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 § 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) 1-6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by US 2017/0245812 (CHOI).
Regarding claim 1, CHOI disclose an X-ray imaging apparatus comprising:
an imaging part comprising a generator part (32) comprising an X-ray generator for emitting X-rays to an imaging target area (321) and a sensor part (31) comprising an X-ray sensor for receiving the X-rays transmitted through the imaging target area (311);
a first driving part (25) for rotating the generator part and sensor part about a rotation axis therebetween (25C); and
a second driving part (312) for moving the X-ray sensor (311) in a direction of rotation about the rotation axis with respect to the sensor part or a direction tangential to the rotation (Fig. 2), wherein, during X-ray imaging, the first driving part rotates the imaging part reciprocally between first and second positions, and the second driving part moves the X-ray sensor either from the first position or from the second position (Fig. 2).
Regarding claim 2, CHOI disclose the X-ray imaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein an angle between the first and second positions is less than 360 degrees (Fig. 1 and 2).
Regarding claim 3, CHOI disclose the X-ray imaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the generator part further comprises a collimator (322) for controlling the X-rays emitted from the X-ray generator to be directed toward the X-ray sensor (Fig. 3).
Regarding claim 4, CHOI disclose the X-ray imaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second driving part moves the X-ray sensor in a length less than or equal to a width of the X-ray sensor from at least one of the first and second positions (Fig. 2).
Regarding claim 5, CHOI disclose the X-ray imaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the imaging part emits and receives the X-rays while rotating in at least one direction (Fig. 3).
Regarding claim 6, CHOI disclose the X-ray imaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein a CT image of the imaging target area is provided as a result of receiving the X-rays through the X-ray sensor [0039].
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DANI FOX whose telephone number is (571)272-3513. The examiner can normally be reached M-F: 9-5.
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, David Makiya can be reached at 571-272-2273. 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.
/DANI FOX/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2884