DETAILED ACTION
Applicant’s amendments and remarks, filed January 21, 2026, are fully acknowledged by the Examiner. Currently, claims 1-3 and 5-21 are pending with claim 21 newly added, claim 4 cancelled, and claims 1-3, 5-8, 15 and 16 amended. The following is a complete response to the January 21, 2026 communication.
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 .
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.
Claims 1-9, 11, 12 and 14-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Fagerlund et al. (US Pat. Pub. 2022/0117539 A1).
Regarding claim 1, Fagerlund provides for an electrical connector for a catheter device comprising:
a body extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal portion to a distal portion (proximal band 45 with the multiple ones 100 including backing elements 250 contained thereon; extending along a longitudinal as in figures 1A/B and 4C), the proximal portion configured to be attached to a tubular shaft (proximal portion of 45 is attached to shaft 15) and the distal portion configured to be attached to an end effector (see figure 1B with the end effector formed by the multiple splines at 33), wherein the body is annular about the longitudinal axis and defines a lumen extending therethrough (See figure 1b with the band being generally ring-shaped and defined a lumen therethrough);
a plurality of proximal electrical pads disposed on the body at the proximal portion, the proximal electrical pads configured to be in electrical communication with a plurality of tubular shaft electrical pads (see figure 4C with the plurality of traces at the section at 253 of one or more 250),
a plurality of distal electrical pads disposed on the body at the distal portion, the distal electrical pads configured to be in electrical communication with a plurality of end effector electrical pads (exposed portions through the window at 255 of one or more 250), and
a plurality of electrical traces, each electrical trace connecting a respective proximal electrical pad to a respective distal electrical pad (via the interposer traces at 252 of one or more 250).
Regarding claim 2, Fagerlund provides that the plurality of proximal electrical pads being spaced apart from one another along a radially outer surface of the body in a circumferential direction relative to the longitudinal axis (see figure 4C with the plurality of traces along 253 being spaced apart along the surface of each respective 100 and circumferentially about the various 100’s of the band 45).
Regarding claim 3, Fagerlund provides that the plurality of distal electrical pads being spaced apart from one another along a radially outer surface of the body in a circumferential direction (distal pads through the window at 255 being spaced along the surface of each respective 100 and circumferentially about the various 100’s of the band 45).
Regarding claim 5, Fagerlund provides that the plurality of proximal electrical pads being spaced apart from one another along a radially inner surface of the body in a circumferential direction relative to the longitudinal axis (see figure 4C with the plurality of traces along 253 being spaced apart along the surface of each respective 100 and circumferentially about the various 100’s of the band 45).
Regarding claim 6, Fagerlund provides that the plurality of distal electrical pads being spaced apart from one another along the radially inner surface of the body in the circumferential direction (distal pads through the window at 255 being spaced along the surface of each respective 100 and circumferentially about the various 100’s of the band 45).
Regarding claims 7 and 8, Fagerlund provides that the body being generally tapered radially inward relative to the longitudinal axis toward the proximal portion along the longitudinal axis and that the body being generally tapered toward the distal portion along the longitudinal axis (with respect to figure 1B, the band 45 including the multiple ones of 100 displays a radial tapering relative to a circumscribing circle due to the inward angular orientation of each 100 of the band 45 relative to one another).
Regarding claim 9, Fagerlund provides that the body further comprises a proximal connector, the proximal connector configured for mechanically attaching the body to the tubular shaft (the proximal end portion for mechanically attaching to 45 to 15 as in [0037] ; alternatively the various apertures 279 in the multiple 100).
Regarding claim 11, Fagerlund provides for a proximal alignment member configured to align with a corresponding alignment member on the tubular shaft (a second one of 250 aligning with the lumen form through 15).
Regarding claim 12, Fagerlund provides that the body further comprises a distal connector, the distal connector configured for mechanically attaching the body to the end effector (see figure 4D with the portions of the traces distal to the window 255 functioning to mechanically connect to the end effector as in [0052]).
Regarding claim 14, Fagerlund provides that the body further comprising a distal alignment member configured to align with a corresponding alignment member on the end effector (a second window 250 to correspond to the traces on the end effector as in [0052]).
Regarding claim 15, Fagerlund provides that the electrical connector is connected to a tubular shaft at the proximal portion (connector to 15) and an end effector at the distal portion (to end effector at 30 as in the figures), respective tubular shaft electrical pads are in electrical communication with corresponding end effector electrical pads via the electrical connector (via a first and second 100 on 135 as in figure 1B to be in electrical communication with a respective first and second one of the connectors on the proximal ends of arms 46), and corresponding proximal electrical pads that are not in electrical communication with tubular shaft electrical pads are aligned with distal electrical pads that are not in electrical communication with end effector electrical pads (via other proximal/distal electrical pads of associated with other arms 46 not being in electrical communication with the ones associated with the shaft/effector electrode pads defined above).
