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 Amendment
This communication was filed in response to the action filed on 06/30/2026.
Claims 1-20 are pending.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments filed on 06/30/2026 on pages 10-17, under REMARKS with respect to 35 U.S.C. 103 claim rejections to claims 1-20 have been fully considered and are persuasive. The rejections to the claims have been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new grounds of rejection is made in view of US 2010/0156896 A1.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or non-obviousness.
Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 § U.S.C. 103 as being obvious over US 2014/0100440 A1 to CHELINE et al (hereinafter “CHELINE”) in view of US 2010/0156896 A1 to ICHIMURA et al. (hereinafter “ICHIMURA”).
As per claim 1, CHELINE discloses an information processing device comprising: a processor configured to (a system and corresponding method of operation for determining a polar image having polar coordinates of a biological lumen to produce a polar image; abstract; title; figs 1, 13-14; paragraph [0018]): acquire a polar coordinate image (the system and method is adapted to acquire polar coordinate images of the lumen the system is inserted in wherein that lumen is a biological living lumen; paragraph [0018]), the polar coordinate image being a medical image expressed in polar coordinates and obtained by imaging a biological lumen with a device configured to be inserted into the biological lumen, the polar coordinate image having a first axis representing an angle and a second axis intersecting the first axis and representing a distance from the device (the polar coordinate image is a medical image of the biological lumen acquired by inserting a catheter imaging device into said lumen of the user and is expressed in polar coordinates upon output and the polar image includes a pair of axis the X and Y for example which intersect to create the polar coordinate plane a distance from the system performing the polar scan; paragraphs [0012], [0016], [0018-0020], [0105], [0112], [0115]); which is trained to output a segmented polar coordinate image in which an image region corresponding to a specific object and another image region are classified when the polar coordinate image is input (in order to output a vessel segment tracked by the imaging catheter moving through the vessel acting as the object and related to a second image of a second region of the vessel wherein the system is adapted to find an angle of the 360 degrees of rotation of the imaging catheters head and is adapted to receive inputs of predetermined angles greater than 360 degrees but will be applied according to the note above; paragraphs [0083], [0089], [0105], [0108], [0129-0132]); extract segments of the polar coordinate image for 360 degrees from the segmented polar coordinate image, which is output by the identification model (extracting the first segment oof the imaged vessel for the 360 degrees of freedom of the imager of the catheter for the vessel; paragraphs [0089], [0098], [0105], [0115], [0139-0140], [0148]); and transform the extracted segments of the polar coordinate image for 360 degrees to a rectangular coordinate image (and performing a transformation of the existing segments data which includes segment A and B acting as the first and second segments to be expressed as cartesian coordinates transformed from the existing polar coordinates; paragraphs [0115-0116], [0139-0145]) note: based on google definition rotational angles greater than 360 degrees are represented as a combination of a full rotation and a remainder, for example a 450 degree angle is equivalent to one full rotation and 90 degrees or 90 degrees, since the prior art CHELINE is capable of 360 degree rotational imaging an input angle of 450 degrees would cause the system to rotate one full rotation and ninety degrees and apply it as a full rotation and 90 degrees. CHELINE fails to disclose input the polar coordinate image for a predetermined angle exceeding 360 degrees to an identification model.
ICHIMURA discloses input the polar coordinate image for a predetermined angle exceeding 360 degrees to an identification model (the computing system, makes a determination that the work model WM has rotated once with respect to the stereo camera 1 when the rotation angle with respect to the first three-dimensional information, calculated in ST104 exceeds 360 degrees (and would be set to for example 450 degrees) proceed to ST105, the processes of ST101 to ST105 are repeated until it is determined that the work model WM has rotated once; figs 3, 4B, and 5; paragraphs [0008], [0063], [0073-0077], [0085-0088], [0117]).
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify CHELINE to have input the polar coordinate image for a predetermined angle exceeding 360 degrees to an identification model of ICHIMURA reference. The Suggestion/motivation for doing so would have been to provide the ability to ensure the work model is properly rotated one full time with respect to the stereo camera before arriving at the predetermined angle that will be integrated to the model as suggested at paragraphs [0117-0118] of ICHIMURA. Further, one skilled in the art could have combined the elements as described above by known method with no change in their respective functions, and the combination would have yielded nothing more than predictable results. Therefore, it would have been obvious to combine ICHIMURA with CHELINE to obtain the invention as specified in claim 1.
