Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/555,141

MARKERS FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF LARGE VESSEL OCCLUSION

Non-Final OA §101§102§103
Filed
Oct 12, 2023
Examiner
HUANG, MICKEY NMN
Art Unit
1758
Tech Center
1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering
Assignee
Abcdx SA
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
63%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
3y 4m
To Grant
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 63% of resolved cases
63%
Career Allow Rate
58 granted / 92 resolved
-2.0% vs TC avg
Strong +56% interview lift
Without
With
+55.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 4m
Avg Prosecution
38 currently pending
Career history
130
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
7.1%
-32.9% vs TC avg
§103
37.4%
-2.6% vs TC avg
§102
21.7%
-18.3% vs TC avg
§112
26.0%
-14.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 92 resolved cases

Office Action

§101 §102 §103
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 Objections Applicant is advised that should claim 32 be found allowable, claim 34 will be objected to under 37 CFR 1.75 as being a substantial duplicate thereof. When two claims in an application are duplicates or else are so close in content that they both cover the same thing, despite a slight difference in wording, it is proper after allowing one claim to object to the other as being a substantial duplicate of the allowed claim. See MPEP § 608.01(m). Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101 35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows: Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title. Claims 25-39 and 43-46 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to mental process without significantly more. Regarding claims 25 and 43, the claims recite collecting data that is later compared to reference from which one of ordinary skill in the art will be able to diagnose a patient and prescribe treatment. This is in sufficient to transform the abstract idea of a mental process of a comparison and a law of a nature (correlation of levels of FABP to diagnosis to large vessel occlusion (LVO)) into a patentable application. This limitation, as drafted, is a process that, under its broadest reasonable interpretation, covers an abstract idea in the form of a mental process. The claim recites comparing the amount of concentration of a biomarker in a biological sample in a sick and healthy subject /control and uses the comparison to determine whether or not the subject is sick , the severity of the sickness, and/or appropriate treatment to the sickness . Making decision whether or not the difference of the comparison, under broadest reasonable interpretation, is a mental process that can be performed in the human mind. Nothing in the claim precludes the user from manually comparing the data of a reference and a sick subject and deciding what would be constitute d as “suggesting” the subject is suffering from the stroke . If a claim limitation, under its broadest reasonable interpretation, covers a mental process, then it falls within the mental process grouping. Accordingly, the claim recites an abstract idea (Step 2A, Prong 1). These judicial exceptions are not integrated into a practical application , the additional limitations of the claims, i.e., collecting sample and determin ing the levels of FABP , do not add a meaningful limitation to the method as they are insignificant extra-solution activity. There is no integration of the diagnostic step much less a practical one since after the measurement and comparison is completed, a generic and broadly recited treatment step is introduced (perfusion therapy and neuroprotective drug are not particular) . However, the treatment step does not impose any meaningful limit. The diagnostics are mere mental process based on data gathered. See MPEP 2106.05(g). Accordingly, this additional element does not integrate the mental process into a practical application because it does not impose any meaningful limits on practicing the abstract idea. The claim is directed to a judicial exception (Step 2A, Prong 2). See Example 43 in Appendix 1 to the 2019 Revised Patent Subject Matter Eligibility Guidance (“2019 PEG”), Moreover, the claims do not include additional elements that are sufficient to significantly amount to any added inventive concept to the judicial exceptions as recognized by the court decisions listed in MPEP § 2106.05(d). The collection of samples and detection and measurement of FABP is a well understood and routine and conventional step that does not add an inventive concept to the judicial exceptions as cited above. See prior art cited below such as McConnell (Page 9, Sample Analysis). None of the dependent claims recite limitations that integrate the judicial exception into a practical application. Claims 26, 27, 38, and 39 do not cure the deficiency of the parent claims. Claims 26 and 27 recites the treatment is thrombectomy and administration of thrombolytic and/or fibrinolytic and/or neuroprotective drug while claims 38 and 39 directed the patients to a medical facility specialized in thrombectomy, which are generic and typical treatment to stroke patients. Claim 28 and 36 do not cure the deficiency of claim 25. Claims merely recite a subtype of FABP (heart-type) and sample is a bio fluid. Claim s 2 9-31 and 44 are only adding clinical parameters such as ages, gender, blood pressure into consideration to the study . C laims 32-34, 45, and 46 do not cure the deficiency of the parent claims. The claims are only adding more biomarkers to test for in the original method of diagnosing LVO which are still not integrating the judicial exceptions into a practical application. Claim 35 does not cure