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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 11/06/2025 has been entered.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1, 16, 17, 19-22, 23, 24-28 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Akeel et al. (2015/0057675).
Akeel discloses a system (figures 1-5) for performing dental surgery on a subject, the system comprising: a central processing unit (e.g. generic computer) that controls automated operation of the system (fig. 2); a display (e.g. 15) coupled to the central processing unit,
a robotic arm (e.g. 17) in communication with the central processing unit, the robot arm including an end effector (e.g. drill, milling tools, etc., see 18, 25) for performing dental surgery; and
a memory (e.g. 20) communicatively coupled to the central processing unit and storing instructions that, when executed by the central processing unit, cause the central processing unit to: render, on the display, a user interface and an image of a target tooth that requires a surgical intervention receive, from a user, via the user interface, an instruction for providing the surgical intervention, including at least one shape parameter, wherein each shape parameter defines a respective aspect of a prepared shape for the target tooth (figures 2, 3, 5), including cutting, shaping, milling tooth encompasses occlusal reduction and axial reduction as part of the procedure,
automatically determine, based on the at least one shape parameter, a movement plan for the robotic arm, according to which the robotic arm removes one or more portions of the target tooth ([0050], [0058], [0060]), so that the target tooth has the prepared shape, at least a portion of which mates with an inner surface of a restoration to be affixed to the target tooth ([0010],[0015]; and control the robotic arm to perform the movement plan (e.g. procedure is controlled via the arm).
Regarding claim 16, Akeel discloses shape parameter including taper angle and/or margin placement as part of the dental milling, shaping, cutting of the tooth for dental restoration ([0016]).
Regarding claim 17, the system determines suitable values for shape parameter and indicate the values on the display or user interface ([0011], [0058], [0060]).
Regarding claims 19-21, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, see a restoration forming station 14 as claimed (fig. 1) and shape of a restoration is based on the movement plan for the robotic arm 17 ([0097]) and the shape is determined based on prepared tooth including inner surfaces ([0097]) and shape parameters is received on the graphical user selection and selection made on the image of the tooth ([0060], [0071]).
Regarding claim 22, Akeel discloses a system (figures 1-5) for performing dental surgery on a subject, the system comprising: a central processing unit (e.g. generic computer) that controls automated operation of the system (fig. 2); a display (e.g. 15) coupled to the central processing unit,
a robotic arm (e.g. 17) in communication with the central processing unit, the robot arm including an end effector (e.g. drill, milling tools, etc., see 18, 25) for performing dental surgery; and
a memory (e.g. 20) communicatively coupled to the central processing unit and storing instructions that, when executed by the central processing unit, cause the central processing unit to: render, on the display, a user interface and an image of a target tooth that requires a surgical intervention receive, from a user, via the user interface, an instruction for providing the surgical intervention, including at least one shape parameter, wherein each shape parameter defines a respective aspect of a prepared shape for the target tooth (figures 2, 3, 5), including cutting, shaping, milling tooth encompasses occlusal reduction and axial reduction as part of the procedure,
automatically determine, based on the at least one restoration (e.g. crown) parameter, a movement plan for the robotic arm, according to which the robotic arm removes one or more portions of the target tooth ([0050], [0058], [0060]), so that the target tooth has the prepared shape, at least a portion of which mates with an inner surface of a restoration to be affixed to the target tooth ([0010],[0015]; and control the robotic arm to perform the movement plan (e.g. procedure is controlled via the arm).
Regarding claim 23 the at least one restoration characteristic of the restoration comprises at least one of: a shape of an outer surface of the restoration, a material for the restoration, or a minimum thickness for the restoration ([0097]).
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Examiner Patel Yogesh whose telephone number is (571) 270-3646. The examiner can normally be reached between 9 AM – 5:30 PM on Monday, Thursday and Friday.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, please contact the examiner’s supervisor, SPE Eric Rosen, at (571) 270-7855.
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/YOGESH P PATEL/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3772