As per claim 2, CHELINE in view of ICHIMURA discloses the information processing device according to claim 1. Modified CHELINE further discloses wherein the processor is further configured to: output, based on the rectangular coordinate image, a tomographic image in which the image region corresponding to the object region is identifiable, the tomographic image obtained by transforming the polar coordinate image to a rectangular coordinate system (using the tomographic imaging system and corresponding captured tomographic images outputting cartesian coordinates by performing a transformation of the existing segments data in polar coordinates which includes segment A and B acting as the first and second segments to be expressed as cartesian coordinates transformed from the existing polar coordinates; paragraphs [0104], [0115-0116], [0139-0145]).
As per claim 3, CHELINE in view of ICHIMURA discloses the information processing device according to claim 2. Modified CHELINE further discloses wherein the processor is further configured to: receive, a correction input for correcting the image region corresponding to the object, after output of the tomographic image (the system is adapted to make adjustments based on errors which act substantially as performing a correction to the image and is adapted to do so over a plurality of segments of the image vessel which would include a second segment of the tomographic image collected, corrections appear as and include smoothing the lumen border, and may be accomplished in an exemplary embodiment by identifying a set of seed points in the image data and adjusting the lumen border based upon at least some of the seed points; fig 12; paragraphs [0009], [0014-0016], [0018], [0100-0103]); transform, the rectangular coordinate image representing the corrected image region corresponding to the object, to the segmented polar coordinate image (the second segment is then transformed via the adjustment performed, and correspond to the vessel which is the biological object being imaged and performs a transform to go from polar to cartesian coordinates of the image region corresponding the subject anatomy which is segmented in the polar image; paragraphs [0081], [0110], [0139-0140]); and update the model, based on the polar coordinate image and the transformed segmented polar coordinate image from the rectangular coordinate image (the system/model running on the system is then updated based on the segmented and sliced polar coordinate output of the polar image segment; paragraphs [0142-0146]).
As per claim 4, CHELINE in view of ICHIMURA discloses the information processing device according to claim 1. Modified CHELINE further discloses wherein the polar coordinate image is an image obtained by imaging a blood vessel with a catheter configured to be inserted in the blood vessel (the system is adapted to image blood vessels of a user and obtain polar image using an imaging catheter adapted with an imager that is capable of capturing polar images; figs 41 and 42; paragraph [0142]).
As per claim 5, CHELINE in view of ICHIMURA discloses the information processing device according to claim 4. Modified CHELINE further discloses wherein the processor is further configured to: output the segmented polar coordinate image in which an image region corresponding to an external elastic membrane or a lumen of the blood vessel is classified (the computing system is adapted to output results which include the region of existence of the elastic membrane of the blood vessel being imaged; paragraphs [0013], [0082], [0110], [0145-0148]).
As per claim 6, CHELINE in view of ICHIMURA discloses the information processing device according to claim 1. CHELINE fails to disclose wherein the processor is further configured to: extract the segmented polar coordinate image for 360 degrees by removing the segmented polar coordinate image for an excess exceeding 360 degrees, from both end portions of the segmented polar coordinate image for the predetermined angle. note: based on google definition rotational angles greater than 360 degrees are represented as a combination of a full rotation and a remainder, for example a 450-degree angle is equivalent to one full rotation and 90 degrees or 90 degrees, since the prior art CHELINE is capable of 360-degree rotational imaging an input angle of 450 degrees would cause the system to rotate one full rotation and ninety degrees and apply it as a full rotation and 90 degrees.
ICHIMURA discloses wherein the processor is further configured to: extract the segmented polar coordinate image for 360 degrees by removing the segmented polar coordinate image for an excess exceeding 360 degrees, from both end portions of the segmented polar coordinate image for the predetermined angle (the computing system, makes a determination that the work model WM has rotated once with respect to the stereo camera 1 and the rotation marks a full polar coordinate 360 degree rotation and then finishes with the predetermine angle arriving at the stopping point of the rotation when the rotation angle with respect to the first three-dimensional information, calculated in ST104 exceeds 360 degrees (and would be set to for example 450 degrees) proceed to ST105, the processes of ST101 to ST105 are repeated until it is determined that the work model WM has rotated once and the predetermined angle is found and integrated into the model, further the noise and the excess rotation from the angle exceeding 360 degrees is removed from the model leaving only the predetermined polar coordinate; figs 3, 4B, and 5; paragraphs [0008], [0063], [0073-0077], [0085-0088], [0116-0118], [0125]).
