DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application is being examined under the pre-AIA first to invent provisions.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 01/12/2024 , 06/20/2024 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Claim Status
Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-20 of U.S. Patent No. 8,983,167 B2.
Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-17 of U.S. Patent No. 9,171,368.
Claim 1-20 is rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-20 of U.S. Patent No. 9,595,104.
Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-20 of U.S. Patent No. 10,282,839.
Claims 1, 12 and 17 is/are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 10,706,541.
Claims 1, 12 and 17 is/are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 9,646,375.
Claims 1, 12 and 17 is/are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 9,773,320.
Claim 1-20 is rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-19 of U.S. Patent No. 9,936,906.
Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-20 of U.S. Patent No. 11,836,915 B2.
Claim(s) 1-20 is/are allowed if they are overcome the Double Patenting rejection.
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/process/file/efs/guidance/eTD-info-I.jsp.
Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-20 of U.S. Patent No. 8,983,167 B2.
For Claim 1, although this claim is not identical to Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 8,983,167, this claim is not patentably distinct from Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 8,983,167 because Claim 1 is broader than and fully encompassed by Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 8,983,167.
Application 18/384,085 (U.S. 20240054642 A1)
US Patent 8,983,167 B2
A method of estimating blood loss of patient fluid within a fluid canister with a camera that is statically positioned relative to the fluid canister, the method comprising: causing, with one or more processors, the camera to automatically capture one or more images of the fluid canister based on a detected change in volume of the patient fluid within the fluid canister exceeding a threshold; receiving, with one or more processors, the one or more images of the fluid canister and the patient fluid disposed therein; analyzing, with the one or more processors, the one or more images to determine the volume of the patient fluid; analyzing, with the one or more processors, the one or more images to determine a blood concentration of the patient fluid within the fluid canister; estimating, with the one or more processors, the blood loss based on the volume of the patient fluid and the blood concentration of the patient fluid; and displaying, on a display, the estimated blood loss.
A method comprising:
within an image of a canister, identifying a reference marker on the canister;
selecting an area of the image based on the reference marker; correlating a portion of the selected area with a fluid level within the canister;
estimating a volume of fluid within the canister based on the fluid level;
extracting a redness value from the selected area; correlating the redness value with a concentration of red blood cells within the canister; and
estimating a quantity of red blood cells within the canister based on the estimated volume and the concentration of red blood cells within the canister.
For Claims 2-20, although this claim is not identical to Claims 2-20 of U.S. Patent No. 8,983,167, this claim is not patentably distinct from Claims 2-20 of U.S. Patent No. 8,983,167 because Claims 2-20 are broader than and fully encompassed by Claims 2-20 of U.S. Patent No. 8,983,167.
Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-17 of U.S. Patent No. 9,171,368.
For Claim 1, although this claim is not identical to Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 9,171,368., this claim is not patentably distinct from Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 9,171,368 because Claim 1 is broader than and fully encompassed by Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 9,171,368.
Application 18/384,085 (U.S. 20240054642 A1)
US Patent 9,171,368.
A method of estimating blood loss of patient fluid within a fluid canister with a camera that is statically positioned relative to the fluid canister, the method comprising: causing, with one or more processors, the camera to automatically capture one or more images of the fluid canister based on a detected change in volume of the patient fluid within the fluid canister exceeding a threshold; receiving, with one or more processors, the one or more images of the fluid canister and the patient fluid disposed therein; analyzing, with the one or more processors, the one or more images to determine the volume of the patient fluid; analyzing, with the one or more processors, the one or more images to determine a blood concentration of the patient fluid within the fluid canister; estimating, with the one or more processors, the blood loss based on the volume of the patient fluid and the blood concentration of the patient fluid; and displaying, on a display, the estimated blood loss.
A method for assessment of blood within a canister, comprising: at a processor, selecting an area of an image of the canister upon detection of a reference marker on the canister;
at the processor, determining a fluid level within the canister based upon the area within the image;
at the processor, generating an estimated volume of blood within the canister based on the fluid level;
at the processor, extracting a
at the processor, correlating the feature with a concentration of a blood component within the canister; at the processor, estimating a quantity of the blood component within the canister based on the estimated volume and the concentration of the blood component within the canister; and
- by way of the processor, rendering an analysis indicative of the quantity of the blood component and an estimated total patient blood loss, based upon the estimated volume of blood within the canister.
