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 .
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 28-32 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.
Regarding claim 28, the limitation “the first and second reagents” in line 9, there is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim because “the first and second reagents” have not been previously introduced in the claims.
Claims 29-32 are rejected for the same reason as depend from an independent claim 28.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-27 are allowed.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
a back end of line (BEOL) structure on the semiconductor substrate, the BEOL structure
including multiple microfluidic channels, each microfluidic channel including a flow control device configured to selectively permit and restrict flow of fluids; multiple fluid sensors including first and second fluid sensors in the BEOL structure; a main reaction reservoir on the BEOL structure configured to store a reagent, in which the reagent is operable to replicate a nucleic strand in a biological sample to cause a pH change, and the first fluid sensor is exposed in the main reaction reservoir; an auxiliary reservoir on the BEOL structure and coupled to the main reaction reservoir via a microfluid channel of the multiple microfluidic channels, in which the second fluid sensor is exposed in the auxiliary reaction reservoir; and a controller coupled to the first and second fluid sensors.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Pawlak et al. (US 2023/0288321) discloses optical…….sensor.
Steglich et al. (US 2020/0200972) discloses photonic……arrangement.
Clarke et al. (US 2019/0293692) discloses spark…gap……events.
Clarke et al. (US 2018/0088155) discloses electrical overstress detection device.
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DP
June 18, 2026
/DANIEL PREVIL/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2685
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