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 .
DETAILED ACTION
Response to Amendment
The present Office Action is in response to the Request for Continued Examination dated 07/20/2026.
In the amendment dated 07/20/2026, the following occurred: Claims 1-4, 6, 9-13 and 15-22 were amended. Claims 5, 7-8, 14 was canceled.
Claims 1-4, 6, 9-13 and 15-22 are currently pending.
Request for Continued Examination
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 07/20/2026 has been entered.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101
35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows:
Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title.
Claims 1-4, 6, 9-13 and 15-22 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to a judicial exception (i.e., a law of nature, a natural phenomenon, or an abstract idea) without significantly more.
Claims 1, 21 and 22 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to an abstract idea without significantly more.
Step 1
The claim recites a system, a method and a non-transitory storage medium for medical support, which are within a statutory category.
Step 2A1
Regarding claims 1, 21 and 22, the limitation of (claim 1 being representative): capture a computer tomography (CT) image; store image information comprising the CT image; display hospitalization period medical information; automatically, in response to receiving patient specification information, acquire an electronic medical record indicating the hospitalization period medical information by transmitting the patient specification information, wherein the hospitalization period medical information includes a hospitalization period date, which is a date corresponding to a hospitalization period, and a plurality of first items associated with the hospitalization period date, wherein the hospitalization period medical information excludes a non-hospitalization period date, which is a date corresponding to an outside of the hospitalization period, acquire the image information corresponding only to the hospitalization period date by transmitting the hospitalization period date and the patient specification information, wherein the image information corresponding only to the hospitalization period date comprises the computed tomography (CT) image, acquire document information corresponding only to the hospitalization period date by transmitting the hospitalization period date and the patient specification information, wherein in response to receiving both the hospitalization period date and the patient specification information, perform a search based on both the hospitalization period date and the patient specification information to obtain the image information, wherein the plurality of first items associated with the hospitalization period date are included in the electronic medical record, the image information, and the document information, display the hospitalization period medical information including only the plurality of first items along with the hospitalization period date, includes a first display region defined by a first axis indicating the hospitalization period date in a time-series as a horizontal axis and a second axis indicating the plurality of first items and intersecting with the first axis, in which the hospitalization period medical information is disposed in a matrix in the first display region, acquire non-hospitalization period medical information including the non-hospitalization period date and a plurality of second items associated with the non-hospitalization period date, generate a second display region defined by a third axis indicating the non-hospitalization period date and a fourth axis indicating the plurality of second items and intersecting with the third axis, wherein in the second display region, the non-hospitalization period medical information is disposed in a matrix, wherein, in the second display region, the third axis indicates the non-hospitalization period date for a first number which is a number smaller than the number of the dates included in the non-hospitalization period dates, and the number of the dates indicated by the third axis is switchable between the first number and a second number larger than the first number, wherein the third axis is controlled to be switched between a reduced display state showing the first number and an enlarged display state showing the second number, wherein, in response to the third axis being controlled to be switched in the enlarged display state, dynamically filter the third axis in the enlarged display state to display only the non-hospitalization period date on which the non- hospitalization period medical information corresponding to the non-hospitalization period date is disposed, such that dates within the non-hospitalization period lacking associated medical information are excluded from the matrix of the second display region; acquire an operation performed on the matrix of the first display region for selecting an icon through a pointer displayed on the first display region, in response to having detected that the icon is selected, in the first display region, display the icon being highlighted to indicate that medical information is present in a cell specified by the date and the first item, and in response to having detected that the icon is selected, generate a medical information display region and simultaneously display the medical information corresponding to the selected icon in the medical information display region, in response to having detected that the icon corresponding to the first item is selected and the first item is the CT image, display the CT image corresponding to the selected icon in the medical information display region, and in response to having detected that a plurality of icons are designated through the pointer in the first display region, display a content indicated by the medical information corresponding to each of the plurality of icons in the medical information display region as drafted, is a process that, under the broadest reasonable interpretation, covers certain methods of organizing human activity (i.e., managing personal behavior including following rules or instructions) but for the recitation of generic computer components. The claims encompass a series of rules or instructions for a person or persons to follow, with or without the aid of a computer, to capture a computer tomography (CT) image; store image information; display hospitalization period medical information; acquire an electronic medical record, acquire the image information corresponding only to the hospitalization period date, acquire document information corresponding only to the hospitalization period date, perform a search based on both the hospitalization period date and the patient specification information to obtain the image information, display the hospitalization period medical information, acquire non-hospitalization period medical information, generate a second display region, dynamically filter the third axis in the enlarged display state to display only the non-hospitalization period date; acquire an operation performed on the matrix of the first display region for selecting an icon through a pointer, display the icon being highlighted to indicate that medical information is present, generate a medical information display region and simultaneously display the medical information corresponding to the selected icon in the medical information display region, display the CT image corresponding to the selected icon, display a content indicated by the medical information corresponding to each of the plurality of icons in the medical information display region in the manner described in the identified abstract idea, supra. The rules or instructions are the claimed steps of “capture…store…display… acquire…acquire… acquire… perform… display…acquire…generate…filter… acquire… display… generate…display… and display a content” as indicated supra.
