Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/360,627

CRYOPRESERVING UNGULATE EMBRYOS

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Jul 27, 2023
Priority
Jul 14, 2015 — provisional 62/192,544 +3 more
Examiner
GOUGH, TIFFANY MAUREEN
Art Unit
1651
Tech Center
1600 — Biotechnology & Organic Chemistry
Assignee
Abs Global Inc.
OA Round
3 (Non-Final)
31%
Grant Probability
At Risk
3-4
OA Rounds
1y 8m
Est. Remaining
80%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants only 31% of cases
31%
Career Allowance Rate
160 granted / 513 resolved
-28.8% vs TC avg
Strong +48% interview lift
Without
With
+48.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
4y 6m
Avg Prosecution
28 currently pending
Career history
550
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.7%
-38.3% vs TC avg
§103
65.6%
+25.6% vs TC avg
§102
5.6%
-34.4% vs TC avg
§112
3.4%
-36.6% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 513 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114 A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 11/22/2024 has been entered. Claim 17 is pending and has been considered on the merits herein. 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. Claim(s) 17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Thrift et al. (Applied Animal Sci., vol. 19, p. 329-341, 2003). Thrift teaches a cross-bred Bos indicus-taurus ungulate animal (p. 329-331, 1st full parag., Potential factors contributing section). Thus, the reference anticipates the claimed subject matter. The patentability of a product does not depend on its method of production. If the claimed product is the same or obvious from a product in the prior art (i.e., the product disclosed in the cited reference), the claim is unpatentable even though the reference product was made by a different process. When the prior art discloses a product which reasonably appears to be identical with or slightly different than the claimed product-by-process, rejections under 35 U.S.C 102 and/or 35 U.S.C 103 are proper. (MPEP 2113). Claim(s) 17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Green et al. (J. of Anim. Science, vol. 69, p. 3544-3563, 1991). Green teaches a cross-bred Bos indicus-taurus ungulate animal (abstract, p.3544-3548, Fig. 1, table 1, 2A). Thus, the reference anticipates the claimed subject matter. The patentability of a product does not depend on its method of production. If the claimed product is the same or obvious from a product in the prior art (i.e., the product disclosed in the cited reference), the claim is unpatentable even though the reference product was made by a different process. When the prior art discloses a product which reasonably appears to be identical with or slightly different than the claimed product-by-process, rejections under 35 U.S.C 102 and/or 35 U.S.C 103 are proper. (MPEP 2113). Claim(s) 17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by McDowell et al., (J. Dairy Sci., vol. 79, p. 1292-1303, 1996). McDowell teaches a cross-bred Bos indicus-taurus ungulate animal (p.1292-1294, Table 1, 5, for example). Thus, the reference anticipates the claimed subject matter. The patentability of a product does not depend on its method of production. If the claimed product is the same or obvious from a product in the prior art (i.e., the product disclosed in the cited reference), the claim is unpatentable even though the reference product was made by a different process. When the prior art discloses a product which reasonably appears to be identical with or slightly different than the claimed product-by-process, rejections under 35 U.S.C 102 and/or 35 U.S.C 103 are proper. (MPEP 2113). Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 17 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 TIFFANY MAUREEN GOUGH whose telephone number is (571)272-0697. The examiner can normally be reached M-Thu 8-5. 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, Melenie Gordon can be reached at 571-272-8037. 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. /TIFFANY M GOUGH/ Examiner, Art Unit 1651 /MELENIE L GORDON/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1651
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Prosecution Timeline

Show 2 earlier events
Aug 08, 2024
Response Filed
Aug 22, 2024
Final Rejection mailed — §102
Nov 22, 2024
Request for Continued Examination
Nov 30, 2024
Response after Non-Final Action
Jun 26, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Aug 01, 2025
Response Filed
Feb 23, 2026
Response Filed
Mar 30, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

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

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
31%
Grant Probability
80%
With Interview (+48.3%)
4y 6m (~1y 8m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 513 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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