For Claims 2-20, although this claim is not identical to Claims 2-17of U.S. Patent No. 9,171,368., this claim is not patentably distinct from Claims 2-17 of U.S. Patent No. 9,171,368 because Claims 2-20 are broader than and fully encompassed by Claims 2-17 of U.S. Patent No. 9,171,368.
Claim 1-20 is rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-20 of U.S. Patent No. 9,595,104.
For Claim 1, although this claim is not identical to Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 9,595,104, this claim is not patentably distinct from Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 9,595,104 because Claim 1 is broader than and fully encompassed by Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 9,595,104.
Application 18/384,085 (U.S. 20240054642 A1)
US Patent 9,595,104
A method of estimating blood loss of patient fluid within a fluid canister with a camera that is statically positioned relative to the fluid canister, the method comprising: causing, with one or more processors, the camera to automatically capture one or more images of the fluid canister based on a detected change in volume of the patient fluid within the fluid canister exceeding a threshold; receiving, with one or more processors, the one or more images of the fluid canister and the patient fluid disposed therein; analyzing, with the one or more processors, the one or more images to determine the volume of the patient fluid; analyzing, with the one or more processors, the one or more images to determine a blood concentration of the patient fluid within the fluid canister; estimating, with the one or more processors, the blood loss based on the volume of the patient fluid and the blood concentration of the patient fluid; and displaying, on a display, the estimated blood loss.
A method for assessment of blood within a fluid receiving substrate, comprising:
at a processor, selecting a region of an image of the fluid-receiving substrate upon detection of a reference marker;
at the processor, generating an estimated volume of blood at the fluid-receiving substrate from the region of the image with a volume estimation algorithm;
at the processor, extracting a feature including a redness value in a red component space from a set of pixels of the region of the image;
at the processor, correlating the feature with a concentration of a blood component at the fluid-receiving substrate;
at the processor, estimating a quantity of the blood component at the fluid-receiving substrate based on the estimated volume and the concentration of the blood component at the fluid-receiving substrate; and
at an electronic device in communication with the processor, providing information indicative of the quantity of the blood component at the fluid-receiving substrate
For Claims 2-20, although this claim is not identical to Claims 2-20 of U.S. Patent No. 9,595,104, this claim is not patentably distinct from Claims 2-20 of U.S. Patent No. 9,595,104 because Claims 2-20 are broader than and fully encompassed by Claims 2-20 of U.S. Patent No. 9,595,104.
Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-20 of U.S. Patent No. 10,282,839.
For example, Claim 1, although this claim is not identical to Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 10,282,839, this claim is not patentably distinct from Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 10,282,839 because Claim 1 is broader than and fully encompassed by Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 10,282,839.
Application 18/384,085 (U.S. 20240054642 A1)
US Patent 10,282,839
A method of estimating blood loss of patient fluid within a fluid canister with a camera that is statically positioned relative to the fluid canister, the method comprising: causing, with one or more processors, the camera to automatically capture one or more images of the fluid canister based on a detected change in volume of the patient fluid within the fluid canister exceeding a threshold; receiving, with one or more processors, the one or more images of the fluid canister and the patient fluid disposed therein; analyzing, with the one or more processors, the one or more images to determine the volume of the patient fluid; analyzing, with the one or more processors, the one or more images to determine a blood concentration of the patient fluid within the fluid canister; estimating, with the one or more processors, the blood loss based on the volume of the patient fluid and the blood concentration of the patient fluid; and displaying, on a display, the estimated blood loss.
A computer-implemented method for assessing fluid in a fluid container, comprising:
receiving an image of at least a portion of the fluid container, wherein a fluid is in the fluid container; extracting at least one color-related feature from an area of the image depicting at least a portion of the fluid in the fluid container;
correlating the at least one extracted color-related feature with a concentration of a blood component in the fluid in the fluid container;
estimating a quantity of the blood component in the fluid container based on the concentration of the blood component and an estimated volume of blood in the fluid container; and
communicating the estimated quantity of the blood component to a user.
For Claims 2-20, although this claim is not identical to Claims 2-20 of U.S. Patent No. 10,282,839, this claim is not patentably distinct from Claims 2-20 of U.S. Patent No. 10,282,839 because Claims 2-20 are broader than and fully encompassed by Claims 2-20 of U.S. Patent No. 10,282,839.
