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 1-20 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.
Claims 1, 18 and 20 claim: “first pattern connection portions that connect the one end side apexes and the connection linear portions located closer to one end side than the one end side apexes” is supported but not understood.
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Referring to figure 4, the first pattern connection portions 3 that connect the one end side apexes 25 and the connection linear portions 23 located closer to one end side –apex-- than the –other--
Claims 1, 18 and 20 claim: “second pattern connection portions that connect the connection linear portions and the connection linear portions located closer to the other end side than the connection linear portions” is supported in the specification but is not understood.
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Referring to figure 6, “second pattern connection portions 4 that connect the connection linear portions 23 and the connection linear portions 23 located closer to the other end side than the connection linear portions” is supported in the specification but is not understood.
The examiner believes that this language is trying to claim the connection linear portions 23 are connected closer to adjacent sides of the connection linear portions than opposite end sides of the connection linear portions.
Claims 1, 18 and 20 claim, “third pattern connection portions 5 that connect the other end side apexes 26 and the connection linear portions 23 located closer to the other end side than the other end side apexes” which is supported in the specification but is not understood.
Referring to figure 4 above, the examiner believes the following is correct: third pattern connection portions 5 that connect the other end side apexes 26 and the connection linear portions 23 located closer to the one end side apexes 25 than the other end side apexes 26.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-20 may be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The prior art fails to teach a stent comprising claim limitations of claims 1, 18 and 18 including the combination of the first pattern connection portions, second pattern connection portions, third pattern connection portion and fourth pattern connection portions as interpreted by the examiner above. The examiner reserves the right to reject the claims under an art rejection(s) upon clarification.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure: Tanabe (20230404781), Hebert (20150127083), Mitelberg (7311726), Prabhu (20070239251).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BRUCE EDWARD SNOW whose telephone number is (571)272-4759. The examiner can normally be reached 7:30 am - 5:00 pm Monday through Thursday.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Melanie Tyson can be reached at 5712729062. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/BRUCE E SNOW/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3774