Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/429,804

SUBSTRATE SEALING CONFIGURATIONS AND METHODS

Final Rejection §103§112
Filed
Feb 01, 2024
Priority
Mar 08, 2023 — provisional 63/450,934
Examiner
HEALY, NOAH MICHAEL
Art Unit
3791
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Medtronic Minimed Inc.
OA Round
2 (Final)
67%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
11m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 67% — above average
67%
Career Allowance Rate
26 granted / 39 resolved
-3.3% vs TC avg
Strong +45% interview lift
Without
With
+44.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 4m
Avg Prosecution
45 currently pending
Career history
91
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
5.7%
-34.3% vs TC avg
§103
66.8%
+26.8% vs TC avg
§102
10.4%
-29.6% vs TC avg
§112
13.7%
-26.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 39 resolved cases

Office Action

§103 §112
DETAILED ACTION Applicant’s arguments, filed 04/13/2026, have been fully considered. The following rejections and/or objections are either reiterated or newly applied. They constitute the complete set presently being applied to the instant application. Claims 1-20 are pending and hereby under examination. 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 Interpretation The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(f): (f) Element in Claim for a Combination. – An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof. The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph: An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof. The claims in this application are given their broadest reasonable interpretation using the plain meaning of the claim language in light of the specification as it would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The broadest reasonable interpretation of a claim element (also commonly referred to as a claim limitation) is limited by the description in the specification when 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is invoked. As explained in MPEP § 2181, subsection I, claim limitations that meet the following three-prong test will be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph: (A) the claim limitation uses the term “means” or “step” or a term used as a substitute for “means” that is a generic placeholder (also called a nonce term or a non-structural term having no specific structural meaning) for performing the claimed function; (B) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is modified by functional language, typically, but not always linked by the transition word “for” (e.g., “means for”) or another linking word or phrase, such as “configured to” or “so that”; and (C) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is not modified by sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function. Use of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim with functional language creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites sufficient structure, material, or acts to entirely perform the recited function. Absence of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is not to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is not interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites function without reciting sufficient structure, material or acts to entirely perform the recited function. Claim limitations in this application that use the word “means” (or “step”) are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action. Conversely, claim limitations in this application that do not use the word “means” (or “step”) are not being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action. This application includes one or more claim limitations that do not use the word “means,” but are nonetheless being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, because the claim limitation(s) uses a generic placeholder that is coupled with functional language without reciting sufficient structure to perform the recited function and the generic placeholder is not preceded by a structural modifier. Such claim limitation(s) is/are: “seal structure” first recited in claim 1. The identified structure for the corresponding claim limitation is as follows: “seal structure” is identified as “the seal structure includes first and second O-rings” (Paragraph 0012) and “In other examples, other suitable seal members or material may be employed as an alternative to (or in addition to) the O-rings 22 and 24 including, but not limited to, other annular-shaped or non-annular seal members, flowable sealing materials, combinations thereof, or the like” (Paragraph 0063). Because this/these claim limitation(s) is/are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, it/they is/are being interpreted to cover the corresponding structure described in the specification as performing the claimed function, and equivalents thereof. If applicant does not intend to have this/these limitation(s) interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, applicant may: (1) amend the claim limitation(s) to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph (e.g., by reciting sufficient structure to perform the claimed function); or (2) present a sufficient showing that the claim limitation(s) recite(s) sufficient structure to perform the claimed function so as to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. 