Claims 1, 12 and 17 is/are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 10,706,541.
For Claim 1, although this claim is not identical to Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 10,706,541,this claim is not patentably distinct from Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No.10,706,541 because Claim 1 is broader than and fully encompassed by Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 10,706,541.
Application 18/384,085 (U.S. 20240054642 A1)
US Patent 10,706,541
A method of estimating blood loss of patient fluid within a fluid canister with a camera that is statically positioned relative to the fluid canister, the method comprising: causing, with one or more processors, the camera to automatically capture one or more images of the fluid canister based on a detected change in volume of the patient fluid within the fluid canister exceeding a threshold; receiving, with one or more processors, the one or more images of the fluid canister and the patient fluid disposed therein; analyzing, with the one or more processors, the one or more images to determine the volume of the patient fluid; analyzing, with the one or more processors, the one or more images to determine a blood concentration of the patient fluid within the fluid canister; estimating, with the one or more processors, the blood loss based on the volume of the patient fluid and the blood concentration of the patient fluid; and displaying, on a display, the estimated blood loss.
A method for assessment of blood within a canister, comprising: at a processor, selecting an area of an image of the canister upon detection of a reference marker on the canister; at the processor, determining a fluid level within the canister based upon the area within the image; at the processor, generating an estimated volume of blood within the canister based on the fluid level; at the processor, extracting a feature from at least one pixel of the area; at the processor, correlating the feature with a concentration of a blood component within the canister; at the processor, estimating a quantity of the blood component within the canister based on the estimated volume and the concentration of the blood component within the canister; and by way of the processor, rendering an analysis indicative of the quantity of the blood component and an estimated total patient blood loss, based upon the estimated volume of blood within the canister.
Claims 1, 12 and 17 is/are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 9,646,375.
For example, Claim 1, although this claim is not identical to Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 9,646,375, this claim is not patentably distinct from Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 9,646,375 because Claim 1 is broader than and fully encompassed by Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 9,646,375.
Application 18/384,085 (U.S. 20240054642 A1)
US Patent 9,646,375
A method of estimating blood loss of patient fluid within a fluid canister with a camera that is statically positioned relative to the fluid canister, the method comprising: causing, with one or more processors, the camera to automatically capture one or more images of the fluid canister based on a detected change in volume of the patient fluid within the fluid canister exceeding a threshold; receiving, with one or more processors, the one or more images of the fluid canister and the patient fluid disposed therein; analyzing, with the one or more processors, the one or more images to determine the volume of the patient fluid; analyzing, with the one or more processors, the one or more images to determine a blood concentration of the patient fluid within the fluid canister; estimating, with the one or more processors, the blood loss based on the volume of the patient fluid and the blood concentration of the patient fluid; and displaying, on a display, the estimated blood loss.
A method for setting a blood transfusion parameter for a patient, the method comprising:
- identifying, at a computing system, a blood transfusion bag in a photographic image generated using an optical sensor in communication with the computing system, and, in a region of the photographic image, a fluid surface within the blood transfusion bag;
- extracting, at the computing system, a color feature from a region of the photographic image corresponding to the blood transfusion bag;
- identifying, at the computing system, a volume marker printed on the blood transfusion bag in the region of the photographic image;
- generating, at the computing system, an estimated volume of fluid in the blood transfusion bag based on the volume marker and the fluid surface;
- estimating, at the computing system, a blood component content within the blood transfusion bag based on the color feature and the estimated volume of fluid; and
- triggering transfusion from the blood transfusion bag based on the blood component content within the blood transfusion bag and an estimated volemic status of the patient.
Claims 1, 12 and 17 is/are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 9,773,320.
For example, Claim 1, although this claim is not identical to Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 9,773,320, this claim is not patentably distinct from Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 9,773,320 because Claim 1 is broader than and fully encompassed by Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 9,773,320.
Application 18/384,085 (U.S. 20240054642 A1)
US Patent 9,773,320
A method of estimating blood loss of patient fluid within a fluid canister with a camera that is statically positioned relative to the fluid canister, the method comprising: causing, with one or more processors, the camera to automatically capture one or more images of the fluid canister based on a detected change in volume of the patient fluid within the fluid canister exceeding a threshold; receiving, with one or more processors, the one or more images of the fluid canister and the patient fluid disposed therein; analyzing, with the one or more processors, the one or more images to determine the volume of the patient fluid; analyzing, with the one or more processors, the one or more images to determine a blood concentration of the patient fluid within the fluid canister; estimating, with the one or more processors, the blood loss based on the volume of the patient fluid and the blood concentration of the patient fluid; and displaying, on a display, the estimated blood loss.
