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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 07/21/2026 has been entered.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claims 1-8 and 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yang et al. US 20190187227 A1 (hereinafter referred to as Yang) in view of Crystal US 2005/0040991 A1.
Regarding claim 1, Yang discloses a coil unit of an MRI apparatus (fig. 1, MRI apparatus 100, par. [0017]), comprising: (fig. 6, two channels CH1 6501 and CH2 6502 to simplify illustration of the techniques disclosed herein, in real situations the coil can have a significant number of channels, i.e., the coil may have multiple rows and columns of coil element, the farthest channel element will cross multiple elements to reach the composite cable joint point, par. [0028]),(fig. 7, MRI RF antenna system 700, an example multiple-channel coil array, par. [0029]), a plurality of coil elements arranged in a two-dimensional direction (fig. 9, MRI, par. [0031]) wiring line (fig. 7, shields of both coax cables (for CH1 7501 and CH2 7502) are shorted together so that they can act as one conductor for the channel element of CH3 7503, par. [0029]) connected to each coil element and configured to transmit a signal or electricity (fig. 7, MRI RF antenna system 700, two coax cables in the lower side of CH3 7503, carrying the CH1 7501 and CH2 7502 signals within, while their shields are used for the coil element of CH37503. Thus, the shields of both coax cables (for CH1 7501 and CH2 7502) are shorted together so that they can act as one conductor for the channel element of CH3 7503, par. [0029]); and baluns provided at a plurality of positions of the wiring line (fig. 7, a first balun 7521 between CH1 7501 and CH2 7502, and a second balun 7522 between CH2 7502 and CH3 7503, to third balun, par. [0029]), wherein at least a part of the wiring line runs from one end toward the other end in an arrangement direction of the coil elements while being folded back in a direction oblique to the arrangement direction (fig. 7, from one coil to the next, that the wiring line must bent to enable it to be "signal cable hidden inside the coil element 5501 such that the coax cable cannot be “seen” by the coil element because the in and return signals have same magnitude and 180 degree phase difference”, par. [0026] around the next coil).
Yang does not disclose the wiring line extends physically in a zigzag manner, orientations of the wiring line on both sides of the baluns being not parallel to each other.
Crystal discloses the wiring line (fig. 9, 11, coaxial line 20, par. [0077]) extends physically in a zigzag manner (see fig. 9, coaxial line 20, par. [0077]), orientations of the wiring line on both sides of the baluns (fig. 9, 25, feedpoint unit 41 utilizes a balanced to unbalanced balun matching transformer 86, par. [0061]) being not parallel to each other (see fig. 9).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide an active radiating antenna system the coaxial radiating element is bent, meandered, serpentined, spiralled, conformed, or helixed to provide desirable shapes for the antenna system requirements, as taught in Crystal in modifying the apparatus of Yang. The motivation would be the effect of the shaping of the element includes providing eliptical or circular polarization, multiple polarization of the electromagnetic field and radio waves. Other beneficial effects include conforming to the shape needed to fit within a given physical area, while maintaining a certain length of radiating element for efficient radiation properties at certain frequencies (see Crystal: par. [0077]).
Regarding claim 2, Yang and Crystal discloses the coil unit according to claim 1, Yang discloses wherein at least a part of the baluns is disposed at a folding-back point of the wiring line (see fig. 7, the baluns are placed where the wiring line bends).
Regarding claim 3, Yang and Crystal discloses the coil unit according to claim 1, Yang discloses wherein at least a part of the baluns is disposed between a folding-back point and a next folding-back point of the wiring line (see fig. 7, the baluns are placed between two bends).
Regarding claim 4, Yang and Crystal discloses the coil unit according to claim 1, Yang discloses wherein at least one balun is disposed on a wiring line between one folding-back point and a next folding-back point (see fig. 7, the baluns are placed between two bends).
Regarding claim 5, Yang and Crystal discloses the coil unit according to claim 1, Yang discloses further comprising: a connecting part configured to connect the wiring line to a cable of an MRI apparatus (fig. 2, for each channel CH1 (2501 )-CH9 (2509) to connect to the composite cable 253 to the MRI system, par. [0023]).
