Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/310,980

CLOSED LOOP CONTROL AND SIGNAL ATTENUATION DETECTION

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
May 02, 2023
Examiner
RODRIGUEZ, CRIS LOIREN
Art Unit
3783
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Abbott Laboratories
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
15%
Grant Probability
At Risk
1-2
OA Rounds
3y 4m
To Grant
26%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants only 15% of cases
15%
Career Allow Rate
27 granted / 175 resolved
-54.6% vs TC avg
Moderate +10% lift
Without
With
+10.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 4m
Avg Prosecution
41 currently pending
Career history
216
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.3%
-38.7% vs TC avg
§103
45.4%
+5.4% vs TC avg
§102
28.8%
-11.2% vs TC avg
§112
22.3%
-17.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 175 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 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 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 – (a) the invention was known or used by others in this country, or patented or described in a printed publication in this or a foreign country, before the invention thereof by the applicant for a patent. Claims 2-21 are rejected under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Bonnecaze et al. (US 6579690 B1), as evidence of Brauker et al (US 20050192557 A1). Regarding claims 2, 13, Bonnecaze discloses a system and a method for controlling delivery of insulin (fig 25; col. 55, lines 5-24), the system and method comprising: monitoring one or more parameters associated with delivery of insulin via a medication delivery device 260 according to a control algorithm, wherein the one or more parameters include a monitored analyte level (col 55, lines 25-36); detecting a signal level associated with the monitored analyte level (col 55, lines 25-36); detecting an adverse signal condition based on the one or more parameters (col. 45, line 63- col 45 line 19); executing a corrective action based on the detection of the adverse signal condition (col 55 lines 37-51). The processor (col. 5 lines 8- 20) is in communication with the delivery device, and a memory (col. 45 lines 42-62) coupled to the processor and storing instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the steps cited above. Regarding claims 3 and 14, wherein the adverse signal condition comprises signal dropout or signal attenuation (col. 45, line 63- col 45, line 19; col 55, lines 52-67; col. 56 lines 1-22). Regarding claim 4, wherein the adverse signal condition is associated with an impending hypoglycemic condition (col. 45, line 63- col 46 line 19). Regarding claim 5, further comprising detecting the adverse signal condition based on a predictive model (col. 45, lines 42-62; col. 55, lines 52-67; col. 56 lines 1-22). Regarding claims 6 and 15, further comprising determining a predictive analyte response level based on the predictive model, and wherein the detection of the adverse signal condition is based on a comparison of the predictive analyte response level to the monitored analyte level via the processor. (col. 45, lines 42-62; col. 55, lines 52-68) Regarding claim 7, wherein the corrective action comprises prompting the user to enter a blood glucose measurement (col. 53, lines 11-32; data has been entered and saved by patient input of events such as hypoglycemic episodes; col. 44, lines 33-45; col 54, line 56 - col. 55, line 3). Regarding claim 8, wherein the corrective action comprises modifying an analyte level alarm (col. 37 lines 28-47; col. 44 lines 9-23). Regarding claim 9, wherein the corrective action comprises disabling an analyte level alarm (col. 37 lines 28-47; col. 44 lines 9-23; col. 45, line 63 – col. 46, line 67; col 47, lines 9-36; col. 54, lines 29-39). Regarding claim 10, wherein the corrective action comprises instructing the user to delay a calibration for a period of time (col. 44, line 33 – col. 45, line 41). Regarding claim 11, further comprising issuing a notification associated with the adverse signal condition (col 51, lines 18-37; notification on the display to “Eat Sugar, etc.). Regarding claims 12 and 16, wherein the control algorithm comprises a closed loop control algorithm (figs 21-22; column 42, line 42- column 43, line 55; comprises a closed loop control algorithm). Regarding claim 17, wherein the corrective action comprises one or more of prompting the user to enter a blood glucose measurement (col. 53, lines 11-32; data has been entered and saved by patient input of events such as hypoglycemic episodes; col. 44, lines 33-45), modifying an analyte level alarm (col. 37 lines 28-47; col. 44 lines 9-23), disabling an analyte level alarm (col. 37 lines 28-47; col. 44 lines 9-23; col. 45, line 63 – col. 46, line 67; col 47, lines 9-36), or instructing the user to delay a calibration for a period of time(col. 44, line 33 – col. 45, line 41). Regarding claim 18, Bonnecaze discloses an integrated system 250 in figure 25, wherein the medication delivery device is capable of having a processor as evidence of Brauker et al (US 20050192557 A1); ([0136-0137, 0142,0146, 0159, 0184] in figure 8 (82,112)). Regarding claim 19, further comprising a data processing device (154, 256; fig 22 and fig 25) comprising a display, wherein the data processing device is in wireless communication (fig 25) with the medication delivery device, and wherein the data processing device comprises the processor. (See also fig 17 and fig 22, data is transmitted to receiver/display 46,48). Regarding claim 20, wherein the medication delivery device comprises an external infusion pump or an on-body patch pump (col. 55, lines 37-51). Regarding claim 21, Bonnecaze discloses a non-transitory computer-readable medium (col. 53. Line 11-32; col. 53, line 55- col. 54, line 22) having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one computing device, cause the at least one computing device to perform operations comprising: monitor one or more parameters associated with delivery of insulin according to a control algorithm, wherein the one or more parameters include a monitored analyte level; detect a signal level associated with the monitored analyte level; detect an adverse signal condition based on the one or more parameters; and execute a corrective action based on the detection of the adverse signal condition. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. See PTO-892 form. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Cris L Rodriguez whose telephone number is (571)272-4964. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Thur 8am- 2pm.. 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, Chelsea Stinson can be reached at 571-270-1744. 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. /Cris L. Rodriguez/ Primary Patent Examiner Art Unit 3783
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Prosecution Timeline

May 02, 2023
Application Filed
Jun 13, 2023
Response after Non-Final Action
Jan 07, 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
15%
Grant Probability
26%
With Interview (+10.5%)
3y 4m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 175 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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