A method for assessing an amount of a blood component of a volume of fluid within a canister, comprising:
at a computing system in communication with an image acquisition device, receiving data associated with an image of the canister generated by the image acquisition device;
at the computing system, automatically selecting a first region of the image
at the computing system, determining a color parameter representative of the first region of the image;
at the computing system, determining a concentration of a blood component within the canister, based upon the color parameter; upon determining the volume of fluid
Claim 1-20 is rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-19 of U.S. Patent No. 9,936,906.
For example, Claim 1, although this claim is not identical to Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 9,936,906, this claim is not patentably distinct from Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 9,936,906 because Claim 1 is broader than and fully encompassed by Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 9,936,906.
Application 18/384,085 (U.S. 20240054642 A1)
US Patent 9,936,906
A method of estimating blood loss of patient fluid within a fluid canister with a camera that is statically positioned relative to the fluid canister, the method comprising: causing, with one or more processors, the camera to automatically capture one or more images of the fluid canister based on a detected change in volume of the patient fluid within the fluid canister exceeding a threshold; receiving, with one or more processors, the one or more images of the fluid canister and the patient fluid disposed therein; analyzing, with the one or more processors, the one or more images to determine the volume of the patient fluid; analyzing, with the one or more processors, the one or more images to determine a blood concentration of the patient fluid within the fluid canister; estimating, with the one or more processors, the blood loss based on the volume of the patient fluid and the blood concentration of the patient fluid; and displaying, on a display, the estimated blood loss.
A method for managing blood loss of a patient, performed by one or more processors executing instructions in memory, the method comprising:
receiving an image of a physical sample;
extracting a color-related value from an area of the image corresponding to the physical sample;
estimating a blood volume indicator of the physical sample according to the extracted color-related value; estimating a patient blood loss based on the blood volume indicator;
estimating a euvolemic patient hematocrit based on an estimated patient blood volume and the estimated patient blood loss;
receiving a measured patient hematocrit;
generating a volemic status indicator based on a comparison between the measured patient hematocrit and the estimated euvolemic patient hematocrit; and displaying the volemic status indicator on a display.
Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-20 of U.S. Patent No. 11,836,915 B2.
For Claim 1, although this claim is not identical to Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 11,836,915, this claim is not patentably distinct from Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 11,836,915 because Claim 1 is broader than and fully encompassed by Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 11,836,915
Application 18/384,085 (U.S. 20240054642 A1)
US Patent 11,836,915 B2
A method of estimating blood loss of patient fluid within a fluid canister with a camera that is statically positioned relative to the fluid canister, the method comprising: causing, with one or more processors, the camera to automatically capture one or more images of the fluid canister based on a detected change in volume of the patient fluid within the fluid canister exceeding a threshold; receiving, with one or more processors, the one or more images of the fluid canister and the patient fluid disposed therein; analyzing, with the one or more processors, the one or more images to determine the volume of the patient fluid; analyzing, with the one or more processors, the one or more images to determine a blood concentration of the patient fluid within the fluid canister; estimating, with the one or more processors, the blood loss based on the volume of the patient fluid and the blood concentration of the patient fluid; and displaying, on a display, the estimated blood loss.
A method of estimating patient blood loss comprising: receiving, by one or more processors, an image of at least a portion of a container with the image depicting blood and non-blood fluid being held in the container; determining, by the one or more processors, a volume of the fluid held in the container; determining, by the one or more processors, a color component value of a region of the image, the region depicting a portion of the fluid held in the container; determining, by the one or more processors, a concentration of hemoglobin within the fluid based on the color component value of the region of the image; and providing, by the one or more processors, an indication that quantifies the patient blood loss in the container based on the volume of the fluid held in the container and the concentration of the hemoglobin.
For Claims 2-20, although this claim is not identical to Claims 2-20 of U.S. Patent No. 11,836,915, this claim is not patentably distinct from Claims 2-20 of U.S. Patent No. 11,836,915 because Claims 2-20 are broader than and fully encompassed by Claims 2-20 of U.S. Patent No. 11,836,915.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim(s) 1-20 is/are allowed if they are overcome the Double Patenting rejection.