the deficiency of claim 25. The claim recites the timing when FABP is determined, which is an insignificant extra-solution activity as discussed above. Thus, the dependent claims do not have steps or elements that could integrate the judicial exceptions into a practical application because they do not amount to more than the judicial exceptions themselves, analogous to Mayo Collaborative Servs. v. Prometheus Labs., Inc., 566 U.S. 66, 80, 84, 101 USPQ2d 1961, 1968-69, 1970 (2012). Furthermore, the claims do not act on or use the judicial exceptions in any further steps as required by MPEP 2106.04(d). For the reason(s) above, the claims are not patent-eligible. Claim Interpretation The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(f): (f) Element in Claim for a Combination. – An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof. The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph: An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof. The claims in this application are given their broadest reasonable interpretation using the plain meaning of the claim language in light of the specification as it would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The broadest reasonable interpretation of a claim element (also commonly referred to as a claim limitation) is limited by the description in the specification when 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is invoked. As explained in MPEP § 2181, subsection I, claim limitations that meet the following three-prong test will be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph: (A) the claim limitation uses the term “means” or “step” or a term used as a substitute for “means” that is a generic placeholder (also called a nonce term or a non-structural term having no specific structural meaning) for performing the claimed function; (B) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is modified by functional language, typically, but not always linked by the transition word “for” (e.g., “means for”) or another linking word or phrase, such as “configured to” or “so that”; and (C) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is not modified by sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function. Use of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim with functional language creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites sufficient structure, material, or acts to entirely perform the recited function. Absence of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is not to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is not interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites function without reciting sufficient structure, material or acts to entirely perform the recited function. Claim limitations in this application that use the word “means” (or “step”) are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action. Conversely, claim limitations in this application that do not use the word “means” (or “step”) are not being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action. This application includes one or more claim limitations that use the word “means” and are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, because the claim limitation(s) uses a generic placeholder that is coupled with functional language without reciting sufficient structure to perform the recited function and the generic placeholder is not preceded by a structural modifier. Such claim limitation(s) is/are: reagent means in claims 40-42. Because this/these claim limitation(s) is/are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, it/they is/are being interpreted to cover the corresponding structure described in the specification as performing the claimed function, and equivalents thereof. The specification discloses the reagent means are “a ny antibody or reagent known to bind with high affinity to the target proteins ” such as polyclonal sera, hybridoma supernatants or monoclonal antibodies, antibody fragments, Fv , Fab, Fab′y F(ab′)2, ScFv , diabodies, triabodies , tetrabodies and humanised antibodies (para. [0157]). If applicant does not intend to have this/these limitation(s) interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, applicant may: (1) amend the claim limitation(s) to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph (e.g., by reciting sufficient structure to perform the claimed function); or (2) present a sufficient showing that the claim limitation(s) recite(s) sufficient structure to perform the claimed function so as to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. 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) 25 -32, 34-38, 40, and 42-45 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by McConnell (WO 2018228935 A1) as cited in the IDS . Regarding claim 25, 26, 28, and 36, McConnell discloses a method for treating large vessel occlusion (LVO) in a subject, said method comprising: obtaining an isolated sample from the subject, wherein the isolated sample is a bio fluid ( EDTA plasma samples of blood obtained from the patients of the study group ; Page 9, Sample Analysis); determining the level of a fatty acid binding protein (FABP) in the isolated sample, wherein the fatty acid binding protein is HFABP ( The following proteins were tested against EDTA plasma samples of blood obtained from the patients of the study group: h-FABP … Page 9, Sample Analysis), and comparing said level of FABP with a reference value or range ( Comparison of biomarkers levels between healthy controls vs stroke mimics show that the stroke mimic cohort has significantly higher levels of h-FABP…than the healthy control cohort ; Page 10-11; Table 1); diagnosis the subject with LVO when the reference value is a cut-off value discriminating between LVO from