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify CHELINE to have extract the segmented polar coordinate image for 360 degrees by removing the segmented polar coordinate image for an excess exceeding 360 degrees, from both end portions of the segmented polar coordinate image for the predetermined angle of ICHIMURA reference. The Suggestion/motivation for doing so would have been to provide the ability to ensure the work model is properly rotated one full time with respect to the stereo camera before arriving at the predetermined angle that will be integrated to the model as suggested at paragraphs [0117-0118] of ICHIMURA. Further, one skilled in the art could have combined the elements as described above by known method with no change in their respective functions, and the combination would have yielded nothing more than predictable results. Therefore, it would have been obvious to combine ICHIMURA with CHELINE to obtain the invention as specified in claim 6.
As per claim 7, CHELINE in view of ICHIMURA discloses the information processing device according to claim 1. Modified CHELINE further discloses wherein the processor is further configured to: acquire a tomographic image expressed in rectangular coordinates and obtained by imaging the biological lumen (the system is adapted to acquire a tomographic image from the imaging catheter adapted to capture images of the biological lumen being imaged of the user and the system expresses those coordinates into cartesian synonymous with rectangular coordinates of the image; paragraphs [0115-0116], [0139-0145]); transform the tomographic image to the polar coordinate image (the image is transformed from a tomographic image into a polar image having polar coordinates in a polar coordinate space and the rectangular/cartesian coordinates are applied a transform which changes them to polar coordinates; paragraphs [0018], [0089], [0115-0116], [0142-0145]); and input the transformed polar coordinate image to the identification model (and the transformed polar coordinates of the polar image are input into the model; paragraphs [0079], [0083], [0088-0089], [0152]).
As per claim 8, CHELINE in view of ICHIMURA discloses the information processing device according to claim 7. Modified CHELINE further discloses wherein the processor is further configured to: output the segmented polar coordinate image (wherein the first segment data having cartesian coordinates after transformations are performed via the model into a segmented polar coordinate image is output to the user; paragraphs [0142-0150], [0152]).
As per claim 9, CHELINE discloses a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program, which when executed by a computer (a computing system comprising a memory component to store instructions and a processor component to execute instructions to perform an operation method for determining a polar image having polar coordinates of a biological lumen to produce a polar image; abstract; title; figs 1, 13-14; paragraph [0018]), performs processing comprising: acquiring a polar coordinate image (the system and method is adapted to acquire polar coordinate images of the lumen the system is inserted in wherein that lumen is a biological living lumen; paragraph [0018]), the polar coordinate image being a medical image expressed in polar coordinates and obtained by imaging a biological lumen with a device configured to be inserted in the biological lumen, the polar coordinate image having a first axis representing an angle and a second axis intersecting the first axis and representing a distance from the device (the polar coordinate image is a medical image of the biological lumen acquired by inserting a catheter imaging device into said lumen of the user and is expressed in polar coordinates upon output and the polar image includes a pair of axis the X and Y for example which intersect to create the polar coordinate plane a distance from the system performing the polar scan; paragraphs [0012], [0016], [0018-0020], [0105], [0112], [0115]); which is trained to output a segmented polar coordinate image in which an image region corresponding to a specific object and another image region are classified when the polar coordinate image is input (in order to output a vessel segment tracked by the imaging catheter moving through the vessel acting as the object and related to a second image of a second region of the vessel wherein the system is adapted to find an angle of the 360 degrees of rotation of the imaging catheters head and is adapted to receive inputs of predetermined angles greater than 360 degrees but will be applied according to the note above; paragraphs [0083], [0089], [0105], [0108], [0129-0132]); extracting segments of the polar coordinate image for 360 degrees from the segmented polar coordinate image, which is output by the identification model (extracting the first segment oof the imaged vessel for the 360 degrees of freedom of the imager of the catheter for the vessel; paragraphs [0089], [0098], [0105], [0115], [0139-0140], [0148]); and transforming the extracted segments of the polar coordinate image for 360 degrees to a rectangular coordinate image (and performing a transformation of the existing segments data which includes segment A and B acting as the first and second segments to be expressed as cartesian coordinates transformed from the existing polar coordinates; paragraphs [0115-0116], [0139-0145]) note: based on google definition rotational angles greater than 360 degrees are represented as a combination of a full rotation and a remainder, for example a 450-degree angle is equivalent to one full rotation and 90 degrees or 90 degrees, since the prior art CHELINE is capable of 360-degree rotational imaging an input angle of 450 degrees would cause the system to rotate one full rotation and ninety degrees and apply it as a full rotation and 90 degrees. CHELINE fails to disclose inputting the polar coordinate image for a predetermined angle exceeding 360 degrees to an identification model.
