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 .
Acknowledgments
This office action is in response to the reply filed on 5/1/26. In the reply, the applicant amended claims 5,7-12,14-18,20,22-24. Claims 1, 5, 7-24 are pending.
Additionally, the applicant amended to obviate the previous 112(b) rejection of claim 22. This rejection is withdrawn.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 6/8/26 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97(b). Accordingly, the IDS is being considered by the Examiner.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 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)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1, 5, 7-24 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Adler et al. (WO 2008/053485) (“Adler”). Adler discloses: for claims 1, 5, 7-24
See pg 5 line 26-pg 6 line 7; pg 6 line 7-27; pg 7 line 9-22; pg 8 line 1-pg 14 line 23; pg 8 line 1-pg 9 line 25; pg 9 line 3-9; pg 9 line 21-25; pg 13 line 15-31
Some more specific citations are listed but the disclosure as a whole reads on the claims as amended
Claim 7: Figs. 1,2 A control tower 20 of a medical system for performing a medical procedure, the control tower comprising: a medical function unit 52,54,56,58 comprising: a connector interface 36 configured to provide a connection to a medical instrument 28,30,32 supported by the medical function unit, and a first electronic user interface comprisinq a first user interface control area (Figs. 5,6) comprising a first control feature to adjust an electronic control setting of a first parameter of the medical function unit; and a second electronic user interface operably coupled to the medical function unit, the second electronic user interface comprising a plurality of additional user interface control areas (Figs. 5,6) comprising additional control features to adjust one or more electronic control settings of the medical system, wherein one of the plurality of additional user interface control areas comprises a second control feature to adjust the electronic control setting of the first parameter of the medical function unit, and wherein the first control feature is redundant to the second control feature, and wherein, during an operational state of the second electronic user interface, the first and second control features are synchronized such that an adjustment to the electronic control setting of the first parameter made by the first control feature is reflected at the second control feature and vice versa. Pg 6 line 7-27
Claim 21: the medical function unit is configured to provide an insufflation gas function. Pg 7 line 9-22
Claim 22: the first user interface control area of the first electronic user interface is operable during a condition of the second electronic user interface being inoperable.
Claim 23: the condition of the second electronic user interface being inoperable comprises a loss of power to the second electronic user interface.
Claim 24: the loss of power occurs in response to a manual power down of the control tower to clear a non- recoverable fault. Pg 9 line 21-25
Claim 8: A method of controlling medical functions of a medical system utilized in a medical procedure, the method comprising: receiving at a processor 59, in an operational state of a first electronic control interface, a command to power down the first electronic control interface, the first electronic control interface having a first control feature that, in the operational state of the first electronic control interface, adjusts an electronic control setting of a first parameter of a medical function unit of the medical system; and in response to receiving the command to power down the first electronic control interface, outputting from the processor, a command causing control of the medical function unit to transfer to a second electronic control interface comprising a second control feature, separate from the first electronic control interface, such that the second control feature is enabled to adjust the electronic control setting of the first parameter of the medical function unit. Pg 8 line 1-pg 9 line 25
Claim 9: prior to receiving the command, a second user interface control area that contains the second control feature is deactivated to disable the second control feature from user interaction, and wherein transferring the control of the medical function unit to the second electronic control interface comprises activating the second user interface control area to enable user interaction with the second control feature. Pg 8 line 1-pg 9 line 25
Claim 10: further comprising waiting a predetermined time period before powering down the first electronic control interface in response to receiving the command to power down. Pg 13 line 15-31, Pg 8 line 1-pg 9 line 25
Claim 11: A system comprising: a medical function unit configured to provide a medical function during a medical procedure, the medical function being adjustable by the medical function unit; a first electronic user interface operably coupled to the medical function unit, the first electronic user interface comprising a first control feature to adjust an adjustable electronic control setting mapped to control a parameter of the medical function; and a second electronic user interface operably coupled to the medical function unit, the second electronic user interface comprising a second control feature to adjust the adjustable electronic control setting mapped to control the parameter of the medical function, wherein the second control future is redundant to the first control feature; wherein the second electronic user interface is operable during a condition of the first electronic user interface being inoperable. Pg 6 line 7-27; pg 8 line 1-pg 9 line 25
Claim 1: the medical function unit comprises a connector interface configured to be operably coupled to a medical instrument and to deliver the medical function to the medical instrument. Pg 5 line 26-pg 6 line 7
Claim 5: the first user interface comprises an integrated user interface comprising a first user interface area and a second user interface area, wherein the first user interface area comprises the first control feature and the second user interface area is operably coupled to control at least one other medical function unit.
Claim 12: the condition of the first electronic user interface being inoperable comprises a loss of power to the first electronic user interface. Pg 9 line 3-9
Claim 13: the system is a teleoperated surgical system and the loss of power occurs in response to a manual power down of the teleoperated surgical system to clear a non-recoverable fault. Pg 9 line 21-25
Claim 14: further comprising: a second medical function unit configured to provide a second medical function during the medical procedure, the second medical function being adjustable by the second medical function unit,wherein the first electronic user interface is operably coupled to the second medical function unit; andthe first electronic user interface comprises a second adjustable electronic control setting mapped to control a parameter of the second medical function.
Claim 15: the parameter of the second medical function is controllable only by the second adjustable electronic control setting of the first electronic user interface.
Claim 16: the medical function unit comprises a connector interface configured to transmit the medical function to a medical instrument connected to the connector interface; and the connector interface is at a location adjacent a location of the adjustable first control feature.
Claim 17: the adjustable control setting first control feature is part of a touchscreen display. 44,46
Claim 18: the medical function unit comprises the second electronic user interface.
Claim 19: the medical function unit is configured to provide an insufflation gas function. Pg 7 line 9-22
Claim 20: the first control feature of the first electronic user interface and the second control feature of the second electronic user interface are synchronized to have a same adjustable electronic control setting for the first parameter in an operable state of the first electronic user interface and the second electronic user interface.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to the claims have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Conclusion
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 DEANNA K HALL whose telephone number is (571)272-2819. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:30am- 4:30pm EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Kevin Sirmons can be reached at 571-272-4965. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/DEANNA K HALL/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3783
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