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 .
Status of Claims
The claim set submitted on 14 FEBRUARY 2024 is acknowledged and considered. In the claim set, Claims 1-3 are presented and are considered on the merits below.
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
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.
Claim 1 is 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.
In Claim 1, line 10, the claim recites ‘obtaining the fact’. It unclear to the Examiner how to ‘obtaining the fact’ is to be obtained. It is unclear to the Examiner what ‘obtaining the fact’ is supposed to be doing. Furthermore, it is unclear how this ‘obtaining’ is to be conducted? Is it thorough a visual verification, a mental steps, a pen and paper, just reading data?
In Claim 1, in the ‘establishing’ steps, there is a working curve that is generated. However, it is unclear to the Examiner how in a step of ‘establishing a working curve’, and then looking at a linear relationship; how is then a quantitative detection of the hydroquinone determine?
Establish a working curve is just that, only a curve is generated. How is one to relate a curve to a quantitative amount. Is there a calculating steps occurring? Furthermore, how is one to determine from a concentration of hydroquinone in the CAT clock reaction system to then determine a quantitative amount?
Furthermore, what is meant by ‘achieving’ ? Is what is being performed in the ‘establishing’ step, an ‘achieving’ step is automatically done/performed?
Dependent claims follow the same reasoning.
Pertinent Prior Art
JP 2007006880 A to FUJI discloses a method for measuring an enzyme, capable of giving a result on the spot, without requiring a waiting time due to an induction period, capable of continuously collecting and measuring a sample, and capable of following a change of a concentration of the enzyme in the sample with the lapse of time, and to provide an apparatus for measuring the same. The method for measuring the enzyme comprises utilizing autocatalytic reaction in which the enzyme acts as a catalyst and calculating an amount of the enzyme contained in a sample solution based on a time by which the reaction has rapidly proceeded, wherein the sample solution is mixed with a reagent participating in the autocatalytic reaction, so as to form a mixed solution, the mixed solution is poured into a channel at a prescribed flow rate, the autocatalytic reaction is made to arise in the channel, and the amount of the enzyme contained in the sample solution is calculated based on a state of a change of a color developed in the channel in accordance with the autocatalytic reaction. There is not mention of hydroquinone or the specific CAT clock.
CN 113219024 A to ANHUI discloses a method for quantitatively detecting NaClO 4 , which is characterized in that: using a pH clock reaction system of "HCHO-NaHSO 3 -Na 2 SO 3 " as a detection solution, according to the different responses of the system to different concentrations of NaClO 4 , the induction Differences in time enable quantitative analysis of NaClO4 . The quantitative analysis method for NaClO 4 involved in the present invention has the characteristics of high accuracy, easy operation, convenience and quickness, and the like. While there is a mention of a clock system, the reference is silent in regards to hydroquinone and the specific clock in ANHUI is different than what is claimed. It would be non-sensical to merely choose the CAT clock in the instant invention to be used in the ANHUI reference as they are directed to detection of a different target.
CN 114923750 A to ANHUI UNIVERSITY teaches the same pH clock reaction system of "HCHO-NaHSO 3 -Na 2 SO 3 " as a detection solution but for the detection of manganous chloride.
J. Chem. Educ. 2019, 96, 4, 812–818 to LIMPANUPARB discloses a quantitative determination of compounds using clock system. This reference is merely a background on what clock system do, what they are made of and how they work.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHRISTINE T MUI whose telephone number is (571)270-3243. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th 5:30 -15:30 EST.
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CTM
/CHRISTINE T MUI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1797
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