Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 06, 2026
Application No. 18/013,813

System and Methods for Detection and Removal of Electrical Noise in Dry Electrodes

Final Rejection §112
Filed
Dec 29, 2022
Priority
Jul 19, 2021 — nonprovisional of PCTUS2021042183
Examiner
MALAMUD, DEBORAH LESLIE
Art Unit
3792
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Fitbit Inc.
OA Round
2 (Final)
78%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
88%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 78% — above average
78%
Career Allowance Rate
674 granted / 861 resolved
+8.3% vs TC avg
Moderate +10% lift
Without
With
+9.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 3m
Avg Prosecution
38 currently pending
Career history
901
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
9.1%
-30.9% vs TC avg
§103
31.4%
-8.6% vs TC avg
§102
44.9%
+4.9% vs TC avg
§112
12.0%
-28.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 861 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
DETAILED ACTION The Examiner acknowledges the response received 26 June 2026. Claims 2, 5, 14 and 18 are cancelled; claim 20 is withdrawn; claims 1, 3-4,6-13, 15-17 and 19 are pending. 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 . Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments, see “Remarks”, filed 26 June 2026, with respect to the rejection(s) of claim(s) 1 and 13 under 35 USC 101, 35 USC 102, and 35 USC 112 have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made in view of the amendments. Claim Objections In view of the amendments received 26 June 2026, the Examiner withdraws the objection to claim 3. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b): (b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph: The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention. Claims 13, 15-17 and 19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. Claim 13 requires “a dry electrode” and in lines 2 and 5, respectively. It is unclear whether these electrodes are meant to refer to the same electrode or a different electrode within a set of electrodes. Furthermore, claim 13 requires “one or more processors” both lines 14 and 17. Again, it is unclear whether these steps are performed by a single set of processor(s) or two different sets of processor(s). Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1, 3-4 and 6-12 are allowed. 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 DEBORAH L MALAMUD whose telephone number is (571)272-2106. The examiner can normally be reached Mon - Fri 1:00-9:30 Eastern. 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, Unsu Jung can be reached at (571) 272-8506. 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. /DEBORAH L MALAMUD/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3792
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 29, 2022
Application Filed
Jan 21, 2026
Non-Final Rejection (signed) — §112
Mar 26, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Jun 23, 2026
Examiner Interview Summary
Jun 23, 2026
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Jun 26, 2026
Response Filed
Jul 13, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
78%
Grant Probability
88%
With Interview (+9.8%)
3y 3m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 861 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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