Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/362,928

ROOT CANAL ACTIVATOR AND THE METHOD OF ACTIVATION

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Jul 31, 2023
Examiner
HUYNH, COURTNEY NGUYEN
Art Unit
3772
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Changsha Easyinsmile Intelligence Technology Co. Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
43%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
3y 2m
To Grant
91%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 43% of resolved cases
43%
Career Allow Rate
41 granted / 96 resolved
-27.3% vs TC avg
Strong +48% interview lift
Without
With
+47.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 2m
Avg Prosecution
48 currently pending
Career history
144
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
3.7%
-36.3% vs TC avg
§103
47.1%
+7.1% vs TC avg
§102
14.9%
-25.1% vs TC avg
§112
32.3%
-7.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 96 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 . Priority Acknowledgment is made of applicant's claim for foreign priority based on the application CHINA 202010180491.8 filed on 03/16/2020, application CHINA 201911392096.X filed on 12/30/2019, and application CHINA 2020108221 74.1 filed on 08/16/2020. It is noted, however, that applicant has not filed a certified copy of these applications as required by 37 CFR 1.55. Examiner suggests filing certified copies of the applications. Claim Objections Claims 1-2 are objected to because of the following informalities: Examiner suggests amending claim 1 line 2 to “[[the]]a top” and “[[the]]a bottom”. Examiner suggests amending claim 1 line 11 to “[[the]]a front”. Examiner suggests amending claim 1 line 15 to “[[the]]a front”. Examiner suggests amending claim 1 line 23 to “[[the]]a top end”. Examiner suggests amending claim 1 line 35 to “comprises”. Examiner suggests amending claim 2 line 6 to “[[the]]a 3rd LED”. Appropriate correction is required. 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 1-2 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. Claim 1 recites the limitation "the bottom of the keys contact electronic elements on the PCB main control board during the pressing" in lines 12-14. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim as no “pressing” is recited in claim 1 prior to lines 12-14. It is also unclear what parts of the device are being pressed in regard to “during the pressing”. For purposes of examination, Examiner will interpret claim 1 lines 12-14 as, and suggests amending to, “the bottom of the keys contact electronic elements on the PCB main control board when pressed”. Claim 1 recites the limitation “an input axis at the front end” in lines 16-17. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim as no “front end” is recited in claim 1 prior to lines 16-17. Further, it is unclear if the limitation is intended to refer to the front of a motor support of line 15, a front of the motor itself, or another front end. For purposes of examination, in light of Figure 6, Examiner will interpret the limitation of claim 1 lines 16-17 as referring to a front end of the motor, and suggests amending to “[[the]]a front end of the motor” to clarify. Claim 1 line 9-10 recites the limitation “the battery compartment”. It is unclear if this limitation is intended to refer to the limitation “a battery compartment” of claim 1 line 3 or the limitation of claim 1 line 8-9 “a battery compartment”. In the Figures, Figure 2 appears to show only a single battery compartment. For purposes of examination, in light of the Figure 2 appearing to have one battery compartment, Examiner will interpret claim 1 line 8-9 and lines 9-10 as referring to the battery compartment of claim 1 line 3 and suggests amending lines 8-9 as “[[a]]the battery compartment. Claim 1 line 33 recites the limitation “keys”. It is unclear if this limitation is intended to refer to the “keys” of claim 1 line 5 or intended to refer to different keys. For purposes of examination, Examiner will interpret claim 1 line 33 as referring to the keys of claim 1 line 5, and suggests amending to, “uses the keys to operate the driver board”. Claim 1 (bottom of page 1) recites “a spherical joint” and then again recites “a spherical joint”. It is unclear if these are the same joint. Claim 2 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, for its dependence on one or more rejected base and/or intervening claims. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-2 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure. Please see attached PTOL-892 form. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to COURTNEY N HUYNH whose telephone number is (571)272-7219. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7:30AM-5:00PM (EST) flex, 2nd Friday off. 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, Eric Rosen can be reached at (571) 270-7855. 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. /COURTNEY N HUYNH/Examiner, Art Unit 3772 /ERIC J ROSEN/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3772
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jul 31, 2023
Application Filed
Oct 28, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §112 (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

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
43%
Grant Probability
91%
With Interview (+47.9%)
3y 2m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 96 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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