ICHIMURA discloses inputting the polar coordinate image for a predetermined angle exceeding 360 degrees to an identification model (the computing system, makes a determination that the work model WM has rotated once with respect to the stereo camera 1 when the rotation angle with respect to the first three-dimensional information, calculated in ST104 exceeds 360 degrees (and would be set to for example 450 degrees) proceed to ST105, the processes of ST101 to ST105 are repeated until it is determined that the work model WM has rotated once; figs 3, 4B, and 5; paragraphs [0008], [0063], [0073-0077], [0085-0088], [0116-0118]).
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify CHELINE to have inputting the polar coordinate image for a predetermined angle exceeding 360 degrees to an identification model of ICHIMURA reference. The Suggestion/motivation for doing so would have been to provide the ability to ensure the work model is properly rotated one full time with respect to the stereo camera before arriving at the predetermined angle that will be integrated to the model as suggested at paragraphs [0117-0118] of ICHIMURA. Further, one skilled in the art could have combined the elements as described above by known method with no change in their respective functions, and the combination would have yielded nothing more than predictable results. Therefore, it would have been obvious to combine ICHIMURA with CHELINE to obtain the invention as specified in claim 9.
As per claim 10, CHELINE in view of ICHIMURA discloses the non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 9. Modified CHELINE further discloses further comprising: outputting, based on the rectangular coordinate image, a tomographic image in which the image region corresponding to the object region is identifiable, the tomographic image obtained by transforming the polar coordinate image to a rectangular coordinate system (using the tomographic imaging system and corresponding captured tomographic images outputting cartesian coordinates by performing a transformation of the existing segments data in polar coordinates which includes segment A and B acting as the first and second segments to be expressed as cartesian coordinates transformed from the existing polar coordinates; paragraphs [0104], [0115-0116], [0139-0145]).
As per claim 11, CHELINE in view of ICHIMURA discloses the non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 10. Modified CHELINE further discloses further comprising: receiving, a correction input for correcting the image region corresponding to the object, after output of the tomographic image (the system is adapted to make adjustments based on errors which act substantially as performing a correction to the image and is adapted to do so over a plurality of segments of the image vessel which would include a second segment of the tomographic image collected, corrections appear as and include smoothing the lumen border, and may be accomplished in an exemplary embodiment by identifying a set of seed points in the image data and adjusting the lumen border based upon at least some of the seed points; fig 12; paragraphs [0009], [0014-0016], [0018], [0100-0103]); transforming the rectangular coordinate image representing the corrected image region corresponding to the object, to the segmented polar coordinate image (the second segment is then transformed via the adjustment performed, and correspond to the vessel which is the biological object being imaged and performs a transform to go from polar to cartesian coordinates of the image region corresponding the subject anatomy which is segmented in the polar image; paragraphs [0081], [0110], [0139-0140]); and updating the model, based on the polar coordinate image and the transformed rectangular coordinate image (the system/model running on the system is then updated based on the segmented and sliced polar coordinate output of the polar image segment; paragraphs [0142-0146]).
As per claim 12, CHELINE in view of ICHIMURA discloses the non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 9. Modified CHELINE further discloses wherein the polar coordinate image is an image obtained by imaging a blood vessel with a catheter inserted in the blood vessel (the system is adapted to image blood vessels of a user and obtain polar image using an imaging catheter adapted with an imager that is capable of capturing polar images; figs 41 and 42; paragraph [0142]), and further comprises: outputting the segmented polar coordinate image in which an image region corresponding to an external elastic membrane or a lumen of the blood vessel is classified (the computing system is adapted to output results which include the region of existence of the elastic membrane of the blood vessel being imaged; paragraphs [0013], [0082], [0110], [0145-0148]).
As per claim 13, CHELINE in view of ICHIMURA discloses the non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 9. CHELINE fails to disclose further comprising: extracting the segmented polar coordinate image for 360 degrees by removing the segmented polar coordinate image for an excess exceeding 360 degrees, from both end portions of the segmented polar coordinate image for the predetermined angle. note: based on google definition rotational angles greater than 360 degrees are represented as a combination of a full rotation and a remainder, for example a 450-degree angle is equivalent to one full rotation and 90 degrees or 90 degrees, since the prior art CHELINE is capable of 360-degree rotational imaging an input angle of 450 degrees would cause the system to rotate one full rotation and ninety degrees and apply it as a full rotation and 90 degrees.
