Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 25, 2026
Application No. 18/320,182

System and Method for Liquid Culture of Anaerobic or Microaerophilic Microorganisms

Final Rejection §112
Filed
May 18, 2023
Priority
May 16, 2014 — provisional 61/994,153 +2 more
Examiner
CONSTANTINE, CHARLES Z
Art Unit
1657
Tech Center
1600 — Biotechnology & Organic Chemistry
Assignee
Neogen Food Safety US Holdco Corporation
OA Round
4 (Final)
59%
Grant Probability
Moderate
5-6
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 59% of resolved cases
59%
Career Allowance Rate
255 granted / 432 resolved
-1.0% vs TC avg
Strong +49% interview lift
Without
With
+49.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 1m
Avg Prosecution
15 currently pending
Career history
455
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
6.0%
-34.0% vs TC avg
§103
32.5%
-7.5% vs TC avg
§102
15.4%
-24.6% vs TC avg
§112
30.5%
-9.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 432 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 . Response to Amendment The amendment received on 06/01/2026 is acknowledged. Claims 17, 19, 22, 26, 27, and 33-34 have been amended. In light of the amendment to the claims the objection to claim 17 has been obviated. In light of the amendment to the claims the rejection of claims 17, 19, 21-35 under 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 have been withdrawn. However a new grounds of rejection necessitated by amendment is presented below. In light of the amendment to the claims the double patenting rejections over Application 16288712 and USP 11685944 are withdrawn. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a): (a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention. The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112: The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Claims 17, 19, 21-35 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention. The specification as originally filed does not describe kits or examples having a volume of 200 mL to 250 mL, nor does the specification provide a general description of such a range which may have been used to support such a limitation. The claims thus were not described in such a way as to convey that the inventors were in possession of the invention as claimed. 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 CHARLES Z CONSTANTINE whose telephone number is (571)270-5533. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 9-5. 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, Louise Humphrey can be reached at 571-272-5543. 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. /CHARLES Z CONSTANTINE/ Examiner, Art Unit 1657 /ROBERT J YAMASAKI/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1657
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Show 3 earlier events
Sep 08, 2025
Final Rejection mailed — §112
Dec 08, 2025
Request for Continued Examination
Dec 11, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Dec 23, 2025
Non-Final Rejection (signed) — §112
Jan 30, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
May 14, 2026
Examiner Interview Summary
Jun 01, 2026
Response Filed
Oct 02, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

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Patent 12698521
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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

5-6
Expected OA Rounds
59%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+49.3%)
3y 1m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 432 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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