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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Species A in the reply filed on November 19, 2025 is acknowledged.
Claim Objections
Claim 19 is objected to because of the following informalities: Claim 19 recites “a state” in line 10, which should read “the state” in order to provide proper antecedence. Appropriate correction is required.
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 1-19 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.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "each of a plurality of target tissue loads” in line 15, which lacks antecedent basis in light of the recitation of “a simulated tissue load” in line 2 of the claim. It is not clear if or how these recited tissue loads are connected. It seems that the limitation in line 15 is connected to the state of each of the first plurality of relays, however this is not recited in the claim language.
Claim 11 recites the limitation "each of a plurality of target tissue loads" in line 10, which lacks antecedent basis in light of the recitation of “a simulated tissue load” in lines 2-3 of the claim. It is not clear if or how these recited tissue loads are connected. It seems that the limitation in line 10 is connected to the state of each of the first plurality of relays, however this is not recited in the claim language.
Claim 19 recites the limitation "each of a plurality of target tissue loads" in line 5, which lacks antecedent basis in light of the recitation of “a simulated tissue load” in line 3 of the claim. It is not clear if or how these recited tissue loads are connected.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure: U.S. Patent 9,192,425 and U.S. Patent 5,540,722.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SAMANTHA M GOOD whose telephone number is (571)270-7480. The examiner can normally be reached Mon to Wed, 7am to 3pm.
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/SAMANTHA M GOOD/Examiner, Art Unit 3794
/MICHAEL F PEFFLEY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3794