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 .
Response to Arguments
1. Applicant’s arguments, see page 7, line 14, filed 13 May 2026, with respect to the rejection of Claims 1-24 under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhao et al. (Chinese Patent Publication No. CN 108504189 A), hereinafter Zhao; and Claim 25 under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhao et al. (Chinese Patent Publication No. CN 108504189 A), hereinafter Zhao, in view of Lin et al. (United States Patent Publication No. US 2012/0033024 A1), hereinafter Lin; have been fully considered and, in light of the claim amendments made, are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made in view of Nagai et al. (World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Publication No. WO 2016/063943 A1), hereinafter Nagai.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
2. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
3. A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
4. Claims 1-2, 7, 9-14, 16-21, and 23-24 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhao et al. (Chinese Patent Publication No. CN 108504189 A), hereinafter Zhao, in view of Nagai et al. (World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Publication No. WO 2016/063943 A1), hereinafter Nagai.
5. Regarding Claims 1-2, 7, 9-14, 16-21, and 23-24, Zhao teaches (Page 9, Lines 24-36 of English translation) a (meth)acrylate component. Zhao teaches (Page 9, Lines 24-36 of English translation) the (meth)acrylate component comprises isobornyl (meth)acrylate and N,N-dimethylacrylamide. Zhao teaches (Page 8, Line 38 to Page 9, Line 23 of English translation) a (meth)acrylate-functionalized resin component. Zhao teaches (Page 8, Line 38 to Page 9, Line 23 of English translation) the (meth)acrylate-functionalized resin component is cyclohexanol, 4,4-(1-methylethylidene)bis-, polymer with 1,3-disocyanatomethylbenzene and tetrahydrofuran, propylene glycol monomer. Zhao teaches (Page 9, Lines 37-58 of English translation) an initiator component comprising a combination of a photosensitizer and a co-initiator. Zhao teaches (Page 9, Lines 37-58 of English translation) the photosensitizer comprises a 2,4-diethylthioxanthone, isopropylthioxanthones, and combinations thereof. Zhao teaches (Page 9, Lines 37-58 of English translation) the initiator component excludes an amine synergist. Zhao teaches (Page 2, Lines 23-30 of English translation) wherein the (meth)acrylate component is present in the range of about 30 percent by weight to about 50 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition. Zhao teaches (Page 8, Line 38 to Page 9, Line 23 of English translation) the (meth)acrylate-functionalized resin component resin has a number average molecular weight of from about 500 to about 100,000. Zhao teaches (Page 2, Lines 23-30 of English translation) the (meth)acrylate-functionalized resin component is present in an amount from about 15 percent by weight to about 30 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition. Zhao teaches (Page 2, Lines 23-30 of English translation) the (meth)acrylate-functionalized resin component is present in an amount from about 25 percent by weight to about 30 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition. Zhao teaches (Page 2, Lines 23-30 of English translation) the isobornyl (meth)acrylate of the (meth)acrylate component is present in an amount from about 30 percent by weight to about 50 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition. Zhao teaches (Page 2, Lines 23-30 of English translation) the N,N-dimethylacrylamide is present in an amount from about 30 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition. Zhao teaches (Page 2, Lines 23-30 of English translation) the initiator component is present in an amount of about 5 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition. Zhao teaches (Page 2, Lines 23-30 of English translation) the photosensitizer of the initiator component is present in an amount of about 5 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition. Zhao teaches (Page 2, Lines 23-30 of English translation) the co-initiator of the initiator component is present in an amount of about 3 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition. Zhao teaches (Page 9, Lines 37-58 of English translation) the photosensitizer and the co-initiator of the initiator component are present in a by weight ratio of about 1:1. Zhao teaches (Page 7, Lines 1-56 of English translation) a colorant. Zhao teaches (Page 2, Lines 23-30 of English translation) the isobornyl (meth)acrylate of the (meth)acrylate component is present in an amount from about 30 to about 40 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition. Zhao teaches (Page 2, Lines 23-30 of English translation) N,N-dimethylacrylamide in an amount of about 30 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition. Zhao teaches (Page 2, Lines 23-30 of English translation) (meth)acrylate-functionalized resin in an amount of about 25 percent by weight based on the total weight of the composition. Zhao teaches (Page 9, Lines 37-58 of English translation) the initiator component comprises an isopropylthioxanthone as a photosensitizer. Zhao teaches (Page 22, Lines 14-56 of English translation) when exposed to a source of radiation at 405 nm at an intensity of 100 mW/cm2 for a period of time of at least about 2 seconds to cure the composition, the cured composition exhibits a depth of cure through a volume of the composition. Zhao teaches (Page 11, Lines 12-19 of English translation) applying a volume of the composition to at least a first substrate. Zhao teaches (Page 22, Lines 14-56 of English translation) exposing the composition to a source of radiation at 405 nm at an intensity of 100 mW/cm2 to cure the composition through a volume of the composition.
6. However, Zhao fails to explicitly teach the co-initiator comprises one or more of benzoyl peroxide and dicumyl peroxide.
7. Zhao teaches (Abstract) an ultraviolet inkjet ink comprising both a photosensitizer and a co-initiator. Nagai teaches (Paragraphs [0010-0011, 0074-0077, and 0126-0128]) an ultraviolet piezoelectric ink comprising both a photosensitizer and a co-initiator, therein a polymerization initiator. Nagai teaches (Paragraphs [0074-0077]) the co-initiator comprises benzoyl peroxide. Nagai teaches (Paragraphs [0074-0077]) the co-initiator allows for the photocuring of the polymer
8. It would have been prima facie obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Zhao to incorporate the teachings of Nagai wherein the co-initiator comprises benzoyl peroxide. Doing so would allow for the photocuring of the polymer, as recognized by Nagai.
9. Claim 25 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhao et al. (Chinese Patent Publication No. CN 108504189 A), hereinafter Zhao; in view of Nagai et al. (World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Publication No. WO 2016/063943 A1), hereinafter Nagai; and further in view of Lin et al. (United States Patent Publication No. US 2012/0033024 A1), hereinafter Lin.
10. Regarding Claim 25, Zhao in view of Nagai teaches all limitations of Claim 24 above. However, Zhao fails to explicitly teach bonding the first substrate to a second substrate, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are each parts of medical devices.
11. Lin teaches (Claims 11-12, Paragraph [0071-0079]) bonding the first substrate to a second substrate, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are each parts of medical devices, therein microfluidic devices for biomedical research. Lin teaches (Paragraph [0071-0079]) wherein said devices can be used to bind and isolate proteins, DNA or other biological material.
12. It would have been prima facie obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Zhao in view of Nagai to incorporate the teachings of Lin wherein there would be bonding the first substrate to a second substrate, wherein the first substrate and the second substrate are each parts of medical devices. Doing so would result in devices that can be used to bind and isolate proteins, DNA or other biological material, as recognized by Lin.
Conclusion
13. 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).
14. 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.
15. Any inquiry concerning this communication should be directed to RICHARD D CHAMPION at telephone number (571) 272-0750. The examiner can normally be reached on 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Mon-Fri EST.
16. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, KEITH D HENDRICKS can be reached at (571) 272-1401. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
17. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://portal.uspto.gov/external/portal. Should you have questions about access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free).
18. 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.
/Keith D. Hendricks/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1733
/R.D.C./Examiner, Art Unit 1737
Prosecution Insights