Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/266,484

Polymeric Membrane

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Jun 09, 2023
Priority
Dec 10, 2020 — provisional 63/123,837 +2 more
Examiner
MENON, KRISHNAN S
Art Unit
1777
Tech Center
1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering
Assignee
Solventum Intellectual Properties Company
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
60%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
3m
Est. Remaining
72%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 60% of resolved cases
60%
Career Allowance Rate
890 granted / 1489 resolved
-5.2% vs TC avg
Moderate +12% lift
Without
With
+11.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 3m
Avg Prosecution
58 currently pending
Career history
1553
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.5%
-39.5% vs TC avg
§103
83.8%
+43.8% vs TC avg
§102
7.6%
-32.4% vs TC avg
§112
4.3%
-35.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1489 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . Election/Restrictions Claims 10-20 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Applicant timely traversed the restriction (election) requirement in the reply filed on 11/11/25. The request for rejoinder will be considered at the appropriate time. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 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. Claim(s) claims 1-9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a1) as being anticipated by Chandrasekharan et al (US 2011/0186518). Chandrasekharan teaches hollow fiber membranes coated in the lumen with genistein, a hydroxyisoflavone (figure 3.) The coating is complete as is described in [0081] and [0082]. The hollow fiber membrane is made of polysulfone, etc., see claim 3. Genistein also coats the pores – see [0137], [0152] and [0164] – coated in the finger-like channels; genistein crystalizes at the pore interface. Thus all the claims are anticipated. Claim(s) claims 1-3 and 6-9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a1) as being anticipated by CN (CN110394066B.) CN teaches a membrane modified by coating of a polyphenol compound (genistein, tec., see claim 5.) The support membrane is polysulfone, etc. Since the solution is coated on the entire surface is as in applicant’s process, genistein will also penetrate the pores. Thus claim 1-3 and 6-9 are anticipated. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KRISHNAN S MENON whose telephone number is (571)272-1143. The examiner can normally be reached Flexible, but generally Monday-Friday: 8:00AM-4:30PM. 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, Prem Singh can be reached at 5712726381. 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. /KRISHNAN S MENON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1777
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jun 09, 2023
Application Filed
Oct 28, 2025
Examiner Interview Summary
Oct 28, 2025
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Dec 01, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12637365
METHOD FOR TREATING WASTEWATER FOR THE RECOVERY OF METALS CONTAINED THEREIN, AND APPARATUS FOR SUCH A METHOD
4y 0m to grant Granted May 26, 2026
Patent 12637364
WATER TREATMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USE WITH AN ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMBER OR AN INCUBATOR
2y 10m to grant Granted May 26, 2026
Patent 12637376
Ozone treatment of mining effluents.
2y 8m to grant Granted May 26, 2026
Patent 12631604
LIGHT-GUIDING FLOW CELL TECHNOLOGIES
3y 6m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
Patent 12616941
SURFACE-MODIFIED POLYETHERSULFONE MEMBRANES AND METHOD OF MAKING THEREOF
4y 0m to grant Granted May 05, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

Get a prosecution strategy drawn from examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.
Typically takes 5-10 seconds — AI-generated, attorney review required before filing

Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
60%
Grant Probability
72%
With Interview (+11.8%)
3y 3m (~3m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1489 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

Sign in with your work email

Enter your email to receive a magic link. No password needed.

Personal email addresses (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) are not accepted.

Free tier: 3 strategy analyses per month