Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 14, 2026
Application No. 18/497,939

Oximeter with Quality Metric Indication

Final Rejection §112
Filed
Oct 30, 2023
Priority
Jan 10, 2020 — provisional 62/959,808 +1 more
Examiner
MUSTANSIR, ABID A
Art Unit
3791
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
ViOptix Inc.
OA Round
3 (Final)
78%
Grant Probability
Favorable
4-5
OA Rounds
2m
Est. Remaining
90%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 78% — above average
78%
Career Allowance Rate
364 granted / 465 resolved
+8.3% vs TC avg
Moderate +12% lift
Without
With
+11.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 11m
Avg Prosecution
22 currently pending
Career history
513
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
6.8%
-33.2% vs TC avg
§103
42.2%
+2.2% vs TC avg
§102
24.2%
-15.8% vs TC avg
§112
21.0%
-19.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 465 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
DETAILED ACTION The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . Response to Amendment The action is in response to amendments filed on 03/03/2026. Claims 3 have been amended. Claims 18-20 have been cancelled. Claims 24-33 are new. Claims 1-17, 21-33 are pending and examined below. Claim Objections Claims 7-8, 11, 30-31 are objected to because of the following informalities: Regarding claims 7 and 8, the term “the oximetry value” lacks antecedent basis. Regarding claim 11, the limitation “wherein the using a sensor of the oximeter device to detect a movement comprises detecting a frequency of the movement, and the adjusted quality metric value is adjusted in proportion the frequency” should be changed to “wherein the using a sensor of the oximeter device to detect a movement comprises detecting a frequency of the movement, and the adjusted quality metric value is adjusted in proportion to the frequency”. Regarding claims 30 and 31 “the first tissue” should be changed to “the tissue” for antecedent basis consistency. 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. Claim 23-28, and claims dependent thereof, 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. Regarding claims 23-28, the claims all recite “the method of claim 1”. However, claim 1 is a system/apparatus claim. As such the claim is indefinite. Regarding claim 32, the claim depends on claim 9, but recites terms such as “the first tissue”, “the oxygen saturation value”, “the display”, and “the displayed oxygen saturation value” which lack antecedent basis and seem to be derived from claim 1 which is a separate apparatus claim. As such claim 32 is indefinite. Regarding claim 33, the claim depends on claim 9, but recites terms such as “the first tissue”, “the first location”, “the light source”, “the detector”, “the response” which all lack antecedent basis. As such the claim is indefinite. Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments, filed 03/03/2026, with respect to the 35 USC 101 rejections have been fully considered and are persuasive. The 35 USC 101 rejections have been withdrawn. 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. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ABID A MUSTANSIR whose telephone number is (408)918-7647. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 10 am to 6 pm Pacific Time. 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. /ABID A MUSTANSIR/ Examiner, Art Unit 3791
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Oct 30, 2023
Application Filed
Jan 07, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
May 07, 2025
Response Filed
Sep 04, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Mar 03, 2026
Response Filed
Aug 05, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12702349
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING AND TREATING DIABETIC FOOT ULCERS
4y 8m to grant Granted Aug 11, 2026
Patent 12685463
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4y 0m to grant Granted Jul 21, 2026
Patent 12685464
TRANSABDOMINAL FETAL OXIMETRY BASED ON FREQUENCY-MODULATED CONTINUOUS-WAVE NEAR-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY
3y 3m to grant Granted Jul 21, 2026
Patent 12678077
PERFORMING MEASUREMENTS USING SENSORS OF A MEDICAL DEVICE SYSTEM
2y 4m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026
Patent 12667281
METHOD FOR MONITORING A RECUMBENT PATIENT TO OBTAIN INFORMATION ON A BODY POSITION OF THE PATIENT
4y 5m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

4-5
Expected OA Rounds
78%
Grant Probability
90%
With Interview (+11.8%)
2y 11m (~2m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 465 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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