Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/356,582

DENTAL SEPARATION MATERIAL

Non-Final OA §102§112
Filed
Jul 21, 2023
Examiner
ANTHONY, JOSEPH DAVID
Art Unit
1764
Tech Center
1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering
Assignee
Gc Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
73%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 7m
To Grant
77%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 73% — above average
73%
Career Allow Rate
732 granted / 1000 resolved
+8.2% vs TC avg
Minimal +4% lift
Without
With
+3.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 7m
Avg Prosecution
35 currently pending
Career history
1035
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.3%
-39.7% vs TC avg
§103
36.0%
-4.0% vs TC avg
§102
27.7%
-12.3% vs TC avg
§112
22.1%
-17.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1000 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §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 . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b): (b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph: The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention. Claims 1-5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. Independent claim 1 is not as clear as it could be in regards to the metes and bounds of what is meant by: “an aqueous solvent.” The issue revolves around the fact that Applicant’s specification and all the examples use water-soluble solvents (e.g. alcohols, such as ethanol) as the “aqueous solvent”. The Examiner thus suggest that independent claim 1 be clarified in regards to the metes and bounds of the: “an aqueous solvent” component (actually refers to water, a water-soluble solvent or a mixture thereof). Claims 2-5 are also being rejected here because they are either directly or indirectly dependent on rejected independent claim 1. 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 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. Examination Note: Applicant’s dependent claim 5 sets forth the limitation of wherein the dental impression material is an alginate impression material. Said limitation is deemed to be moot, because independent claim 1 is drawn to a dental separation material which is usually applied to a patient’s teeth, and NOT to the moldable impression material itself. Claim(s) 1-5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by CN 109385166 A (abstract). CN 109385166 A discloses lubricant coatings that have anti-corrosion and wear resistant properties. The lubricant is a mixture of microcrystalline wax and zinc stearate in a weight ratio of 1:2. The organic solvent is a mixture of xylene and ethyl acetate in a weight ratio of 1-2:1. Preferred Method: The thermally conductive filler is formed by mixing titanium white powder, nano zinc oxide, and silicon nitride whiskers in a weight ratio of 1-3:1:1.The heat conductive filler is prepared by comprises mixing titanium white powder, nano zinc oxide and silicon nitride whisker uniformly, and uniformly stirring with 2-3 times weight of an ethanol solution of 8-10% stearic acid, performing calcination at 90-100° C.. Applicant’s claims are deemed to be directly anticipated over said ethanol solution containing 8-10% stearic acid. Claim(s) 1-5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by JP 06056621 (abstract). JP 06056621 discloses a component of a wax separating agent which comprises a vegetable fatty acid, glycerol and water. Applicant’s claims are thus anticipated over said composition. Claim(s) 1-5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by KR 2021112820 A. KR 2021112820 A discloses a shuttlecock softener composition comprising 10-40 wt.% fatty acid compound(s) and 60-90 wt.% volatile solvent. As way of illustration, a shuttlecock softener composition was made that comprised a mixture of fatty acids by blending 40-44 wt.% oleic acid, 35-42 wt.% linoleic acid, 5-9 wt.% palmitic acid, 3-9 wt.% stearic acid, and 5-11 wt.% α -linolenic acid, using methanol or ethanol as a solvent, and blending 10-40 wt.% of said fatty acid mixture with 60-90 wt.% volatile solvent (i.e. methanol or ethanol). Applicant’s claims are deemed to be anticipated over said shuttlecock softener compositions. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JOSEPH DAVID ANTHONY whose telephone number is (571)272-1117. The examiner can normally be reached M-F: 10:00AM-6:30PM. 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, Arrie (Lanee) Reuther can be reached at 571-270-7026. 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. /JOSEPH D ANTHONY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1764
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jul 21, 2023
Application Filed
Feb 07, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §102, §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12604449
ELECTROMAGNETIC ABSORBING COMPOSITES
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 14, 2026
Patent 12601064
CORROSION CONTROL FOR WATER SYSTEMS USING PASSIVATORS AND A HYDROXYCARBOXYLIC ACID
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 14, 2026
Patent 12583999
WATER-ABSORBING RESIN PARTICLES, ABSORBING BODY, AND ABSORBENT ARTICLE
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 24, 2026
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REFINERY CRUDE DISTILLATION UNIT CORROSION INHIBITOR
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 10, 2026
Patent 12565554
DUAL-PHASE ZWITTERIONIC MONOMERS
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 03, 2026
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
73%
Grant Probability
77%
With Interview (+3.8%)
2y 7m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1000 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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