Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 04, 2026
Application No. 18/320,727

PROCESS AND SYSTEM FOR HEAT EXCHANGE PROCESS

Final Rejection §102§103
Filed
May 19, 2023
Priority
May 20, 2022 — provisional 63/344,429
Examiner
SCHERMERHORN, JON
Art Unit
3763
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
The University of Akron
OA Round
4 (Final)
58%
Grant Probability
Moderate
5-6
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
91%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 58% of resolved cases
58%
Career Allowance Rate
270 granted / 465 resolved
-11.9% vs TC avg
Strong +33% interview lift
Without
With
+32.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 4m
Avg Prosecution
22 currently pending
Career history
485
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.5%
-39.5% vs TC avg
§103
49.3%
+9.3% vs TC avg
§102
23.1%
-16.9% vs TC avg
§112
26.2%
-13.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 465 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §103
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 . 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. (a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claims 1-10 and 27 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by US 2023/0279817 A1 (herein “Sibbach”). Regarding claim 1. Sibbach discloses a heat exchange process comprising: gaining heat using a working fluid in a first zone, wherein the working fluid is provided within a pumped loop ([0045] to [0047]); wherein the working fluid comprises a mixture of two or more supercritical fluids in a supercritical state within the pumped loop ([0102] pressure and temperature above cricondenbar and cricondentherm); and wherein the mixture adapted to meet requirements of a heat dissipation temperature from extremely low to very high temperatures; and dissipating the heat from the working fluid to ambient in a second zone (214). Regarding claim 2. Sibbach discloses the heat exchange process of claim 1, further comprising providing the two or more supercritical fluids in a supercritical gaseous state ([0102]). Regarding claim 3. Sibbach discloses the heat exchange process of claim 2, further comprising providing the two or more supercritical fluids having a critical temperature below about 25 degrees C ([0042]). Regarding claim 4. Sibbach discloses the heat exchange process of claim 1, wherein the two or more supercritical fluids comprise helium, hydrogen, neon, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, fluorine, air, argon, oxygen, methane, krypton, xenon, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, or any combination thereof ([0042]). Regarding claim 5. Sibbach discloses the heat exchange process of claim 1, wherein the two or more supercritical fluids comprise a first supercritical fluid and a second supercritical fluid, and the first supercritical fluid comprises carbon dioxide and the second supercritical fluid comprises neon, helium, argon, or a combination thereof ([0042]). Regarding claim 6. Sibbach discloses the heat exchange process of claim 1, wherein the two or more supercritical fluids comprise a first supercritical fluid and a second supercritical fluid, and the first supercritical fluid comprises carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide and the second supercritical fluid comprises argon ([0042]). Regarding claim 7. Sibbach discloses the heat exchange process of claim 1, wherein the two or more supercritical fluids comprise a first supercritical fluid and a second supercritical fluid, and the first supercritical fluid comprises carbon dioxide and the second supercritical fluid comprises 1,1,1,2- tetrafluoroethane ([0042]). Regarding claim 8. Sibbach discloses the heat exchange process of claim 1, wherein the two or more supercritical fluids comprise a first supercritical fluid and a second supercritical fluid, and the first supercritical fluid comprises carbon dioxide and the second supercritical fluid comprises nitrogen ([0042]). Regarding claim 9. Sibbach discloses the heat exchange process of claim 1, wherein the two or more supercritical fluids are above a critical pressure, a critical temperature, a cricondenbar, and a cricondentherm of the two or more supercritical fluids ([0102]). Regarding claim 10. Sibbach discloses the heat exchange process of claim 1, wherein the extremely low temperature is about 5 K and the very high temperature is about 373 K ([0042]). Regarding claim 27. Sibbach discloses the heat exchange process comprising: gaining heat using a working fluid in a first zone, wherein the working fluid is provided within a pumped loop ([0045] to [0047]); wherein the working fluid comprises a mixture of two or more supercritical fluids within the pumped loop ([0102]); and wherein the mixture adapted to meet requirements of a heat dissipation temperature from extremely low to very high temperatures; and dissipating the heat from the working fluid to ambient in a second zone (214), wherein the two or more supercritical fluids comprise a first supercritical fluid and a second supercritical fluid, and the first supercritical fluid comprises carbon dioxide and the second supercritical fluid comprises 1,1,1,2- tetrafluoroethane ([0042]). Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action. Claims 21-25 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Sibbach in view of official notice. Regarding claims 21-25. Sibbach does not explicitly disclose the use of a radiator heat exchanger. However, the examiner takes official notice that the use of a radiator as an effective way to dissipate heat from a heat exchange system is old and well known. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to provide the system of Sibbach with a radiator heat exchanger that dissipates heat as a wave as claimed. Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Jon T. Schermerhorn Jr. whose telephone number is (571)270-5283. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9am to 5pm. 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, Len Tran can be reached at (571) 272-1184. 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. /JON T. SCHERMERHORN JR./Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3763
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Show 4 earlier events
Feb 20, 2026
Interview Requested
Mar 03, 2026
Examiner Interview Summary
Mar 03, 2026
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Mar 27, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
Apr 07, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Apr 22, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103
Jul 17, 2026
Response Filed
Oct 01, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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Patent 12716613
HEAT EXCHANGER SUPPORT DEVICE
2y 0m to grant Granted Aug 25, 2026
Patent 12710239
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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
58%
Grant Probability
91%
With Interview (+32.8%)
3y 4m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 465 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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