ICHIMURA discloses further comprising: extracting the segmented polar coordinate image for 360 degrees by removing the segmented polar coordinate image for an excess exceeding 360 degrees, from both end portions of the segmented polar coordinate image for the predetermined angle (the computing system, makes a determination that the work model WM has rotated once with respect to the stereo camera 1 and the rotation marks a full polar coordinate 360 degree rotation (and would be set to for example 450 degrees) and then finishes with the predetermine angle arriving at the stopping point of the rotation when the rotation angle with respect to the first three-dimensional information, calculated in ST104 exceeds 360 degrees proceed to ST105, the processes of ST101 to ST105 are repeated until it is determined that the work model WM has rotated once and the predetermined angle is found and integrated into the model, further the noise and the excess rotation from the angle exceeding 360 degrees is removed from the model leaving only the predetermined polar coordinate; figs 3, 4B, and 5; paragraphs [0008], [0063], [0073-0077], [0085-0088], [0116-0118], [0125]).
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify CHELINE to have extracting the segmented polar coordinate image for 360 degrees by removing the segmented polar coordinate image for an excess exceeding 360 degrees, from both end portions of the segmented polar coordinate image for the predetermined angle of ICHIMURA reference. The Suggestion/motivation for doing so would have been to provide the ability to ensure the work model is properly rotated one full time with respect to the stereo camera before arriving at the predetermined angle that will be integrated to the model as suggested at paragraphs [0117-0118] of ICHIMURA. Further, one skilled in the art could have combined the elements as described above by known method with no change in their respective functions, and the combination would have yielded nothing more than predictable results. Therefore, it would have been obvious to combine ICHIMURA with CHELINE to obtain the invention as specified in claim 13.
As per claim 14, CHELINE in view of ICHIMURA discloses the non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 9. Modified CHELINE further discloses further comprising: acquiring a tomographic image expressed in rectangular coordinates and obtained by imaging the biological lumen (the system is adapted to acquire a tomographic image from the imaging catheter adapted to capture polar images of the biological lumen being imaged of the user; paragraphs [0115-0116], [0139-0145]), and transform the tomographic image to the polar coordinate image (the image is transformed from a tomographic image into a polar image having polar coordinates in a polar coordinate space; paragraphs [0018], [0089], [0115-0116], [0142-0145]); and inputting the transformed polar coordinate image to the model, and output the segmented polar coordinate image (and the polar coordinates of the polar image are input into the model to receive a segmented polar coordinate image transformed from the cartesian coordinates input with the tomographic image coordinates; paragraphs [0079], [0083], [0088-0089], [0152]).
As per claim 15, CHELINE in view of ICHIMURA discloses a method for generating an identification model comprising (a system and corresponding method of operation for determining a polar image having polar coordinates of a biological lumen to produce a polar image; abstract; title; figs 1, 13-14; paragraph [0018]): acquiring training data obtained by adding, to a tomographic image expressed in rectangular coordinates and obtained by imaging a biological lumen with a device configured to be inserted in the biological lumen (the polar coordinate image is a medical image of the biological lumen acquired by inserting a catheter imaging device into said lumen of the user and is expressed in polar coordinates upon output and the polar image includes a pair of axis the X and Y for example which intersect to create the polar coordinate plane a distance from the system performing the polar scan; paragraphs [0012], [0016], [0018-0020], [0105], [0112], [0115]), a rectangular coordinate image in which an image region corresponding to a specific object and another region are classified (coordinate (in rectangular coordinates) position of the imaging catheter device is tracked in order to output a classified vessel segment and determine the elastic membrane of the vessel composition/anatomy of the desired regions tracked by the imaging catheter moving through the vessel acting as the object and related to a second image of a second region of the vessel; paragraphs [0083], [0108], [0129-0132]); respectively transforming the tomographic image and the rectangular coordinate image to a polar coordinate image having a first axis representing an angle and a second axis intersecting the first axis and representing a distance from the device and first segment data (and performing a transformation of the existing segments data which includes segment A and B acting as the first and second segments to be expressed as cartesian coordinates transformed from the existing polar coordinates; paragraphs [0115-0116], [0139-0145]); and generating the identification model, the extract segmented polar coordinate image (and a plurality of points on the geometrical model are then parameterized and formulated into a constrained least-squares system of equations generating based on the extracted coordinate of the polar image for the predetermined and selected angle value polar coordinates of the polar image; paragraphs [0115-0116], [0139-0145]) note: based on google definition rotational angles greater than 360 degrees are represented as a combination of a full rotation and a remainder, for example a 450 degree angle is equivalent to one full rotation and 90 degrees or 90 degrees, since the prior art CHELINE is capable of 360 degree rotational imaging an input angle of 450 degrees would cause the system to rotate one full rotation and ninety degrees and apply it as a full rotation and 90 degrees. CHELINE fails to disclose extracting the polar coordinate image and a segmented polar coordinate image for a predetermined angle exceeding 360 degrees from the transformed polar coordinate image.
