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 .
Claims 2 and 13 are cancelled. A complete action on the merits of pending claims 1, 3-12, and 14-22 appears herein.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101
35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows:
Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title.
Claim 20 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to non-statutory subject matter. The claim(s) does/do not fall within at least one of the four categories of patent eligible subject matter because the claims can be seen as “signals per se” as the storage medium can be interpreted as a transitory storage medium and not just a hardware component (e.g. non-transitory).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1, 3-12, 14-16, and 18-22 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
The prior art of record fails to explicitly teach “a heating control method for steam ablation apparatus, applied to a control device of the steam ablation apparatus, wherein the steam ablation apparatus comprises a steam generator and a heating device, and the heating device is capable of being controlled by the control device and heat the steam generator when the heating device is controlled to be turned on; the heating control method comprises steps of: monitoring a current water level in the steam generator, a current pressure and a current temperature in the generator; and controlling the heating device according to the current water level, the current pressure and the current temperature in the generator, wherein, the step of controlling the heating device according to the current water level, the current pressure and the current temperature in the generator comprises: controlling the heating device to be turned on or off according to the current water level, and a specified anti-dry-burning water level or minimum normal water level; and controlling a heating power of the heating device according to the current pressure and the current temperature in the generator after the heating device is turned on; and wherein the step of controlling the heating device to be turned on or off according to the current water level, and the specified anti-dry-burning water level or minimum normal water level comprises: turning on the heating device when the current water level is higher than or equal to the anti-dry-burning water level and the current temperature in the generator is higher than a set heat-discharging temperature threshold,” as claimed in claim 1.
The prior art of record further fails to explicitly teach “a heating control method for steam ablation apparatus, applied to a control device of the steam ablation apparatus, wherein the steam ablation apparatus comprises a steam generator and a heating device, and the heating device is capable of being controlled by the control device and heat the steam generator when the heating device is controlled to be turned on; the heating control method comprises steps of: monitoring a current water level in the steam generator, a current pressure and a current temperature in the generator; and controlling the heating device according to the current water level, the current pressure and the current temperature in the generator, wherein, the step of controlling the heating device according to the current water level, the current pressure and the current temperature in the generator comprises: controlling the heating device to be turned on or off according to the current water level, and a specified anti-dry-burning water level or minimum normal water level; and controlling a heating power of the heating device according to the current pressure and the current temperature in the generator after the heating device is turned on; and wherein the heating device comprises a plurality of heaters; the step of controlling the heating power of the heating device according to the current pressure and the current temperature in the generator comprises: controlling the turned-on heating device to heat with a target power matching a heating power when all heaters of the heating device are turned on; controlling the heating device to keep heating with the target power when the current pressure is lower than a set heat-discharging pressure threshold and the current pressure or the current temperature in the generator falls within a set first range; and adjusting the heating power of the heating device according to the current temperature in the generator, the current pressure and set target parameters when the current pressure is lower than a set heat-discharging pressure threshold and the current pressure or the current temperature in the generator falls within a set second range; values in the second range are greater than the first range, and a target temperature in the generator or a target pressure falls within the second range,” as claimed in claim 14.
The prior art of record further fails to explicitly teach “heating control method for steam ablation apparatus, applied to a control device of the steam ablation apparatus, wherein the steam ablation apparatus comprises a steam generator and a heating device, and the heating device is capable of being controlled by the control device and heat the steam generator when the heating device is controlled to be turned on; the heating control method comprises steps of: determining that the steam ablation apparatus enters a target operating state or a shutdown operation state, the target operating state being any one of a preheating state, a standby state, and an ablation preparation state; monitoring a current water level in the steam generator, a current pressure and a current temperature in the generator; and controlling the heating device according to the current water level, the current pressure and the current temperature in the generator, wherein the step of controlling the heating device according to the current water level, the current pressure and the current temperature in the generator comprises: controlling the heating device to be turned on or off according to the current water level, and a specified anti-dry-burning water level or minimum normal water level; and wherein when it is determined that the steam ablation apparatus is in the shutdown operation state, the step of controlling the heating device according to the current water level, the current pressure and the current temperature in the generator comprises: turning on the heating device when the current water level is higher than or equal to the specified anti-dry-burning water level, and the current temperature in the generator is higher than a set heat-discharging temperature threshold,” as claimed in claim 21.
Examiner has identified Sharma (US 2017/0231677 A1) and Barry (US 2008/0110457 A1) as the most pertinent prior art references, each of which disclose systems, devices, and methods comprising some of the claimed limitations, as discussed in the non-final rejection dated 03/11/2026.
However, these references fail to explicitly disclose the feedback loop used to control the heating device as claimed in claims 1, 14, and 21.
No other prior art references were found that would overcome the deficiencies of these references. Therefore, Examiner asserts that there is no motivation (either in these references or elsewhere in the art) for making such specific and significant modifications thereto.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Examiner Notes
Examiner notes that claim 19 recites the limitation of “a memory.” Examiner has determined the limitation “a memory” is not considered signals per se due to said memory being disclosed in claim 19 and Par. [0070] of the present specification as part of the electronic device.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NICHOLAS SHEA BORSCH whose telephone number is (571)272-5681. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday 7:30AM-5:30PM EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Joanne Rodden can be reached at 3032974276. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/N.S.B./Examiner, Art Unit 3794
/JOANNE M RODDEN/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3794
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