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. The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows: 1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art. 2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue. 3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art. 4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness. This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention. Claims 1-10 and 17-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Antonio (US 20210378560 – cited by Applicant), hereinafter ‘Antonio’ and Bond (US 20230167902). Regarding claims 1-4, Antonio discloses a sensor device comprising: a housing configured to be secured to a patient (paragraph 0073, “The adhesive patch 120 is coupled to the bottom housing portion 124 and affixes the bottom housing portion 124, and thus, the glucose sensor 114, to an anatomy, such as the skin of the user”); a seal structure located within the housing (Fig. 3, sealing members 116a/b; Paragraph 0068, “The sealing members 116a, 116b comprise O-rings”); and a sensor probe having at least one substrate supported by the housing (Fig. 3, glucose sensor 114; Paragraph 0002, thin film sensors), the substrate having a first length portion and a second length portion, the first length portion being external to the housing and configured to be inserted into the patient when the housing is secured to the patient (Paragraph 0066, “Generally, a distal end 114a of the glucose sensor 114 is cannulated and positionable in subcutaneous tissue of the user by an insertion needle of the sensor inserter 104 to measure the glucose oxidase enzyme”), the second length portion being in or on the housing and having a section that extends through the seal structure (Fig. 3, base 156 of glucose sensor 114; Fig. 5, wherein base 156 extends through sealing members 116a/b); wherein the section of the second length portion of the at least one substrate that extends through the seal structure has at least one side edge (Fig. 3, base 156 having side edges). Antonio fails to explicitly disclose wherein at least one edge, or two edges, has a tortuous edge pattern that enhances a seal effect of the seal structure at the section of the second length portion of the at least one substrate, and wherein the edge pattern comprises a wave pattern having a plurality of peaks and valleys. Bond teaches an improvement for sealing two mated surfaces through a gasket, wherein at least one sealing layer overlays onto a serrated region 110 containing a plurality of serrations 118 on either face of the gasket (Figs. 4A-E, wherein the serrations have peaks and valleys), the serrated region 110 being useful to provide an effective seal when the sealing layer is pressed into the serrations (Paragraph 0088). As Antonio is concerned with creating a seal about the glucose sensor by compressing the sealing member against the glucose sensor to inhibit fluids from entering the housing, Bond introduces a serrated region that a seal is compressed against to improve or provide a more efficient sealing effect (Paragraph 0013, “The sealing layer is arranged to overlay the serrations so that the sealing layer is compressible into the serrations in use so that a better seal is provided between the gasket and the mating surfaces”; Paragraph 0014, “The textured/rough surface may provide more efficient sealing when the sealing layer is compressed into the serrations”). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the base edge of the glucose sensor in Antonio to include the serrated pattern of Bond to provide a better seal between the surface and the sealing layer. Regarding claim 5, Antonio as modified further discloses wherein the seal structure comprises first and second O-rings centered on a central axis (Fig. 5, the central axis defined as the top of second angled surface 134a to the bottom of first angled surface 132a), the section of the second length portion of the substrate extends between the first and the second O-rings (Figs. 3 and 5, wherein base 156 sits between sealing elements 116a/b; Paragraph 0068, “The sealing members 116a, 116b comprise O-rings”); and PNG media_image1.png 431 570 media_image1.png Greyscale the at least one side edge is disposed along a plane that is perpendicular to the central axis of the first and second O-rings (see Fig. 5 of Antonio above, wherein the base 156 lays perpendicular to the sealing members 116a/b in the cross section of the diamond shaped cavity 136). Regarding claim 6, Antonio as modified further discloses wherein the housing comprises a base and a cover (Fig. 3, top housing portion 122 and bottom housing portion 124), and wherein the sensor device comprises a stacked arrangement including the first O-ring arranged on the base (Fig. 3, sealing member 116b on bottom housing portion 124), the section of the second length portion of the substrate arranged on the first O-ring (Fig. 3, glucose sensor 114 with base 156 arranged between sealing members 116a/b), the second O-ring arranged on the section of the second length portion of the substrate, and the cover arranged on