ICHIMURA discloses extracting the polar coordinate image and a segmented polar coordinate image for a predetermined angle exceeding 360 degrees from the transformed polar coordinate image (the computing system, makes a determination that the work model WM has rotated once with respect to the stereo camera 1 when the rotation angle with respect to the first three-dimensional information, calculated in ST104 exceeds 360 degrees (and would be set to for example 450 degrees) proceed to ST105, the processes of ST101 to ST105 are repeated until it is determined that the work model WM has rotated once; figs 3, 4B, and 5; paragraphs [0008], [0063], [0073-0077], [0085-0088], [0117]).
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify CHELINE to have a segmented polar coordinate image for a predetermined angle exceeding 360 degrees from the transformed polar coordinate image of ICHIMURA reference. The Suggestion/motivation for doing so would have been to provide the ability to ensure the work model is properly rotated one full time with respect to the stereo camera before arriving at the predetermined angle that will be integrated to the model as suggested at paragraphs [0117-0118] of ICHIMURA. Further, one skilled in the art could have combined the elements as described above by known method with no change in their respective functions, and the combination would have yielded nothing more than predictable results. Therefore, it would have been obvious to combine ICHIMURA with CHELINE to obtain the invention as specified in claim 15.
As per claim 16, CHELINE in view of ICHIMURA discloses the model generating method according to claim 15. Modified CHELINE further discloses further comprising: outputting, based on the rectangular coordinate image, a tomographic image in which the image region corresponding to the object region is identifiable, the tomographic image obtained by transforming the polar coordinate image to a rectangular coordinate system (using the tomographic imaging system and corresponding captured tomographic images outputting cartesian (rectangular) coordinates by performing a transformation of the existing segments data in polar coordinates which includes segment A and B acting as the first and second segments to be expressed as cartesian coordinates transformed from the existing polar coordinates; paragraphs [0104], [0115-0116], [0139-0145]).
As per claim 17, CHELINE in view of ICHIMURA discloses the model generating method according to claim 16. Modified CHELINE further discloses further comprising: receiving, a correction input for correcting the image region corresponding to the object, after output of the tomographic image (the system is adapted to make adjustments based on errors which act substantially as performing a correction to the image and is adapted to do so over a plurality of segments of the image vessel which would include a second segment of the tomographic image collected, corrections appear as and include smoothing the lumen border, and may be accomplished in an exemplary embodiment by identifying a set of seed points in the image data and adjusting the lumen border based upon at least some of the seed points; fig 12; paragraphs [0009], [0014-0016], [0018], [0100-0103]); transforming the rectangular coordinate image representing the corrected image region corresponding to the object, to the segmented polar coordinate image (the second segment is then transformed via the adjustment performed, and correspond to the vessel which is the biological object being imaged and performs a transform to go from polar to cartesian coordinates of the image region corresponding the subject anatomy which is segmented in the polar image; paragraphs [0081], [0110], [0139-0140]); and updating the identification model, based on the polar coordinate image and the transformed segmented polar coordinate image (the system/model running on the system is then updated based on the segmented and sliced polar coordinate output of the polar image segment; paragraphs [0142-0146]).
As per claim 18, CHELINE in view of ICHIMURA discloses the model generating method according to claim 15. Modified CHELINE further discloses wherein the polar coordinate image is an image obtained by imaging a blood vessel with a catheter inserted in the blood vessel (the system is adapted to image blood vessels of a user and obtain polar image using an imaging catheter adapted with an imager that is capable of capturing polar images; figs 41 and 42; paragraph [0142]), and further comprises: outputting the segmented polar coordinate image in which an image region corresponding to an external elastic membrane or a lumen of the blood vessel is classified (the computing system is adapted to output results which include the region of existence of the elastic membrane of the blood vessel being imaged; paragraphs [0013], [0082], [0110], [0145-0148]).
