Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/525,173

NON-DISCONNECTING ROTATABLE CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY

Non-Final OA §102§112
Filed
Nov 30, 2023
Examiner
HARRIS, WESLEY G
Art Unit
3783
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Carefusion 303 Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
73%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 8m
To Grant
95%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 73% — above average
73%
Career Allow Rate
509 granted / 697 resolved
+3.0% vs TC avg
Strong +22% interview lift
Without
With
+21.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 8m
Avg Prosecution
62 currently pending
Career history
759
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.3%
-38.7% vs TC avg
§103
36.9%
-3.1% vs TC avg
§102
24.5%
-15.5% vs TC avg
§112
34.7%
-5.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 697 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §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. In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. 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 6, 8, 19 and 20 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 claim 6: The claim limitation “a first end” in lines 1-2 is unclear. The limitation is unclear because of the earlier recitation of the limitation “a first end” in line 2 of claim 1 (on which this claim depends) which raises a question of if two first ends are required by the claim 6 or only one. For the sake of examination, the office has assumed that only one first end is required by the claim. Regarding claim 8 : The claim limitation “a coupling device” in line 2 is unclear. The limitation is unclear because of the earlier recitation of the limitation “a coupling device” in line 5 of claim 1 (on which this claim depends) which raises a question of if two of coupling devices are required by the claim 8 or only one. For the sake of examination, the office has assumed that only one coupling device is required by the claim. Claims 9-12 are rejected due to their dependence on claim 8. Regarding claim 19 : The claim is unclear because of the term “substantially” in line 3. The term “substantially” suggests an acceptable range concerning how cylindrical the housing should be but the claims and specification do not clarify what the acceptable range is. For this reason, the term is unclear and by extension the claim is unclear. For the sake of examination, the office has assumed that the housing should be cylindrical however the applicant should amend the claim to clarify. Regarding claim 20 : The claim is unclear because of the term “substantially” in line 3. The term “substantially” suggests an acceptable range concerning how cylindrical the housing should be but the claims and specification do not clarify what the acceptable range is. For this reason, the term is unclear and by extension the claim is unclear. For the sake of examination, the office has assumed that the housing should be cylindrical however the applicant should amend the claim to clarify. 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 1-3, 5 , 7 - 10 and 12- 17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by WO 2017199203 A1 to Guala . Guala discloses: Regarding claim 1: A connector ( figures 1-3 ) comprising: a housing ( 4 ) having a first end ( see first end A in figure 1 below ) and second end ( see second end B in figure 1 below ) opposite the first end ( A in figure 1 below ) , the housing ( 4 ) having an interior space ( see the interior space C in figure 1 below ) ; a luer assembly ( 6 and 11 ) disposed within the interior space ( C in figure 1 below ) of the housing ( 4 ) , the luer assembly ( 6 and 11 ) having a locking ring ( see the locking ring D in figure 1 below ) and the luer assembly ( 6 and 11 ) configured to couple to a coupling device ( 18 ) to secure the coupling device ( 18 ) to the connector; and a sleeve ( 3 ) at least partially disposed around ( as shown in figure 1 ) the luer assembly ( 6 and 11 ) and disposed within ( as shown in figure 1 ) the interior space ( C in figure 1 below ) , the sleeve ( 3 ) configured to couple to ( ring D in figure 1 below abuts the sleeve 3 as shown in figure 1 below which holds the luer assembly 6 /11 in place axially ) the locking ring ( D in figure 1 below ) to prevent axial movement of the sleeve ( 3 ) relative to the luer assembly ( 6 and 11 ) and the housing ( 4 ) , wherein the housing ( 4 ) is rotatable ( page 3, lines 25-30 ) to the luer assembly ( 6 and 11 ) and the sleeve ( 3 ) when the sleeve ( 3 ) is coupled to the locking ring ( D in figure 1 below ) to prevent decoupling ( holds the 6 /11 in place when D abuts the sleeve 3 ) of the luer assembly ( 6 and 11 ) from the coupling device ( 18 ) when the luer assembly ( 6 and 11 ) is coupled to ( as shown in figure 3 ) the coupling device ( 18 ) . Figure SEQ Figure \* ARABIC 1 – figure 1 of Guala, annotated by the examiner Regarding claim 2 : The connector of claim 1, wherein the luer assembly ( 6 and 11 ) includes a luer ( 6 ) and an end connector ( 11/5 ) . Regarding claim 3 : The connector of claim 2, wherein the luer ( 6 ) includes a coupling portion ( 7 ) configured to couple to ( as shown in figures 1-3 ) the coupling device ( 18 ) . Regarding claim 5 : The connector of claim 2, wherein the luer ( 6 ) is coupled to the end connector ( 11/5 ) such that the luer (6) is non-rotatable ( 11 is fixedly mounted to 6 ) relative to the end connector ( 11/5 ) . Regarding claim 7 : The connector of claim 2, wherein the luer ( 6 ) includes a first channel ( see the channel F in figure 1 above ) and the end connector ( 11/5 ) includes a second channel ( 13 ) , the first channel ( see the channel F in figure 1 above ) being in fluid communication with the second channel ( 13 ) when the luer ( 6 ) is coupled to ( as shown in figure 1 and 3 ) the end connector ( 11/5 ) . Regarding claim 8 : The connector of claim 1 further comprising: a coupling device ( 18 ) configured