the second O-ring (Fig. 3, sealing member 116a on base 156 and under top housing portion 112). Regarding claim 7, Antonio as modified further discloses wherein the housing includes a base and a cover, wherein the base has a first annular cavity in which the first O-ring resides, and the cover has a second annular cavity in which the second O-ring resides (Fig. 5, diamond shaped cavity 136 for sealing members 116a/b). Regarding claim 8, Antonio as modified further discloses wherein at least one of the first and second annular cavities has a cross-section shape that tapers from a narrower dimension toward a depth of a corresponding cavity, to a wider dimension toward an open side of the corresponding cavity to enhance compression of a corresponding O-ring residing therein, when the base and the cover are coupled together (Fig. 5, diamond shaped cavity 136 narrow at the top and bottom and widening towards the base 156). Regarding claim 9, Antonio as modified further discloses wherein each of the first and second annular cavities has a cross-section shape that tapers from a narrower dimension toward a depth of a corresponding cavity, to a wider dimension toward an open side of the corresponding cavity to enhance compression of the first and second O-rings, when the base and the cover are coupled together (Fig. 5, diamond shaped cavity 136 narrow at the top and bottom and widening towards the base 156). Regarding claim 10, Antonio as modified further discloses wherein the at least one substrate of the sensor probe comprises a first substrate having one or more electrical conductors or electrical components (Fig. 3, printed circuit board assembly 118 with PCB 164, magnet sensor 119, controller 162, and spring contacts in contact with glucose sensor 114; Paragraphs 0069-0070). Regarding claims 17-18, Antonio discloses a method of making a sensor device, the method comprising: providing a housing configured to be secured to a patient (paragraph 0073, “The adhesive patch 120 is coupled to the bottom housing portion 124 and affixes the bottom housing portion 124, and thus, the glucose sensor 114, to an anatomy, such as the skin of the user”); arranging a seal structure located within the housing (Fig. 3, sealing members 116a/b; Paragraph 0068, “The sealing members 116a, 116b comprise O-rings”); and supporting a sensor probe having at least one substrate supported by the housing (Fig. 3, glucose sensor 114; Paragraph 0002, thin film sensors), the substrate having a first length portion and a second length portion, the first length portion being external to the housing and configured to be inserted into the patient when the housing is secured to the patient (Paragraph 0066, “Generally, a distal end 114a of the glucose sensor 114 is cannulated and positionable in subcutaneous tissue of the user by an insertion needle of the sensor inserter 104 to measure the glucose oxidase enzyme”), the second length portion being in or on the housing and having a section that extends through the seal structure (Fig. 3, base 156 of glucose sensor 114; Fig. 5, wherein base 156 extends through sealing members 116a/b); wherein the section of the second length portion of the at least one substrate that extends through the seal structure has at least one side edge (Fig. 3, base 156 having side edges). Antonio fails to explicitly disclose wherein at least one edge has a tortuous edge pattern that enhances a seal effect of the seal structure at the section of the second length portion of the at least one substrate, and wherein the edge pattern comprises a wave pattern having a plurality of peaks and valleys. Bond teaches an improvement for sealing two mated surfaces through a gasket, wherein at least one sealing layer overlays onto a serrated region 110 containing a plurality of serrations 118 on either face of the gasket (Figs. 4A-E, wherein the serrations have peaks and valleys), the serrated region 110 being useful to provide an effective seal when the sealing layer is pressed into the serrations (Paragraph 0088). As Antonio is concerned with creating a seal about the glucose sensor by compressing the sealing member against the glucose sensor to inhibit fluids from entering the housing, Bond introduces a serrated region that a seal is compressed against to improve or provide a more efficient sealing effect (Paragraph 0013, “The sealing layer is arranged to overlay the serrations so that the sealing layer is compressible into the serrations in use so that a better seal is provided between the gasket and the mating surfaces”; Paragraph 0014, “The textured/rough surface may provide more efficient sealing when the sealing layer is compressed into the serrations”). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the base edge of the glucose sensor in Antonio to include the serrated pattern of Bond to provide a better seal between the surface and the sealing layer. Regarding claim 19, Antonio as modified further discloses wherein arranging a seal structure within the housing comprises: arranging a first O-ring on a base of the housing, the first O-ring having a central opening (Fig. 3, sealing member 116b on bottom housing portion 124); arranging a portion of the at least one substrate to extend through the central opening in the first O-ring (Fig. 3, glucose sensor 114 with base 156 arranged between sealing members 116a/b); arranging a second O-ring on the first O-ring, with a central opening of the second O-ring in alignment with the central opening first O-ring (Fig. 5, sealing members 116a/b arranged on each other and aligned with central opening); and extending a section of a second portion of the at least one substrate between the first O-ring and the second O-ring (Fig. 5, glucose sensor with distal end 114a within sealing member 116b and base 156 between sealing members 116a/b). Regarding claim 20, Antonio as modified further discloses wherein: the housing includes a base and a cover configured to couple together; arranging the first O-ring comprises locating the first O-ring in a first annular cavity in the base; arranging the second O-ring comprises locating the second O-ring in a second annular cavity in the cover (Fig. 5, sealing members 116a/b within diamond shaped cavity 136); and at least one of the first and second annular cavities has a cross-section shape that tapers from a narrower dimension toward a depth of a corresponding cavity, to a wider dimension toward an open side of the corresponding cavity to enhance compression of the corresponding O-ring residing therein, when the base and the cover are coupled together (Fig. 5, diamond shaped cavity 136 tapered from narrow ends spaced away from base 156 and widens toward base 156). Claims 11-13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Antonio and Bond as applied to claim 10 above, and further in view of Antonio (US 20170290533 – cited by Applicant), hereinafter “Antonio 2017”, and Hsu (US 20160045158). Regarding claims 11 and 13, Antonio in combination with Bond discloses the sensor probe as described above. Antonio as modified fails to disclose wherein the probe contains a second substrate and wherein the second substrate has a coating of a drug or treatment substance on one side. Antonio 2017 teaches an analogous insertion device, with a sensor and sealing members (Fig. 4), wherein the probe contains a second substrate (Figs. 69A-B, first sensor 6940 and second sensor 6944; Figs. 79, first sensor 7940 and second sensor 7944). A particular known technique was recognized as part of the ordinary capabilities of one skilled in the art. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated in applying this known technique of having two sensors of Antonio 2017 to the known device of Antonio as modified that was ready for improvement and the results would have been predictable to one of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Antonio and Bond to incorporate the teachings of Antonio 2017 and the results of having two sensors would have been predictable to one of ordinary skill in the art. Hsu is in the same field of a measurement device for monitoring biomarkers a subject (Abstract), wherein a surface of a transdermal sensor is coated with a therapeutic agent (Paragraph 0019) on the contact surface (Paragraph 0025, which Examiner interprets that only one side is coated) which is useful for passive/active transdermal drug delivery (Paragraph 0019). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Antonio, Bond, and Antonio 2017 to incorporate the therapeutic agent coating of Hsu for passive/active transdermal drug delivery. Regarding claim 12, Antonio as modified fails to explicitly disclose wherein the second substrate has a mark or other indicia that identifies the one side provided with the coating of the drug or treatment substance. However, Antonio 2017 teaches an insertion device wherein visual markings are applied on the insertion device (Figs. 47A-B, markings 4716/4718). A particular known technique of applying a visual marking to convey a message was recognized as part of the ordinary capabilities of one skilled in the art. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to apply this known technique of using a marking to convey a message of Antonio 2017 to the known device of Antonio, Bond, and Hsu that was ready for improvement and the results of indicating a drug-coated side of a substrate would have been predictable to one of ordinary skill in the art. Claims 14-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Antonio (US 20210378560 – cited by Applicant), Bond (US 20230167902), and Van Antwerp (US 7468033 – cited by Applicant). Regarding claims 14-16, Antonio discloses an electronics substrate comprising: a body of a sensor having one or more electrically conductive members or electrical components supported thereon (Fig. 3, glucose sensor 114; Fig. 3, printed circuit board assembly 118 with PCB 164, magnet sensor 119, controller 162, and spring contacts in contact with glucose sensor 114; Paragraphs 0069-0070), the body having a length portion having a section configured to extend through a seal structure (Fig. 5, base 156 of sensor 114 passing through seal members 116a/b); Regarding the claim limitations of claims 14-16, while Antonio discloses a thin film sensor (Paragraph 0002), Antonio fails to explicitly disclose a body of electrically insulating material. Antonio also fails to disclose a section of the length portion of the sensor having at least one side edge having an undulating edge pattern, and the undulating edge pattern comprises a wave pattern having a plurality of peaks and valleys. However, Van Antwerp discloses an insulating layer on the sensor apparatus which is used to protect a portion of the sensor (Col 10, lines 50-62). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the thin film sensor of Antonio to include an electrically insulating layer of Van Antwerp to protect a portion of the sensor. Bond teaches a gasket for sealing two mated surfaces, wherein at least one sealing layer overlays onto a serrated region 110 containing a plurality of serrations 118 on either face (Figs. 4A-E, wherein the serrations have peaks and valleys), which is useful to provide an effective seal when the sealing layer is pressed into the serrations (Paragraph 0088). As Antonio is concerned with creating a seal about the glucose sensor by compressing the sealing member against the glucose sensor to inhibit fluids from entering the housing, Bond introduces a serrated region that a seal is compressed against to improve a sealing effect. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the base edge of the glucose sensor in the combination of Antonio and Van Antwerp to include the serrated pattern of Bond to provide a more effective seal of the sealing layer. Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments, see page 8, filed 04/13/2026, with respect to the drawings objection have been fully considered and are persuasive. Applicant has amended the specification to remove the second recitation of the reference character ‘22’. The objection of the drawings has been withdrawn. Applicant’s arguments, see page 8, filed 04/13/2026, with respect to the claim objection have been fully considered and are persuasive. Applicant has amended claim 19 per the suggestion of the Examiner. The objection of the claim has been withdrawn. The Examiner acknowledges Applicant pointing to other non-limiting examples of the “seal structure” interpreted under 35 U.S.C. §112(f). The 112(f) invocation has been updated accordingly. Applicant's arguments, see pages 9-13, filed 04/13/2026, with respect to the 35 U.S.C. §103 rejections have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicant argues that Bond does not disclose, teach, or suggest a serrated edge; rather, Bond discloses a serrated region on a face. However, the combination of Antonio and Bond discloses a base edge of the glucose sensor of Antonio comprising a serrated pattern as taught by Bond. Bond teaches an improvement in providing an effective seal by applying serrations that compress against a sealing member. The “textured/rough surface may provide more efficient sealing when the sealing layer is compressed into the serrations” (Paragraph 0014 of Bond). Thus, one of ordinary skill would recognize that modifying Antonio’s base of the glucose sensor to incorporate the serrated pattern as taught by Bond to provide a more effective seal in the sensor would be beneficial to prevent liquid from entering the housing in a more efficient manner. That is, the base edge of Antonio is modified by the serrated pattern taught by Bond to comprised a serrated pattern on the base edge. Applicant further argues that the cited references do not disclose, teach, or suggest wherein the at least one side edge is disposed along a plane that is perpendicular to the central axis of the first and second O-rings. Examiner disagrees. As stated above, Bond teaches an improvement in providing a seal through a serrated pattern, and the base edge of Antonio is modified to incorporate this serrated pattern. Thus, the base 156 of Antonio modified by Bond would already be disposed along a plane that is perpendicular to the sealing members 116a/b disposed in the cross section of the diamond shaped cavity 136 (see Fig. 5 of Antonio below). PNG media_image1.png 431 570 media_image1.png Greyscale Thus, Antonio in view of Bond read on the claimed limitations of an edge having a tortuous edge pattern, and the at least one side edge is disposed along a plane that is perpendicular to the central axis of the first and second O-rings. The rejections above have been modified to reflect the amendments to the claims. Conclusion THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NOAH MICHAEL HEALY whose telephone number is (703)756-5534. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 8:30am - 5:30pm ET. 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, Jason Sims can be reached at (571)272-7540. 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. /NOAH M HEALY/Examiner, Art Unit 3791 /JASON M SIMS/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3791
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Prosecution Timeline

Feb 01, 2024
Application Filed
Feb 18, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103, §112
Apr 13, 2026
Response Filed
Jun 01, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §103, §112
Jun 25, 2026
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Jun 29, 2026
Examiner Interview Summary

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
67%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+44.8%)
3y 4m (~11m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
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