Yang and Crystal do not disclose wherein the connecting part is provided at an end part of an arrangement of the coil elements in a longitudinal direction. However these limitations connecting part provided at an end part of an arrangement of the coil elements in a longitudinal direction, absent any criticality, is only considered to be an obvious choice of for the arrangement of the coil elements in a longitudinal direction being connected to the connecting part provided at an end part of an arrangement
of the coil elements. Since it appears to the examiner that the choice of direction of the coils being attached to the connecting part is nothing more than one of numerous directions and arrangement that a person having ordinary skill in the art will find obvious to provide. In this case to provide convenient placement of connecting parts.
Regarding claim 6, Yang and Crystal discloses the coil unit according to claim 1, Yang discloses further comprising: a connecting part configured to connect the wiring line to a cable of an MRI apparatus (fig. 2, for each channel CH1 (2501 )-CH9 (2509) to connect to the composite cable 253 to the MRI system, par. [0023]), wherein the connecting part is provided at an end part of an arrangement of the coil elements in a lateral direction.
Yang does not disclose wherein the connecting part is provided at an end part of an arrangement of the coil elements in a lateral direction. However connecting part provided at an end part of an arrangement of the coil elements in a lateral direction, absent any criticality, is only considered to be an obvious choice of for the arrangement of the coil elements in a lateral direction being connected to the connecting part provided at an end part of an arrangement of the coil elements. Since it appears to the examiner that the choice of direction of the coils being attached to the connecting part is nothing more than one of numerous directions and arrangement that a person having ordinary skill in the art will find obvious to provide. In this case to provide convenient placement of connecting parts.
Regarding claim 7, Yang and Crystal discloses the claimed invention except for the length of the wiring line to one folding-back point and a length of the wiring line to the other folding-back point are different from each other with the balun interposed therebetween, However the length of the wiring line to one folding-back point and a length of the wiring line to the other folding-back point are different from each other with the balun, absent any criticality, is only considered to be an obvious choice of for the different length of the wiring line. Since applicant has not disclosed that the different length of the wiring line interposed between baluns solves any stated problem or is for any particular purpose and it appears that the invention would perform equally well with length of the wiring line interposed between baluns that are equal in length also.
Regarding claim 8, Yang and Crystal discloses the claimed invention except for wherein a distance between adjacent folding-back points of the wiring line is 1/16 or less of a wavelength of a high-frequency signal transmitted and received by an MRI apparatus. However, to choose a distance between adjacent folding-back points of the wiring line is 1/16 or less of a wavelength of a high-frequency signal transmitted and received, absent any criticality, is only considered to be the “optimum” value of the maximum distance between adjacent folding-back points of the wiring line, as stated above, that a person having ordinary skill in the art would have been able to determine using routine experimentation based, among other things, on the desired accuracy and since it has been held that discovering an optimum value of a result effective variable involves only routine skill in the art. See In re Boesch, 205 USPQ 215 (CCPA 1980) and MPEP 2144.04 and 2144.05.
Regarding claim 15, Yang and Crystal discloses a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus (fig. 1, MRI apparatus 100, par. [0017]-[0022]) comprising: an RF transmission coil (fig. 1, RF antennas 150, par. [0019]) configured to generate a high-frequency magnetic field in an imaging space (fig. 1, object space, par. [0017]) in which a static magnetic field (fig. 1, RF antennas 150, par. [0019]) is formed; and an RF reception coil (fig. 1, basic field magnet(s) 110, par. [0017]) configured to receive a nuclear magnetic resonance signal (fig. 1, magnetic resonance signals received from the set of RF antennas 150 can be employed to generate an image, par. [0020]) generated from a subject placed on the imaging space, wherein the RF reception coil includes the coil unit (fig. 7, MRI RF antenna system 700, an example multiple-channel coil array, par. [0029]) according to claim 1.
Claims 9-14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yang in view of Crystal as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Otake et al. US 2011/0267062 A1 (hereinafter referred to as Otake).
Regarding claim 9, Yang and Crystal the coil unit according to claim 1, Yang and Crystal do not disclose the wherein the balun is a parallel resonance circuit, and a resonance frequency is f0 ± 10% in a case where a reference frequency of an MRI apparatus is denoted by f0.