Other than reciting generic computer components (discussed infra), i.e., a medical system and at least one processor (in claim 1), at least one processor (in claim 21) and a non-transitory storage medium and a computer (claim 22), the claimed invention amounts to managing personal behavior or interaction between people (i.e., rules or instructions). If a claim limitation, under its broadest reasonable interpretation, covers managing personal behavior or interactions between people but for the recitation of generic computer components, then it falls within the “certain methods of organizing human activity” grouping of abstract ideas. Accordingly, the claim recites an abstract idea.
Step 2A2
This judicial exception is not integrated into a practical application. Claim 1 recites the additional elements of a medical system and at least one processor. Claim 21 recites the additional element of at least one processor. Claim 22 recites the additional elements of a non-transitory storage medium and a computer. These additional elements are not exclusively defined by the applicant and are recited at a high-level of generality (i.e., generic computer components for performing generic computer functions, see Spec. Para. 0017, 0221-0224, 0229-0232) such that they amount to no more than mere instructions to apply the exception using a generic computer component. As set forth in MPEP 2106.04(d) “merely including instructions to implement an abstract idea on a computer” is an example of when an abstract idea has not been integrated into a practical application. Accordingly, even in combination, these additional elements do not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application because they do not impose any meaningful limits on practicing the abstract idea. The claim is directed to an abstract idea.
Claim 1 further recites the additional elements of a computed tomography (CT) device, an image management server, a medical support device comprising a display screen, an electronic medical record server, a document management server and a database. Claims 21 and 22 further recite the additional elements of a computed tomography (CT) device, an image management server, a display screen, an electronic medical record server, a document management server and a database. These additional elements merely generally links the abstract idea to a particular technological environment or field of use. MPEP 2106.04(d)(I) indicates that generally linking an abstract idea to a particular technological environment or field of use cannot provide a practical application. Accordingly, even in combination, these additional elements do not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application.
Step 2B
The claims do not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception. As discussed above with respect to integration of the abstract idea into a practical application, the additional elements of the medical system, at least one processor, the non-transitory storage medium and the computer to perform the noted steps amounts to no more than mere instructions to apply the exception using a generic computer component. Mere instructions to apply an exception using a generic computer component cannot provide an inventive concept (“significantly more”). Moreover, using generic computer components to perform abstract ideas does not provide a necessary inventive concept. See Alice, 573 U.S. at 223 (“mere recitation of a generic computer cannot transform a patent-ineligible abstract idea into a patent-eligible invention”). Therefore, whether considered alone or in combination, the additional elements do not amount to significantly more than the abstract idea.
Also as discussed above with respect to integration of the abstract idea into a practical application, the additional elements of the computed tomography (CT) device, the medical support device, the display screen, electronic medical record server, image management server, the document management server and the database were considered to generally linking the abstract idea to a particular technological environment or field of use. This has been re-evaluated under “significantly more” analysis and has also been found insufficient to provide significantly more. MPEP 2106.05(A) indicates that generally linking an abstract idea to a particular technological environment or field of use cannot provide significantly more. Accordingly, even in combination, these additional elements do not provide significantly more. As such the claim is not patent eligible.
Claims 2-4, 6, 9-13 and 15-20 are similarly rejected because they either further define/narrow the abstract idea and/or do not further limit the claim to a practical application or provide as inventive concept such that the claims are subject matter eligible even when considered individually or as an ordered combination. Claim(s) 2 merely describe(s) in the display screen, the number of days based on a hospitalization day is displayed. Claim(s) 3 merely describe(s) in the display screen, a surgery day is displayed. Claim(s) 4 merely describe(s) in the display screen, the number of days based on a surgery day is displayed. Claim(s) 6 merely describe(s) wherein the non-hospitalization period date is determined based on any of a start day or an end day. Claim(s) 9 merely describe(s) the third axis indicates the date on which the non-hospitalization period medical information is disposed among the non-hospitalization period dates. Claim(s) 10 merely describe(s) wherein the second display region includes a pre-hospitalization display region and a post-hospital discharge display region, and in a case in which an end day of the hospitalization period is present, the post-hospital discharge display region is displayed. Claim(s) 11 merely describe(s) wherein a range of the first display region in a direction of the first axis is determined. Claim(s) 12 merely describe(s) wherein a range of the first display region in a direction of the first axis has an upper limit value, and in a case in which the hospitalization period exceeds a period corresponding to the upper limit value, a period, which is based on a designated day in the hospitalization period and corresponds to the upper limit value, is displayed in the first display region. Claim(s) 13 merely describe(s) acquire the hospitalization period medical information including the hospitalization period date corresponding to a designated hospitalization period among a plurality of the hospitalization periods, and the plurality of first items corresponding to the hospitalization period date. Claim(s) 15 merely describe(s) wherein the icon is switched. Claim(s) 16 merely describe(s) wherein the state includes a state of the medical information itself and/or a state of accessory information of the medical information. Claim(s) 17 merely describe(s) the number of pieces of the medical information is displayed on the icon. Claim(s) 18 merely describe(s) the medical information is displayed in any of a designation order of the icon and/or the cell, a date order, or an arrangement order of the first items in a direction of the second axis. Claim(s) 19 merely describe output information for display. Claim(s) 20 merely describe(s) displaying the display screen. Claim(s) 19 and 20 include(s) the additional element of “a display device” which is analyzed the same as the “display screen” and does not provide practical application or significantly more for the same reasons. Claims 2-4, 6, 9-13 and 15-20 further define the abstract idea and are rejected for the same reason presented above with respect to claims 1, 21 and 22.
