatus, comprising: a processing device in operative communication with an ultrasound device, the processing device configured to: determine that sufficient ultrasound coupling medium has not been applied to the ultrasound device (fig. 1 teaches a gel management circuit); and based on determining that sufficient ultrasound coupling medium has not been applied to the ultrasound device, instruct a user to apply sufficient ultrasound coupling medium to the ultrasound device (para 003-023; fig. 2 element 230 teaches applying more gel, based on determination that there is insufficient gel).
Regarding Claim 2, O’Brien teaches that the processing device is configured to determine that sufficient ultrasound coupling medium has not been applied to the ultrasound device using a statistical model (fig. 2 element 230 and para 0108 teaches applying more gel, based on determination that there is insufficient gel, which is based on a model).
Regarding Claim 3, O’Brien teaches that the processing device is configured to determine that sufficient ultrasound coupling medium has not been applied to the ultrasound device based on ultrasound images collected by the ultrasound device (fig. 2 and 5-7 element 230 and para 0108 teaches applying more gel, based on determination that there is insufficient gel).
Regarding Claim 4, O’Brien teaches that the processing device is configured to receive ultrasound images collected by the ultrasound device while the processing device is determining that sufficient ultrasound coupling medium has not been applied to the ultrasound device and/or while instructing the user to apply sufficient ultrasound coupling medium to the ultrasound device (fig. 2 and 5-7 element 230 teaches applying more gel, based on determination that there is insufficient gel).
Regarding Claim 5, O’Brien teaches that the processing device is configured, when instructing the user to apply sufficient ultrasound coupling medium to the ultrasound device, to indicate one or multiple levels of ultrasound coupling medium that has been applied to the ultrasound device and/or one of multiple levels of ultrasound coupling medium that still needs to be applied to the ultrasound device (Fig. 2 teaches applying additional gel, when it is determined to be insufficient).
Regarding Claim 6, O’Brien teaches an apparatus, comprising: a processing device in operative communication with an ultrasound device, the processing device configured to: provide a first instruction to a user to perform a first action in preparing the ultrasound device for collecting ultrasound images, the first action comprising applying sufficient ultrasound coupling medium to the ultrasound device (claim1 and figs. 1-2); and automatically transition to providing a second instruction to the user to perform a second action in preparing the ultrasound device for collecting ultrasound images based on detecting a new state of the ultrasound device, wherein the second action comprises positioning the ultrasound device on a subject fig. 2 and 5-7 element 230 teaches applying more gel, based on determination that there is insufficient gel); and wherein the new state of the ultrasound device comprises the ultrasound device having sufficient ultrasound coupling medium applied to it but not being properly positioned (claim 20 teaches positioning the probe after applying the gel).
Regarding Claim 7, O’Brien teaches that the new state of the ultrasound device comprises the ultrasound device having sufficient ultrasound coupling medium applied to it but not being positioned on a subject (figs. 6 and 7).
Regarding Claim 8, O’Brien teaches that the second action comprises positioning the ultrasound device on the subject to capture ultrasound images of a particular anatomical feature and/or from a particular anatomical view, and wherein the new state of the ultrasound device comprises the ultrasound device having sufficient ultrasound coupling medium applied to it and being positioned on the subject, but not being properly positioned on the subject in order to capture ultrasound images of the particular anatomical feature and/or from the particular anatomical view (figs. 6 and 7 and claim 20 teaches positioning the probe after gel has been applied).
Regarding Claim 9, O’Brien teaches that the particular anatomical feature comprises a bladder (para 0059 teaches bladder).
Regarding Claim 10, O’Brien teaches that the processing device is configured to detect the new state of the ultrasound device using a statistical model (fig. 2 element 230 and para 0108 teaches applying more gel, based on determination that there is insufficient gel, which is based on a model).
Regarding Claim 11, O’Brien teaches that the processing device is configured to detect the new state of the ultrasound device based on ultrasound images collected by the ultrasound device (para 0058).
Regarding Claim 12-13, O’Brien teaches an apparatus, comprising: a processing device in operative communication with an ultrasound device, the processing device configured to: determine that the ultrasound device is not positioned on a subject; and based on determining that the ultrasound device is not positioned on the subject, instruct a user to position the ultrasound device on the subject (figs. 5-7 positioning the probe).
Regarding Claim 14, O’Brien teaches that the processing device is configured to determine that the ultrasound device is not positioned on the subject using a statistical model (fig. 2 element 230 and para 0108 teaches applying more gel, based on determination that there is insufficient gel, which is based on a model).
Regarding Claim 15-16, O’Brien teaches that the processing device is configured to determine that the ultrasound device is not positioned on the subject based on ultrasound images collected by the ultrasound device (figs. 5-7 positioning the probe).
Claim(s) 17-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 a1/a2 as being anticipated by U. S. Publication No. 2017/0086785 to Bjaerum.
Regarding Claim 17, Bjaerum teaches an apparatus, comprising: a processing device in operative communication with an ultrasound device, the processing device configured to: instruct a user to hold the ultrasound device steady; determine that the user has not held the ultrasound device steady (figs. 1-3, para 0027 and 0030 determining if probe is steady); and based on determining that the user has not held the ultrasound device steady, instruct the user to properly position the ultrasound device on the subject in order to capture ultrasound images of a particular anatomical feature and/or from the particular anatomical view (figs. 1-3 and para 0027 and 0030 teaches steadying the probe and capturing images).
Regarding Claim 18, Bjaerum teaches that the particular anatomical feature comprises a bladder (para 0017 teaches anatomical modelling, and any anatomical feature can be imaged, including bladder).
Regarding Claim 19, Bjaerum teaches that the processing device is configured to determine that the user has not held the ultrasound device steady using a statistical model (fig. 1-3 and para 022 teaches a model).
Regarding Claim 20, Bjaerum teaches that the processing device is configured to determine that the user has not held the ultrasound device steady using one or more of an accelerometer. gyroscope, and magnetometer on the ultrasound device (para 0027 teaches an accelerometer, gyroscope and/or magnetometer).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SANJAY CATTUNGAL whose telephone number is (571)272-1306. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9-5 EST.
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, Keith Raymond can be reached on 571-270-1790. 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.
/SANJAY CATTUNGAL/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3798
Prosecution Insights