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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see pages 7-18 of Applicant’s responses filed 03/26/2026, with respect to the 35 U.S.C. 112(d) rejection of claim 13 and the 35 U.S.C. 103 rejections of claims 1-2,5-12,14 and 17-20 have been fully considered and are persuasive. The rejections have been withdrawn.
Applicant’s Representative was contacted regarding potential amendments to place the claims in condition for allowance. Applicant’s Representative indicated that an office action indicating issues with the claim would allow a more careful consideration of the status of the claims.
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 1-2,5-12,14 and 17-20 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 1 recites “wherein, during a target object analysis stage, the plurality of planar ultrasound signals are emitted to the target object at different angles, the target object reflects the plurality of scattered echo signals at different angles, and the controller reconstructs and combines the plurality of scattered echo signals from different angles to obtain the plurality of ultrasound images of the target object formed by interference of the scattered echo signals from different angles”.
The limitation alludes to “different angles” for emitting the plurality of planar ultrasound signals and “different angles” for receiving and reconstructing the plurality of scattered echo signals to form ultrasound images. However, the limitation fails to clarify if the “different angles” for emitting the plurality of planar ultrasound signals differs or is the same as the “different angles” for receiving and reconstructing the plurality of scattered echo signals to form ultrasound images.
Withdrawn Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
Pursuant of Applicant’s amendments filed 03/26/2026, the rejection of claims 1-2,5-12,14 and 17-20 under 35 U.S.C. have been withdrawn.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. US 20180177491 A1 teaches a transcranial ultrasound system that converts convergent spherical ultrasound waves into planar waves.
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 Farouk A Bruce whose telephone number is (408)918-7603. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 8-5pm PST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Christopher Koharski can be reached on (571) 272-7230. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/FAROUK A BRUCE/ Examiner, Art Unit 3797
/CHRISTOPHER KOHARSKI/ Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3797
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