Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/281,784

DRUG DELIVERY DEVICE

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Sep 13, 2023
Priority
Mar 15, 2021 — EU 21162674.2 +1 more
Examiner
RITCHIE, HADEN MATTHEW
Art Unit
3783
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Sensile Medical AG
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
73%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
10m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 73% — above average
73%
Career Allowance Rate
45 granted / 62 resolved
+2.6% vs TC avg
Strong +35% interview lift
Without
With
+34.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 7m
Avg Prosecution
15 currently pending
Career history
94
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§103
73.6%
+33.6% vs TC avg
§102
22.8%
-17.2% vs TC avg
§112
3.1%
-36.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 62 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
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 . Priority Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55. 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. Claim 17-32 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 17 recites the limitation "the drug" in line 5. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 17 recites the limitation "the liquid drug" in line 10. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claims 18, 19 and 30 recite the limitation “a back end of the plunger” in line 3 for each claim respectively. These claims are unclear because “a back end of the plunger” is already introduced in line 10 of claim 17. Claim 20 recites the limitation "a rotor" in line 11. This claim is unclear because “a rotor” is already introduced in line 4 of claim 20. Claim 24 recites the limitation "the pumping system" in line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 26 recites the limitation "the rotary actuation wheel and actuation lever of the septum needle actuation mechanism" in lines 2-3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. The claim seems to be out of order in which the objects pointed out are presented. Claim 26 recites the limitation "the pumping system" in line 5. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 27 recites the limitation “the actuation disc” in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 28 recites the limitation “the septum end” in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 29 recites the limitation "the pumping system" in line 7. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 30 recites the limitation “the cylinder portion” in line 7. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 17-32 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HADEN M RITCHIE whose telephone number is (703)756-1699. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8am-5:30pm. 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, Bhisma Mehta can be reached at 571-272-3383. 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. /HADEN MATTHEW RITCHIE/Examiner, Art Unit 3783 /BHISMA MEHTA/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3783
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Sep 13, 2023
Application Filed
May 07, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12605512
DRUG DELIVERY DEVICE
4y 0m to grant Granted Apr 21, 2026
Patent 12562268
LOCATION-BASED RECONFIGURATION OF INFUSION PUMP SETTINGS
4y 8m to grant Granted Feb 24, 2026
Patent 12544505
SKIN-MOUNTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE
4y 7m to grant Granted Feb 10, 2026
Patent 12544538
INFUSION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DRUG DELIVERY
4y 2m to grant Granted Feb 10, 2026
Patent 12521484
IRRIGATION SYSTEM AND METHODS OF USE
1y 3m to grant Granted Jan 13, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
73%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+34.6%)
3y 7m (~10m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 62 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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