CTNF 17/902,903 CTNF 87229 DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 07-03-aia AIA 15-10-aia 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 07-07-aia AIA 07-07 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 – 07-08-aia AIA (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. 07-15 AIA Claim s 1-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102( a)(1 ) as being anticipated by Terliue et al. (US 2011/0251458; hereinafter Terliue) . Regarding claim 1 , Terliue discloses assemblies for use with endoscopes. Terliue shows a balloon (see 120 in fig. 3A) for an ultrasonic endoscopic (see abstract; par. [0093]) that is mounted to cover an outside surface of an ultrasound transducer provided in a distal end part body of a distal end side of an insertion part (see fig. 7), the balloon comprising: a balloon body that covers an oscillator surface of the ultrasound transducer (see fig. 5A; par. [0099]), wherein the balloon body has at least a two layer structure including an inner part (see fig. 1B, 3A-B, 5A), and an outer part that covers the inner part (see fig. 1B, 3A-B, 5A), the inner part has an opening portion that is provided at one end in a first direction corresponding to a longitudinal direction of the insertion part that and is attached to the distal end part body (see fig. 1B, 3A-B, 5A), and the other part is bonded to the inner part on an opening portion side of the inner part (see fig. 1B, 3A-B, 5A). Furthermore, Terliue shows that the outer part has an opening portion that is provided at one end in the first direction (see fig. 1B, 3A-B, 5A); and the inner part is housed in the outer part through the opening portion of the outer part (see fig. 3B), a peripheral edge portion of the opening portion of the outer part is in direct contact with a flange portion of the inner part in the first direction (see fig. 1B, 3A-B, 5A), and an outer surface of the inner part and an inner surface of the outer part from a storage portion that stores an ultrasonic wave transmission medium (see par. [0021], [0074], [0096], [0097], [0098]). Regarding claim 2 Terliue shows a tube that communicated with an inside of the storage portion (see par. [0021], [0096], [0097], [0098]). Regarding claim 3 , Terliue shows wherein the balloon body more easily expand than the tube (see fig. 5A; the examiner notes that the balloon is made of flexible material and configured to expand, therefore, the balloon would be more easily expand than the tube). Regarding claim 4, Terliue shows wherein the outer part has an oscillator surface region facing the oscillator surface of the ultrasound transducer in a case where the balloon body is mounted on the distal end part body (see fig. 5A), and the tube is proved a position on a side opposite to the oscillator surface region with the distal end part body interposed therebetween (see fig. 3B; par. [0021], [0074],[0096], [0097], [0098]). Regarding claim 5, Terliue shows a clearance is provided between the inner and outer part (see par. [0021], [0074], [0096], [0097], [0098], [0158). Regarding claim 6, Terliue shows wherein the outer part has an oscillator surface region facing the oscillator surface of the ultrasound transducer in a case where the balloon body is mounted on the distal end part body (see fig. 5A), and the oscillator surface region is smaller in film thickness than other portion of the outer part (see fig. 3A-B and 5A). Regarding claim 7, Terliue shows wherein the oscillator surface region has a shape along an outer shape of the oscillator surface of the transducer (see fig. 5A). Regarding claim 8 , Terliue shows a width of an internal space formed by the inner part before the balloon is mounted on the distal end part body is smaller than a width of the distal end part body (see fig. 5A; the examiner notes that Terliue balloon before mounted on the distal end body would be deflated and would have width of an internal space formed by the inner part before the balloon is mounted on the distal end part body is smaller than the width of the distal end part body). Regarding claim 9 , Terliue shows wherein the inner part includes a protrusion portion that protrudes to a distal end part body side (see par. [0111])) and that is filled into a groove portion formed in the distal end part body on a proximal end side of the ultrasound transducer (see fig. 1A). Regarding claim 10 , Terliue shows that the outer part is configured to cover the storage portion (see fig. 3A-B and 5A). Regarding the limitations of claim 1 “expand obliquely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the insertion part in an expanded state of the balloon" is directed to the intended use of the invention. It has been held that a recitation with respect to the manner in which a claimed apparatus is intended to be employed does not differentiate the claimed apparatus from a prior art apparatus satisfying the claimed structural limitations. Therefore, as taught, the combined invention disclosed by Terliue is capable of performing the functions as set forth by applicant . Response to Arguments 07-37 AIA Applicant's arguments filed 10/17/2025, with regards to claim 1 , have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Upon further consideration and updated search, the examiner has provided new prior art Terliue to address amended claim 1 and previously stated allowable claim limitation. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SHAHDEEP MOHAMMED whose telephone number is (571)270-3134. The examiner can normally be reached Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. 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, Anne M Kozak can be reached at (571)270-0552. 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. /SHAHDEEP MOHAMMED/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3797 Application/Control Number: 17/902,903 Page 2 Art Unit: 3797 Application/Control Number: 17/902,903 Page 3 Art Unit: 3797 Application/Control Number: 17/902,903 Page 4 Art Unit: 3797 Application/Control Number: 17/902,903 Page 5 Art Unit: 3797 Application/Control Number: 17/902,903 Page 6 Art Unit: 3797
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