Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/214,801

SYSTEM FOR PORTABLE AND EASY-TO-USE DETECTION OF ANALYTES WITH MOBILE COMPUTING DEVICE

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Jun 27, 2023
Examiner
SIEFKE, SAMUEL P
Art Unit
1758
Tech Center
1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering
Assignee
Siro Diagnostics Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
63%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
3y 7m
To Grant
80%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 63% of resolved cases
63%
Career Allow Rate
651 granted / 1031 resolved
-1.9% vs TC avg
Strong +17% interview lift
Without
With
+17.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 7m
Avg Prosecution
36 currently pending
Career history
1067
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.2%
-38.8% vs TC avg
§103
30.1%
-9.9% vs TC avg
§102
47.5%
+7.5% vs TC avg
§112
11.7%
-28.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1031 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status The present application is being examined under the pre-AIA first to invent provisions. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of pre-AIA 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 – (b) the invention was patented or described in a printed publication in this or a foreign country or in public use or on sale in this country, more than one year prior to the date of application for patent in the United States. Claim s 1- 15 are rejected under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 b as being anticipated b y Chen et al. (US 2008/0280285) . Regarding claim 1, Chen discloses a system for identifying the presence, absence, and/or quantity of a molecule of interest in a sample, comprising: a reader (developer/controls fig. 1-2) ; and a cartridge (fig. 1-2, cassette), that fits into the reader (para 64) , the cartridge configured to accept a sample collection device that fits into the cartridge (a sample collection device is not positively recited in the instant claim and is not given patentable weight. The cartridge has a sample inlet that is capable of accepting a sample collection device) ; wherein the cartridge (fig. 26) comprises: a first reservoir (14) for storing a liquid (buffer/dilution liquid and sample) , wherein a mixture comprising the liquid (dilution liquid; para 121) and the sample (para 121) is formed in the first reservoir when the sample collection device having the sample is inserted into the first reservoir (this limitation is drawn to a process/ intended use limitation and does not further structurally limit the instant claim. The sample is not positively recited in the claim because it can be added at a later time. Para 121, states a sample and a dilution liquid are mixed in dilution chamber 14) ; a second reservoir (30) for storing a chemical substrate (reagent storage chamber) ; an analysis channel (detection zone 16, having a channel leading thereto) comprising an electrochemical sensor ( para 70-71; 99; 114) ; and a first phase change valve (20; para 72, 94) for sealing the mixture in the first reservoir from the analysis channel in solid state; a second phase change valve (22; para 72,94 ; in a second interpretation there are various phase change valves downstream that control fluid flow through the cartridge as seen in fig. 7, rectangular boxes seen on cartridge ) for sealing the chemical substrate in the second reservoir from the analysis channel in solid state; and one or more heaters (para 94) disposed adjacent (para 65; heaters are provided on the cassette or on the developer but both instances they are adjacent the phase change valves in order to heat them in order open the valve to allow flow to occur) the first and second phase change valves for melting the first and second phase change valves to transfer the mixture and the chemical substrate to the analysis channel , wherein a reaction of the mixture and the chemical substrate is detected by the electrochemical sensor and communicated to the reader (this limitation is drawn to a process step/intended use and does not further structurally limit the instant claims. The prior art is structurally capable of performing this process as the phase change valves are controlled by a heater to move the mixture and reagent to a detection site downstream) . Fig. 7 also shows the cartridge in a different embodiment with a plurality of thermoelectric units under each phase change valve. Regarding claim 2 , t he system of claim 1, wherein the mixture comprises a plurality of magnetic particle complexes, wherein each of the plurality of magnetic particle complexes comprises a magnetic particle (para 114) . Regarding claim 3 , t he system of claim 2, wherein the reader comprises a magnetic field generator (para 139) adjacent to the analysis channel when the cartridge fits into the reader, such that the plurality of magnetic particle complexes can be localized in the analysis channel within a magnetic field generated by the magnetic field generator . Regarding claim 4 , t he system of claim 2, wherein the electrochemical sensor releases a flow of electrons in a quantity proportional to a number of the plurality of magnetic particle complexes localized in the analysis channel in response to reactions between the mixture and the chemical substrate (this limitation does not further structurally limit the instant claim because a sample or liquid is not positively claimed to which has electrons to be released in response to a reaction. The limitation is drawn to a process step/intended use limitation) . Regarding claim 5 , t he system of claim 1, wherein the molecule of interest comprises one or more of a nucleic acid, protein, or small molecule (para 4, claim 78) . Regarding claim 6 , t he system of claim 1, wherein the cartridge comprises a slot to allow for a permanent magnet to slide into place underneath the electrochemical sensor (see fig. 1-2) . Regarding claim 7 , t he system of claim 1, wherein the reader is configured to send or receive, or both, signals to a mobile device indicative of a test result (this limitation does not further structurally limit the instant claim because a structure that can send or receive signals is not claimed. A mobile device is not positively claimed in the instant claims) . Regarding claim 8 , t he system of claim 7, further comprising an application stored on the mobile device, the application configured to cause the mobile device to display the test result (A mobile device is not positively claimed as part of the system, therefore the application stored on the mobile device is not given patentable weight) . Regarding claim 9 , t he system of claim 1, wherein the reader is configured to send or receive, or both, signals to a mobile device indicative of a test protocol (this limitation does not further structurally limit the instant claim because a structure that can send or receive signals is not claimed. A mobile device is not positively claimed in the instant claims) . Regarding claim 10 , t he system of claim 3, wherein the magnetic field generator comprises a permanent magnet (para 64, 84) . Regarding claim 11 , t he system of claim 3, wherein the magnetic field generator comprises more than one magnet (para 64, 84) . Regarding claim 12 , t he system of claim 1, wherein first and second phase change valves consist of wax and the one or more heaters heat one or more vias to melt the wax (para 72-73) . Regarding claim 13 , t he system of claim 1, further comprising a sonicator configured to direct energy into the mixture in the first reservoir (para 105) . Regarding claim 14 , t he system of claim 1, further comprising a third reservoir for storing a wash solution (see fig. 7, various liquids, Etoh, AW1, AW2) , wherein the one or more heaters facilitates transfer of the wash solution to the analysis channel (para 65) . Regarding claim 15 , t he system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises the sample collection device, the sample collection device configured to collect the sample from blood, urine, or saliva (a pipette is used to apply a sample) . Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FILLIN "Examiner name" \* MERGEFORMAT SAMUEL P SIEFKE whose telephone number is FILLIN "Phone number" \* MERGEFORMAT (571)272-1262 . The examiner can normally be reached FILLIN "Work Schedule?" \* MERGEFORMAT Monday-Friday 8-5 . 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, FILLIN "SPE Name?" \* MERGEFORMAT Maris Kessel can be reached at FILLIN "SPE Phone?" \* MERGEFORMAT 571-270-7698 . 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. /SAMUEL P SIEFKE/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1758
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Prosecution Timeline

Jun 27, 2023
Application Filed
Mar 20, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §102 (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

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
63%
Grant Probability
80%
With Interview (+17.0%)
3y 7m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1031 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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