Regarding claim 16, Fagerlund provides for a medical probe comprising a tubular shaft extending along a longitudinal axis of the medical probe (15), an end effector comprising a plurality of electrodes (end effector at 33 with the electrodes 41), and an electrical connector disposed between the tubular shaft and the end effector (see figure 1B with the connector disposed at the proximal end of 33 along the portion indicated at 100), the electrical connector comprising:
a body extending along a longitudinal axis from a proximal portion to a distal portion (proximal band 45 with the multiple ones 100 including backing elements 250 contained thereon; extending along a longitudinal as in figures 1A/B and 4C), wherein the body is annular about the longitudinal axis and defines a lumen extending therethrough (See figure 1b with the band being generally ring-shaped and defined a lumen therethrough)
a plurality of proximal electrical pads disposed on the body at the proximal portion, the proximal electrical pads configured to align with, and electrically connect to a plurality of tubular shaft electrical pads disposed on the tubular shaft (see figure 4C with the plurality of traces at the section at 253; such aligned with the plurality of pads at 100 on 135 as in figure 1B),
a plurality of distal electrical pads disposed on the body at the distal portion, the distal electrical pads configured to align with, and electrically connect to, a plurality of end effector electrical pads disposed on the end effector (exposed portions through the window at 255; see [0052] discussing the traces to connect the electrical component forming the end effector), and
a plurality of electrical traces, each electrical trace connecting a respective proximal electrical pad to a respective distal electrical pad (via the interposer traces at 252).
Regarding claim 17, Fagerlund provides that the electrical connector further comprises a proximal connector, the proximal connector configured for mechanically attaching the body to the tubular shaft (the proximal end portion for mechanically attaching to 45 to 15 as in [0037] ; alternatively the various apertures 279 in the multiple 100), and a distal connector, the distal connector configured for mechanically attaching the body to the end effector (see figure 4D with the portions of the traces distal to the window 255 functioning to mechanically connect to the end effector as in [0052]).
Regarding claim 18, Fagerlund provides that the tubular shaft further comprising a recess configured to at least partially receive the electrical connector (via the lumen within 15 configured to receive the connector defined above).
Regarding claim 19, Fagerlund provides that the tubular shaft electrical pads are disposed in the recess (via 135 as in figure 1B being configured to be disposed in the shaft as in [0042]).
Regarding claim 20, Fagerlund provides that in one operative condition, the electrical connector is connected to the tubular shaft at the proximal portion and an end effector at the distal portion (connector to 15) and an end effector at the distal portion (to end effector at 30 as in the figures), respective tubular shaft electrical pads are in electrical communication with corresponding end effector electrical pads via the electrical connector (via a first and second 100 on 135 as in figure 1B to be in electrical communication with a respective first and second one of the connectors on the proximal ends of arms 46), and corresponding proximal electrical pads that are not in electrical communication with tubular shaft electrical pads are aligned with distal electrical pads that are not in electrical communication with end effector electrical pads (via other proximal/distal electrical pads of associated with other arms 46 not being in electrical communication with the ones associated with the shaft/effector electrode pads defined above).
Regarding claim 21, Fagerlund provides that the recess is annular in shape (via the lumen in 15 being annular-shaped).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claims 10 and 13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Fagerlund et al. (US Pat. Pub. 2022/0117539 A1) as applied to claims 9 and 12 above, and further in view of Wedul et al. (US Pat. Pub. 2022/0192677 A1).
Regarding claims 10 and 13, while Fagerlund provides for various manners of providing for a structural connection between the connector and the various other structures of the device (solder, mechanical fixing, etc), Fagerlund fails to provides that either the proximal connector comprises a bayonet mount (claim 10) or that the distal connector comprises a bayonet mount (claim 13). Wedul provides for a similar device as that of Fagerlund and an exemplary manner of joining to portions of an expandable device comprising a plurality of splines together. Therein, Wedul specifically provides for the use of a variety of mechanical fastening modalities including solder (as in Fagerlund) or a bayonet connection to join to portions of the device together (see [0055]). Therefore, it is the Examiner’s position that it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing to have utilized a bayonet connect as in Wedul in place of the mechanical fastening or Fagerlund as set forth in the respective rejections of claims 9 and 12 above to provide for an alternative manner of joining the device of Fagerlund together. Welund clearly provides that a bayonet connection is a known alternative mechanical fastening modality that would work equally well and with an reasonable expectation of success in place of other mechanical fastening in Fagerlund (solder, friction-fit, mechanical tying, etc.)
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see pages 7-11 of the Remarks filed January 21, 2026, with respect to the rejection of each of independent claims 1 and 16 under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Fagerlun have been fully considered and are persuasive. Specifically, Applicant has persuasively argued that the prior rejection of claim 1 based on the interpretation that a single one of the element 250 of Fagerlund does not provide for the claimed a body that is “annular about the longitudinal axis and defining a lumen extending therethrough” given that the element 250 of Fagerlund is “a thin, flat, planar backing element” (see page 8 of the Remarks). Therefore, the prior rejections under 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 based on this interpretation of Fagerlund’s element 250 to be the body has been withdrawn. The Examiner that substantially the same rationale as set forth with respect to claim 1 above is equally applicable to independent claim 16.
The Examiner notes that, upon further consideration, new grounds of rejection under respective ones of 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and 35 U.S.C. 103 based on a new interpretation of the Fagerlund reference have been set forth in the action above. The Examiner is of the position that the new interpretation of Fagerlund which relies on the annular band 45 with the plurality of elements 100/250 mounted thereon readily provides for the “body” as presently required in each of claims 1 and 16 for at least the reasoning set forth in the action above.
For the sake of completeness, the Examiner notes that while Applicant has argued with respect to dependent claims 2, 3, 5-8, 10 and 13 on pages 9-12 of the Remarks, the Examiner finds these arguments as moot given the persuasive arguments set forth with respect to claim 1, and further in view of the new interpretation of the Fagerlund reference proffered above.
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 RONALD HUPCZEY, JR whose telephone number is (571)270-5534. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday; 8 am - 4 pm.
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/Ronald Hupczey, Jr./Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3794