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 .
Response to Amendment
This office action is responsive to the amendment filed on 12/29/2025. As directed by the amendment: claims 1-15 have been amended. Thus, claims 1-15 are presently pending in this application.
Claim Objections
Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: line 9-10 recites “an upper chamber of the ligating clip” which should be “an upper chamber for the ligating clip”. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: line 13-14 recites “an lower holding chamber of the ligating clip” which should be “an lower holding chamber for the ligating clip”. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: line 23 recites “the relative movement” which should be “. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claims 1-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
Claim 1 recites “a snap-fit structure comprising protrusions configured to connect with recess slots is arranged between the upper cartridge assembly and the lower cartridge assembly”. The specification does not disclose a snap-fit structure between the upper cartridge assembly and the lower cartridge assembly. While the drawings do show protrusions, they do not show where the protrusions sit into or the type of connection they provide. Thus, this limitation is considered new matter and appropriate correction is required.
Claim 3 recites “a top side snap-fit structure comprising protrusions configured to connect with recess slots”. The specification does not disclose a top side snap-fit structure. While the drawings do show protrusions, they do not show where the protrusions sit into or the type of connection they provide. Thus, this limitation is considered new matter and appropriate correction is required.
Claim 4 recites “middle upper snap-fit structure comprising protrusions configured to connect with recess slots”. The specification does not disclose a middle upper snap-fit structure. While the drawings do show protrusions, they do not show where the protrusions sit into or the type of connection they provide. Thus, this limitation is considered new matter and appropriate correction is required.
Claims 7-11 recite “the cartridge sleeve comprises a snap-fit structure comprising protrusions configured to connect with recess slots”. The specification does not disclose a snap-fit structure of the cartridge sleeve. While the drawings do show protrusions, they do not show where the protrusions sit into or the type of connection they provide. Thus, this limitation is considered new matter and appropriate correction is required.
Claims 12 recites “one side of a cover plate is hinged with a snap-fit structure comprising protrusions configured to connect with recess slots”. The specification does not disclose one side of a cover plate is hinged with a snap-fit structure comprising protrusions configured to connect with recess slots. While the drawings do show protrusions, they do not show where the protrusions sit into or the type of connection they provide. Thus, this limitation is considered new matter and appropriate correction is required.
Claims 13 recites “a direct snap is formed between a cover plate and a snap-fit structure comprising protrusions configured to connect with recess slots”. The specification does not disclose a direct snap is formed between a cover plate and a snap-fit structure comprising protrusions configured to connect with recess slots. While the drawings do show protrusions, they do not show where the protrusions sit into or the type of connection they provide. Thus, this limitation is considered new matter and appropriate correction is required.
Response to Arguments
The Office notes that the claims are not indicated as allowable because they are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a).
Applicant’s arguments, see pg. 1, filed 12/29/2025, with respect to the claim objections and rejections under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) have been fully considered and are persuasive. The claim objections and rejections under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) have been withdrawn.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
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/KATHERINE H SCHWIKER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3771