to couple to ( as shown in figure 1 ) the luer assembly ( 6 and 11 ) . Regarding claim 9 : The connector of claim 8, wherein a fluid pathway is formed through the coupling device ( 18 ) and the connector ( as shown in figures 1-3 ) when the coupling device ( 18 ) is coupled to the luer assembly ( 6 and 11 ) . Regarding claim 10 : The connector of claim 8, wherein the connector has a first configuration ( first configuration shown in figure 1 ) and a second configuration ( second configuration is shown in figure 2 or 3 ) , in the first configuration ( figure 1 ) the sleeve ( 3 ) is not in contact with the coupling device ( 18 ) and in the second configuration ( figure 3 ) the sleeve ( 3 ) is in contact with ( coupling device 18 abuts the sleeve 3 as the coupling device is threaded onto the housing 4 ) the coupling device ( 18 ) . Regarding claim 12 : The connector of claim 10, wherein the coupling device ( 18 ) and the luer assembly ( 6 and 11 ) are rotatable ( page 3, lines 25-30 ) relative to the housing ( 4 ) when the connector is in the second configuration ( second configuration is shown in figure 2 or 3 ) to prevent disconnecting of the coupling device ( 18 ) from the connector ( as shown in figures 2 and 3 the housing is rotatable to hold the coupling device 18 to the luer assembly 6/11 ) . Regarding claim 13 : The connector of claim 1, wherein the connector has a first configuration ( prior to the assembly of the sleeve 3 to the luer 6/11 ) and a second configuration ( after assembly as shown in figure 1 ) , in the first configuration ( prior to assembly ) the sleeve ( 3 ) is not coupled to ( prior to assembly the locking ring is separate from the sleeve ) the locking ring ( D in figure 1 above ) and in the second configuration ( second configuration is shown in figure s 1- 3 ) the sleeve ( 3 ) is coupled to the locking ring ( D as shown in figure 1 above ) . Regarding claim 14 : The connector of claim 13, wherein the sleeve ( 3 ) includes a projection ( see the projection E in figure 1 above ) and housing ( 4 ) includes a slot ( see the slot in 4 for receiving E ) such that the projection is disposed within the slot ( see the slot in 4 for receiving E ) when the sleeve ( 3 ) is disposed within the interior space ( C of figure 1 above )( as shown in figure 1 above ) . Regarding claim 15 : The connector of claim 14, wherein the slot ( see the slot in 4 for receiving E ) includes a notch ( as shown in figure 1 ) and the projection ( E in figure 1 above ) of the sleeve ( 3 ) is disposed within the notch ( as shown in figure 1 above ) when the connector is in the second configuration ( second configuration is shown in figure s 1- 3 ) . Regarding claim 16 : The connector of claim 13, wherein the sleeve and the luer assembly ( 6 and 11 ) are rotatable ( page 3, lines 25-30 ) relative to the housing ( 4 ) when the connector is in the second configuration ( second configuration is shown in figure 2 where the housing is rotating in order to through onto 18 ) . Regarding claim 1 7 : The connector of claim 1, wherein the sleeve ( 3 ) includes a groove ( see groove in 3 corresponding to locking ring D in figure 1 above ) configured to receive the locking ring ( D in figure 1 above ) to axially fix the sleeve ( 3 ) relative to the luer assembly ( 6 and 11 ) . Allowable Subject Matter Claims 19 and 20 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action. Furthermore, the prior art of record does not teach “ the luer having coupling portion including a first thread configured to engage with a second thread of a coupling device to couple the coupling device to the luer assembly, the end connector having a base groove configured to receive the housing ring to secure the luer assembly to the housing and the end connector having a locking ring ” as within the context of the claimed invention as disclosed and within the context of the other limitations present in claim 19 ; and the prior art of record does not teach “ the luer having coupling portion including a first thread configured to engage with a second thread of a coupling device to couple the coupling device to the luer assembly, the end connector having a base groove configured to receive the housing ring to secure the luer assembly to the housing and the end connector having a locking ring ” as within the context of the claimed invention as disclosed and within the context of the other limitations present in claim 20 . Therefore, the prior art of record cannot anticipate Applicant' s claimed invention by a single reference nor render Applicant' s claimed invention obvious by the combination of more than one reference. Claim s 4 and 18 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Claims 6 and 11 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The following is pertinent prior art: US-20240050728-A1 JADHAV See the luer 110 US-20150119863-A1 Christensen See sleeve 20 US-20080172039-A1 Raines See the sleeve 30 US-20080103485-A1 Kruger See the sleeve 13 CA-2606834-A1 KRUEGER See the sleeve 43 FR-2956327-A1 CARREZ See the sleeve 134 WO-2015007650-A1 PONCON See the sleeve 43 Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FILLIN "Examiner name" \* MERGEFORMAT WESLEY HARRIS whose telephone number is FILLIN "Phone number" \* MERGEFORMAT (571)272-3665 . The examiner can normally be reached FILLIN "Work Schedule?" \* MERGEFORMAT M to F, 9am-5pm . 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, Michael Tsai can be reached on (571) 270- 5246 . 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. /WESLEY G HARRIS/ Examiner, Art Unit 3783
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Nov 30, 2023
Application Filed
Mar 16, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §102, §112 (current)

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
73%
Grant Probability
95%
With Interview (+21.7%)
2y 8m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 697 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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