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 .
Election/Restrictions
Claims 5-8 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 8/4/2026.
Claims 1-4 are pending prosecution.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
(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) 1-4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated in view of Bell (US 20220055901 A1).
Regarding Claims 1-4, shown below is Fig. 1 of Bell.
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Fig. 1 of Bell as shown above teaches a first plasma reaction chamber and section plasma reactor chamber are connected (#1, where the totality is understood to be a hollow tube) in which a feed gas (#3) (understood to be a swirl gas) is injected into the chamber at an angle to create a vorticular flow within the chamber as a result of a first inner plasma containment cylinder (#4, understood to be a swirl gap barrier) [0028-0039]. Bell teaches that the gas comprises oxygen and nitrogen [0040 and 0044]. Additional gas is flowed in via an axial inlet port depicted in relation to (#10), where the additional reagents provided by (#10) are understood to be an axial gas, and it is understood the additional reagents comprise oxygen and nitrogen [0034-0036]. Bell teaches the gases are irradiated with microwave radiation (#2) to produce a plasma. Bell teaches that nitrogen and oxygen may be introduced into plasma containment cylinder to generate a plasma and thereby the system generates nitrogen oxide (NO) [0044-0048]. Further, regarding Claims 3 and 4, applicant is advised that in US practice apparatus claims are only considered on the basis of what they are (structure) as opposed to do what they do or the materials that they work upon [see MPEP 2114 I and II].
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NATHANAEL J DOWNES whose telephone number is (571)272-1141. The examiner can normally be reached 8am to 5pm.
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NATHANAEL JASON. DOWNES
Examiner
Art Unit 1794
/NATHANAEL JASON DOWNES/Examiner, Art Unit 1794
/BRIAN W COHEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1759
Prosecution Insights