As per claim 19, CHELINE in view of ICHIMURA discloses the model generating method according to claim 15. CHELINE fails to disclose , further comprising: extracting the first segment data for 360 degrees by removing the segmented polar coordinate image for an excess exceeding 360 degrees, from both end portions of the segmented polar coordinate image for the predetermined angle. note: based on google definition rotational angles greater than 360 degrees are represented as a combination of a full rotation and a remainder, for example a 450-degree angle is equivalent to one full rotation and 90 degrees or 90 degrees, since the prior art CHELINE is capable of 360-degree rotational imaging an input angle of 450 degrees would cause the system to rotate one full rotation and ninety degrees and apply it as a full rotation and 90 degrees.
ICHIMURA discloses , further comprising: extracting the first segment data for 360 degrees by removing the segmented polar coordinate image for an excess exceeding 360 degrees, from both end portions of the segmented polar coordinate image for the predetermined angle (the computing system, makes a determination that the work model WM has rotated once with respect to the stereo camera 1 and the rotation marks a full polar coordinate 360 degree rotation (and would be set to for example 450 degrees) and then finishes with the predetermine angle arriving at the stopping point of the rotation when the rotation angle with respect to the first three-dimensional information, calculated in ST104 exceeds 360 degrees proceed to ST105, the processes of ST101 to ST105 are repeated until it is determined that the work model WM has rotated once and the predetermined angle is found and integrated into the model, further the noise and the excess rotation from the angle exceeding 360 degrees is removed from the model leaving only the predetermined polar coordinate; figs 3, 4B, and 5; paragraphs [0008], [0063], [0073-0077], [0085-0088], [0116-0118], [0125]).
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify CHELINE to have extracting the first segment data for 360 degrees by removing the segmented polar coordinate image for an excess exceeding 360 degrees, from both end portions of the segmented polar coordinate image for the predetermined angle of ICHIMURA reference. The Suggestion/motivation for doing so would have been to provide the ability to ensure the work model is properly rotated one full time with respect to the stereo camera before arriving at the predetermined angle that will be integrated to the model as suggested at paragraphs [0117-0118] of ICHIMURA. Further, one skilled in the art could have combined the elements as described above by known method with no change in their respective functions, and the combination would have yielded nothing more than predictable results. Therefore, it would have been obvious to combine ICHIMURA with CHELINE to obtain the invention as specified in claim 19.
As per claim 20, CHELINE in view of ICHIMURA discloses the model generating method according to claim 15. Modified CHELINE further discloses further comprising: acquiring a tomographic image expressed in rectangular coordinates and obtained by imaging the biological lumen, and transform the tomographic image to the polar coordinate image (the image is transformed from a tomographic image into a polar image having polar coordinates in a polar coordinate space; paragraphs [0018], [0089], [0115-0116], [0142-0145]); and inputting the transformed polar coordinate image to the identification model, and outputting the segmented polar coordinate image (and the cartesian coordinates of the tomographic image are input into the model to receive segmented polar images including segmented polar coordinates transformed from the cartesian coordinates; paragraphs [0079], [0083], [0088-0089], [0152]).
Conclusion
Examiner's Note: Examiner has cited figures, and paragraphs in the references as applied to the claims above for the convenience of the applicant. Although the specified citations are representative of the teachings in the art and are applied to the specific limitations within the individual claim, other passages and figures may apply as well. It is respectfully requested for the applicant, in preparing the responses, to fully consider the references in entirety as potentially teaching all or part of the claimed invention, as well as the context of the passage as taught by the prior art or disclosed by the examiner. Examiner has also cited references in PTO892 but not relied on, which are relevant and pertinent to the applicant’s disclosure, and may also be reading (anticipatory/obvious) on the claims and claimed limitations. Applicant is advised to consider the references in preparing the response/amendments in-order to expedite the prosecution.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DEVIN JACOB DHOOGE whose telephone number is (571) 270-0999. The examiner can normally be reached 7:30-5:00.
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, Andrew Bee can be reached on (571) 270-5183. 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.
/D J DHOOGE/Examiner, Art Unit 2677
/ANDREW W BEE/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2677
Prosecution Insights