Otake discloses balun is a parallel resonance circuit (fig. 6b, balun 118, par. [0072]), and a resonance frequency is f0 ± 10% in a case where a reference frequency of an MRI apparatus is denoted by f0 (par. [0072]),.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide technique for maintaining a function for effectively blocking common mode noise, even in the case where unbalance occurs, as taught in Otake in modifying the apparatus of Yang and Crystal. The motivation would be to improve the performance of the RF coil, even when unbalance occurs in the characteristic impedance of the coaxial cable in the MRI apparatus (see Otake: par. [0019]).
Regarding claim 10, Yang and Crystal discloses the coil unit according to claim 1, Yang and Crystal do not disclose wherein the balun includes a balun composed of a solenoid coil or a figure-eight-shaped coil formed of a shield line of the wiring line and a capacitor connected in parallel to both ends of the solenoid coil or the figure-eight-shaped coil.
Otake discloses the balun includes a balun composed of a solenoid coil or a figure-eight-shaped coil (fig. 8b, figure-eight type balun 118B, par. [0106]-[0110]) formed of a shield line of the wiring line (fig. 8b, coaxial cable 10, par. [0106]) and a capacitor (fig. 8b, capacitor 341, par. [0107]) connected in parallel to both ends of the solenoid coil or the figure-eight-shaped coil (see fig. 8).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide shape of figure eight balun as taught in Otake in modifying the apparatus of Yang and Crystal. The motivation would be to improve the performance of the RF coil, even when unbalance occurs in the characteristic impedance of the coaxial cable in the MRI apparatus and to reduce magnetic turbulence, thereby enhancing the performance of the RF coil (see Otake: par. [0106]-[0110]).
Regarding claim 11, Yang, Crystal and Otake discloses the coil unit according to claim 10, Otake discloses wherein the balun includes a balun composed of a solenoid coil or a figure-eight-shaped coil (fig. 8b, figure-eight type balun 118B, par. [0106]-[0110]) formed of the wiring line (fig. 8b, coaxial cable 10, par. [0106]) connected to the coil elements and a capacitor connected in parallel to both ends of the solenoid coil or the figure-eight-shaped coil (fig. 8b, capacitor 341, par. [0107]).
The references are combined for the same reason already applied in the rejection of claim 9.
Regarding claim 12, Yang and Crystal discloses the coil unit according to claim 1, Yang and Crystal do not disclose wherein the balun is an LC circuit connected in series to the wiring line.
Otake discloses the balun is an LC circuit (fig. 6a, parallel circuit 400, par. [0069]) connected in series to the wiring line (fig. 6a, coaxial cable 10, par. [0069]).
The references are combined for the same reason already applied in the rejection of claim 9.
Regarding claim 13, Yang and Crystal discloses the coil unit according to claim 1, Yang and Crystal do not disclose wherein the balun is a clamp-type balun mounted on an outer periphery of the wiring line.
Otake discloses wherein the balun is a clamp-type balun (fig. 3, elm. 300, par. [0055]) mounted on an outer periphery of the wiring line (fig. 3, connected in parallel to the outer conductors 12 at both ends of the coaxial cable 10, par. [0055]).
The references are combined for the same reason already applied in the rejection of claim 9.
Regarding claim 14, Yang, Crystal and Otake discloses the coil unit according to claim 13, wherein Otake discloses the clamp-type balun (fig. 7, balun 7523, par. [0029]) is mounted at a mounting Yang discloses position in the wiring line to include a plurality of the wiring lines (fig. 7, MRI RF antenna system 700, an example multiple-channel coil array, par. [0029]), connected to the coil elements (fig. 7, coax cables (for CH1 7501 and CH2 7502 channel element of CH3 7503, par. [0029]).
The references are combined for the same reason already applied in the rejection of claim 9.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to COURTNEY G MCDONNOUGH whose telephone number is (571)272-6552. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8 am-5 pm.
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/COURTNEY G MCDONNOUGH/Examiner, Art Unit 2858
/FARHANA A HOQUE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2858
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