Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/033,255

SYRINGE SYSTEM

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Apr 21, 2023
Priority
Oct 23, 2020 — JP 2020-178279 +1 more
Examiner
GRAY, PHILLIP A
Art Unit
3783
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Kyocera Medical Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
74%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
9m
Est. Remaining
85%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 74% — above average
74%
Career Allowance Rate
675 granted / 910 resolved
+4.2% vs TC avg
Moderate +11% lift
Without
With
+10.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
4y 0m
Avg Prosecution
37 currently pending
Career history
936
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.4%
-39.6% vs TC avg
§103
70.3%
+30.3% vs TC avg
§102
19.0%
-21.0% vs TC avg
§112
7.6%
-32.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 910 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . This office action is in response to applicant’s communication of 4/21/2023. Currently claims 1-25 are pending. Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 4/21/2023 is being considered by the examiner. 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)(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) 1-4, 6, 8, 10-11, 14-23 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Morimoto et al. (US 2010/0025342 A1). Morimoto discloses a syringe system comprising: a first syringe (10) comprising a first syringe barrel (13); a second syringe comprising a second syringe barrel (32) coupled to the first syringe in a movable manner from inside the first syringe barrel; and at least [[any]] one of a first buoy (15) located inside the first syringe barrel or a second buoy (34) located inside the second syringe barrel. Concerning claim 2 and the first syringe further comprises a first gasket (25) configured to be positioned inside the first syringe barrel, and the second syringe comprises a second leading end portion (43) configured to be coupled to the first gasket and moved from inside the first syringe barrel to inside the second syringe barrel. Concerning claim 3 and a first needle (30), wherein the first needle is a tubular needle comprising a first end configured to be inserted into [[the]] a first gasket, the first gasket configured to be positioned inside the first syringe barrel, and a second end located on an opposite side to the first end, and the second syringe barrel comprises a leading end portion configured to be coupled to the second end of the first needle (see figure 6). Concerning claim 4 and: the second buoy located inside the second syringe barrel (see 34 for example). Concerning claim 6 and the first buoy located inside the first syringe barrel (see (15). Concerning claim 8 and the first buoy (15) and the second buoy (34). Concerning claim10 and a third syringe comprising a third syringe barrel, wherein the second syringe and the third syringe are configured to be coupled from inside the second syringe barrel (66) to inside the third syringe barrel (see third syringe 92 unit inside of syringe 63). Concerning claim 11 and the third syringe comprises at least one third buoy located inside the third syringe barrel (see third buoy 94). Concerning claim 14 and at least part of the third syringe (92) is configured to be positioned inside the second syringe barrel (66). Concerning claim 15 and an internal volume of the third syringe barrel is smaller than an internal volume of the second syringe barrel (see figures 13). Concerning claim 16 and at least part of the second syringe (66) is configured to be positioned inside the first syringe barrel (63) (see figure 13). Concerning claim 17 and the internal volume of the second syringe barrel is smaller than an internal volume of the first syringe barrel (see figure 13). Concerning claim 18 and the first buoy has a substantially circular flat plate shape, a disk shape with a conical surface in which a center portion protrudes relative to a peripheral edge portion, or a disk shape with a curved surface in which a center portion protrudes relative to a peripheral edge portion (see shape of 15). Concerning claim 19 and the second buoy has a substantially circular flat plate shape, a disk shape with a conical surface in which the center portion protrudes relative to the peripheral edge portion, or a disk shape with a curved surface in which the center portion protrudes relative to the peripheral edge portion (see shape of 34). Concerning claim 20 and the first buoy comprises a first covering portion configured to cover at least part of the first gasket configured to be positioned inside the first syringe barrel (see figure 5). Concerning claim 21 and the second buoy (34) comprises a second covering portion configured to cover at least part of gasket configured to be positioned inside the second syringe barrel (see figure 3). Concerning claim 22 and the first buoy (15) comprises any of a through hole, a net-like portion, and a nonwoven fabric-like portion in at least one location (note portion on the top of 15). Concerning claim 23 and the second buoy (34) comprises any of a through hole, a net-like portion, and a nonwoven fabric-like portion in at least one location (note portion on the top of 34). Allowable Subject Matter Claims 5, 7, 9, 12-13, 24, 25 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. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PHILLIP A GRAY whose telephone number is (571)272-7180. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9-5 EST (FLEX). 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, Michael Tsai can be reached at (571)270-5246. 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. PHILLIP A. GRAY Primary Examiner Art Unit 3783 /PHILLIP A GRAY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3783
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Apr 21, 2023
Application Filed
Apr 16, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

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

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
74%
Grant Probability
85%
With Interview (+10.6%)
4y 0m (~9m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 910 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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