Response to Arguments
Rejection under 35 U.S.C. § 101
Regarding the rejection of claims 1-4, 6, 9-13 and 15-22, the Examiner has considered the Applicant’s arguments, but does not find them persuasive. Applicant argues:
Firstly, the current subject matter of claim 1 is a medical system which has been amended as to include "a computed tomography (CT) device" and "an image management server". Further, the claimed invention now recites that the computed tomography (CT) device is configured to capture a computed tomography (CT) image, and the image management server is configured to store image information comprising the CT image captured by the CT device. In other words, the subject matter of claim I after the amendment qualifies as a particular machine because the claim has been amended to include at least one element that is not found in a general-purpose computer (i.e., computed tomography (CT) device) and the added element is essential since the functions of claim 1 are executed based on information received from the computed tomography (CT) device. Thus, the claimed invention is not directed merely to organizing human activity or displaying information using generic computer components. Instead, the claimed invention is directed to a particular machine, and a particular machine is one of the ways described in the MPEP that ties the claimed invention to a practical application.
Regarding 1, The Examiner respectfully disagrees. The claims are not directed to a particular machine and under the broadest reasonable interpretation, covers certain methods of organizing human activity (i.e., managing personal behavior including following rules or instructions) but for the recitation of generic computer components. The CT device is an additional element that captures data, i.e., images. The image management server was also analyzed as an additional element. Applicants disclosure at para. 0014 states that “the image management server 16 is a server that manages image information 102 indicating a plurality of medical images. Examples of the image management server 16 include picture archiving and communication systems (PACS).” Both of these additional elements are determined to generally link the abstract idea to a particular technological environment or field of use. MPEP 2106.04(d)(I) indicates that generally linking an abstract idea to a particular technological environment or field of use cannot provide a practical application. Accordingly, even in combination, they do not provide a practical application.
Secondly, claim 1 recites the generation of a specific output that improves the operation of the medical system. In particular, claim 1 recites generating a display screen including:… The claimed display generation is not merely presenting information for viewing. Rather, the claim recites a specific technical manner of organizing, filtering, and interactively presenting hospitalization-period medical information such that dates lacking associated medical information are excluded from the display matrix. As a result, the claimed invention improves the efficiency and usability of the medical support system by allowing medical personnel to more effectively grasp hospitalization-period medical information without unnecessary non-relevant dates or data. Moreover, the claimed invention improves the functionality of the medical support system itself because the system dynamically filters displayed dates and selectively retrieves only medical information corresponding to hospitalization-period dates. Accordingly, the claim recites a specific technical solution to a technical problem arising in medical information management systems, namely, efficiently retrieving and presenting large volumes of heterogeneous medical information associated with hospitalization periods.
Regarding 2, The Examiner respectfully disagrees. The claims do not improve the operation of the medical system. As stated in Applicants summary at para. [0007], the invention “facilitate grasping hospitalization period medical information of a patient as compared with a case in which all medical information from the past to the present is displayed.” The Examiner submits that the invention uses a generic display to display information, which is an abstract idea. Organizing and filtering information does not provide improvements in the medical system but improvements to the abstract idea of displaying data. In other words, choosing what data to display by filtering and selectively retrieving information and excluding what data to not display, does not render a technical improvement. There is no practical application present. The problem/solution the applicant refers to helps a user understand medical information by choosing what to display and what not to display by manipulating the display screen (i.e. filtering, enlarging, excluding, highlighting and reducing data). This at best is an administrative/healthcare improvement. There are no improvements to a technical field nor the functioning of a computer. The claim is ineligible.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record though not relied upon in the present basis of rejection are noted in the attached PTO 892 and include:
Kudo (US 2016/0188815) discloses medical support apparatus, system and method for medical service.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LIZA TONY KANAAN whose telephone number is (571)272-4664. The examiner can normally be reached on Mon-Thu 9:00am-6:00pm ET.
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/LIZA TONY KANAAN/Examiner, Art Unit 3683
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