Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/552,162

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ON-SITE CLEANING AND RESTORATION OF KINETIC PROPERTIES OF ION EXCHANGE RESIN

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Sep 22, 2023
Examiner
BROOKS, KREGG T
Art Unit
1764
Tech Center
1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering
Assignee
Ionx Solutions LLC
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
56%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
3y 0m
To Grant
58%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 56% of resolved cases
56%
Career Allow Rate
395 granted / 701 resolved
-8.7% vs TC avg
Minimal +2% lift
Without
With
+2.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 0m
Avg Prosecution
72 currently pending
Career history
773
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.3%
-39.7% vs TC avg
§103
46.8%
+6.8% vs TC avg
§102
18.2%
-21.8% vs TC avg
§112
23.1%
-16.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 701 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
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. Applicant’s preliminary amendment dated 22 September 2023. Claims 38-50, 52, and 54-59 as amended are pending. 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 appl icant regards as his invention. Claims 41 , 43- 50 , and 52 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 41 recites a step for use wherein the cleaning solution is sent directly to the waste sump from the resin vessel after cleaning solution has operated on the ion exchange resin. However, claim 41 and its base claims do not recite any means of communication of the resin vessel with the waste sump that does not first go through the third pump and the mixing tank. It is unclear whether this claim includes sending cleaning solution to the waste sump, or has a direct connection to the waste sump. Claim 43 (from which claims 44-47 depend) recites “further comprising the resin vessel, the resin vessel being coupled to the portable skid and in fluid communication with itself through the third pump.” The recited elements were recited in base claim 38; the use of “further” is unclear as to whether another resin vessel is required. Claim 44 recites a PLC configured to fill the resin vessel with deionized water, and pump additional deionized water; however, no means for delivering deionized water has been recited . Moreover, no means for draining to the waste sump from the resin vessel has been recited. It is therefore unclear how the PLC (which is only a logic controller) carries out the aforementioned actions. Claim 45 recites that the PLC is configured for “removing . . . used cleaning solution from the resin vessel”, as the third pump is only recited as allowing recirculation of cleaning solution in the resin vessel. It is therefore unclear how the PLC (which is only a logic controller) carries out the aforementioned actions. Claim 46 recites the PLC is configured for “regeneration performed using a third chemical external to the portable skid and obtained using the first pump”. This is unclear because there is not recited any element that appears to support regeneration, as the third chemical and first pump are not recited as being in communication with the resin. It is therefore unclear how the PLC (which is only a logic controller) carries out the aforementioned actions. Claim 47 recites that the PLC is configured for “gradually draining the resin vessel to the waste sump”. Claim 47 does not recite any means allowing the PLC to drain the resin vessel to the waste sump. It is therefore unclear how the PLC (which is only a logic controller) carries out the aforementioned actions. Claim 48 (from which claims 49, 50, and 52 depend) recites “further comprising the resin vessel, the resin vessel being coupled to the portable skid and in fluid communication with itself through the third pump.” The recited elements were recited in base claim 38; the use of “further” is unclear as to whether another resin vessel is required. Claim 52 recites “a plurality of eductors ”. It is unclear whether this refers the same eductors recited in claim 49. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 38-40, 42,and 54-59 are allowed. Claims 41, 43-50, and 52 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. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: the prior art, including Mayne (US 5,858,119), Jessen ( US 2011 / 0077144 ), and Woolacott ( US 4 , 387 , 02 6), while teaching systems for cleaning and/or regeneration of ion exchange resins, do not reasonably teach or suggest the sy s tem as recited by claim 38. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FILLIN "Examiner name" \* MERGEFORMAT KREGG T BROOKS whose telephone number is FILLIN "Phone number" \* MERGEFORMAT (313)446-4888 . The examiner can normally be reached FILLIN "Work Schedule?" \* MERGEFORMAT Monday to Friday 9 am to 5:30 pm . 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, FILLIN "SPE Name?" \* MERGEFORMAT Arrie Reuther can be reached at FILLIN "SPE Phone?" \* MERGEFORMAT (571)270-7026 . 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. /KREGG T BROOKS/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1764
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Sep 22, 2023
Application Filed
Mar 29, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

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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
56%
Grant Probability
58%
With Interview (+2.0%)
3y 0m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 701 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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