Reasons for Allowance
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: The present invention comprises System and method for estimating the extracorporeal blood volume in a canister for use in surgical practice including manager blood loss by receiving an image, determine the volume and blood concentration from the image and estimating blood volume indicator, blood loss. The closest prior art, Itsuzaki et al (U.S. 5,763,265) shows a similar system which also includes a visual sensor for taking an image of blood separated into serum components and clot components, analyzing the image by using color extraction and measuring the amount of serum component in the blood.
However, Itsuzaki fails to disclose “causing, with one or more processors, the camera to automatically capture one or more images of the fluid canister based on a detected change in volume of the patient fluid within the fluid canister exceeding a threshold; receiving, with one or more processors, the one or more images of the fluid canister and the patient fluid disposed therein; analyzing, with the one or more processors, the one or more images to determine the volume of the patient fluid; analyzing, with the one or more processors, the one or more images to determine a blood concentration of the patient fluid within the fluid canister; estimating, with the one or more processors, the blood loss based on the volume of the patient fluid and the blood concentration of the patient fluid; and displaying, on a display, the estimated blood loss.” These features have been added to independent claim(s) 1 and 17; therefore, rendering it/them allowable.
Furthermore, Itsuzaki fails to discloses “receiving, with one or more processors, one or more images of the fluid canister and the patient fluid disposed therein; identifying in the one or more images, with the one or more processors, a surface of the patient fluid within the fluid canister. calculating, with the one or more processors, a pixel-based height of the patient fluid within the fluid canister based on the surface of the patient fluid; converting the pixel-based height to an estimated fluid volume of the patient fluid within the fluid canister; estimating, with the one or more processors, the blood loss based on the fluid volume and a blood concentration of the patient fluid; and displaying, on a display, the estimated blood loss.” These features have been added to independent claim(s) 12; therefore, rendering it/them allowable.
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.”
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Itsuzaki et al (U.S. 5,763,265), “Specimen Testing Method And Apparatus”, teaches about a specimen testing method and its apparatus for extracting only serum components from blood sampled from a patient at hospital or the like, and examining pathological conditions of the patient. It also teaches about the specimen testing apparatus of the invention comprises a visual sensor for taking an image of blood separated into serum components and clot components, an image memory for storing digital image data output from the visual sensor, serum component upper boundary position detecting means for detecting an upper boundary position of the serum components from the digital image data stored in the image memory, a serum component lower boundary position detecting means for detecting a lower boundary position of the serum components, and serum component amount measuring means for measuring the amount of the serum components from the upper boundary position and lower boundary position.
Cook et al (U.S. 20040024295 A1), “System, Method And Computer Program Product For Measuring Blood Properties Form A Spectral Image”, teaches about the use of reflected spectral imaging to analyze visualizable components of a fluid flowing in a tubular system as well as the use of reflected spectral imaging to analyze the components of blood in a mammalian, especially human, vascular system. It also teaches about processing reflected spectral images of a microcirculatory system to measure the volume and concentration of a blood vessel, including arteries, veins and capillaries. Basically, the method and apparatus of the present invention analyze the spectral image (also referred to herein as "blood sample" or "image") to identify vessel structure and measure the light absorption in the vessel to develop what is referred to as a contrast gradient plus (KGP) estimate. The KGP estimate is used to measure blood characteristics, such as the hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit of the blood sample.
Budd et al (U.S. 7,430,047 B2), “Small Container Fluid Dynamics To Produce Optimized Inspection Conditions”, teaches about the procedures and devices utilized in the optical inspection of transparent containers for the presence of contaminating particulate matter and particularly to inspection of injectable pharmaceutical preparations. It also teaches about the method for a method for construction of an accurate instrument calibration curve (actual particle size vs. apparent particle size in image) that is unique for each inspection system. The system includes the necessary mechanical and electrical hardware, software, and velocity motion profile and physical characteristics of the product being inspected and detection and measurement of all particles, within a predetermined size and density range, contained in an injectable solution, in a transparent container as well as indicate the type of contaminating particle (based on density).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Duy A Tran whose telephone number is (571)272-4887. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm.
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, ONEAL R MISTRY can be reached at (313)-446-4912. 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.
/DUY TRAN/Examiner, Art Unit 2674
/ONEAL R MISTRY/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2674