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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 06/12/2026 has been entered.
Claim Objections
Claim 8 is objected to because of the following informalities: Claim 8 is objected to because acronyms (RC) should be defined at their first occurrence. Claim 16 is objected to because the limitation “including comprising” (line 2) is redundant and confusing. Claims 17-18 appear to have the same issue. Appropriate correction is required.
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 1-15 and 19-20 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 is rejected because it is unclear if the magnetic stimulation at the brain region is the zero point position as now claimed. Examiner notes amended claim 1 includes a step to return the coil to the zero point position right before the final step of performing stimulation but fails to specify if the coil is moved from the zero point position for the stimulation. Claims 19-20 appear to have the same issue(s). Claim 2 is rejected because it is unclear if the calibrated zero point is the zero point position set forth in Claim 1.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 16-18 are considered allowable but for the minor informalities as described above.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 06/12/2026 have been fully considered and are persuasive to overcome the prior art rejections of Claims 1-20. New 35 U.S.C. 112(b) rejections necessitated by amendment.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. U.S. Publication No. 2011/0082326 to Mishelevich et al. which discloses a transcranial magnetic stimulation system and method where multiple coil arrays are used for stimulation and real-time feedback. The feedback is used to modify stimulation parameters including coil position (Paragraphs [0045]-[0051]).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHRISTOPHER L COOK whose telephone number is (571)270-7373. The examiner can normally be reached M-F approximately 8AM-5PM.
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/CHRISTOPHER L COOK/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3797
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