any other condition selected from one or more of a mimic and a healthy subject (Table 2, cut-off values; also in claim 1, A method of diagnosing…stroke comprising…comparing the measured level to a corresponding reference value characterized by the reference value being derived from a combined stroke mimic and TIA patient cohort ); and treating the subject diagnosed with LVO with reperfusion therapy, wherein the perfusion therapy is thrombectomy ( If as a result of carrying out the method of the invention it is determined that the patient has suffered, or is suffering, a HS then these patients would typically be sent to a surgical unit to repair the damaged blood vessels ; Page 8, para. 2). Regarding claim 27, McConnell discloses the claimed invention as discussed above in claim 25. McConnell discloses the reperfusion therapy is thrombectomy in combination with a previous administration of a thrombolytic drug ( If as a result of carrying out the method of the invention it is determined that the patient has not suffered, or is not suffering, an IS or HS, further investigations can be made and blood thinners such as warfarin and aspirin may be prescribed and administered if necessary ; page 8, para. 2). Regarding claims 29-31, McConnell discloses the claimed invention as discussed above in claim 25. McConnell discloses the method further comprises determining one or more clinical parameters of the subject, wherein the clinical parameters of the subject are selected from gender, age ( If two or more biomarkers are to be used in the diagnostic method a suitable mathematical model, such as logistic regression equation, can be derived. The logistic regression equation might include other variables such as age and gender of patient . Page 6, para. 1), glycemia ( Traumatic brain injury, hypoglycaemia , hyperglycaemia …were stroke mimic events encountered in this study . Page 3, Detailed Description of the Invention), time from onset of symptoms ( Blood samples (serum and EDTA plasma) were taken at the time of admission and at 24, 48, 72, 96 hours and 7 days post admission...The mean time from the onset of stroke-symptoms to hospital admission was 3.2 hours . Page 9, Patient Group), and systemic assessment tools of stroke-related neurologic deficits, wherein the score from systematic assessment tools of stroke-related neurologic deficits is selected from National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score ( Stroke severity was measured at the time of admission with the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) . Page 9, Patient Group). Regarding claims 32 and 34, McConnell discloses the claimed invention as discussed above in claim 25. McConnell discloses the method further comprises determining the level of d-dimer and GFAP in the isolated sample of the subject ( The following proteins were tested against EDTA plasma samples of blood obtained from the patients of the study group: h-FABP, D-dimer, GFAP …Page 9, Sample Analysis). Regarding claim 35, McConnell discloses the claimed invention as discussed above in claim 25. McConnell discloses the FABP is determined within the first six first hours after a stroke onset ( Only patients admitted to the emergency department within 6 hours from the onset of neurological symptoms were included in the study. The mean time from the onset of stroke-symptoms to hospital admission was 3.2 hours. In each patient the presence of arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking history, dyslipidemia and ischaemic heart disease were recorded . Page 9, Patient Group). Regarding claim 37, McConnell discloses the claimed invention as discussed above in claim 25. McConnell discloses the method further comprises: comparing the level of the FABP in the isolated sample with a cut-off value stratifying the subject diagnosed with LVO according to a dependency degree ( determining the sample concentration of one or more of h-FABP, D-dimer, sTNFRI and IL-6 in which the following concentrations ('cut-off' concentration) taken individually support the diagnosis of IS in the patient: h-FABP≥ about 4.70 ng/ml, D- dimer≥ about 200 ng/ml, sTNFRI ≥ about 2.30 pg /ml, IL-6≥ about 5.90 pg /ml. These cut-offs are displayed in Table 2 and are based on the ROC curves derived using stroke mimics and stroke mimics + TIA populations as the control group . Page 7 ); determining that the patient (i) has a prognosis defined by a dependency degree greater than 2 according to modified ranking score ( mRS ) determined within 1-5 months after stroke onset ( Functional outcome was measured with the modified Rankin scale ( mRS ) on day 7 and acute stroke patients were categorised into three severity groups (mild, moderate and severe) according to their mRS -score: mild (mRS-score:0-2), moderate (mRS-score:3-4) and severe (mRS-score:5-6). Clinical evaluation (using criteria highlighted in the background section above) and neuroimaging techniques identified 10 haemorrhagic stroke (HS), 53 ischaemic stroke (IS), 13 transient ischaemic attack (TIA) and 37 stroke mimics (M); 79 healthy subjects served as controls (C ). Patient Group, Page 9); administering neuroprotective drugs (TPA) to the subject in addition to the reperfusion therapy (… of particular importance is the diagnosis of IS, as this condition has immediate life-debilitating and life-threatening potential that can be counter-acted by the administration of clot-busting drugs such as TPA . Page 2) Regarding claim 38, McConnell discloses the claimed invention as discussed above in claim 25. McConnell discloses the method further comprises shifting the subject diagnosed with LVO to a centre for thrombectomy ( If as a result of carrying out the method of the invention it is determined that the patient has suffered, or is suffering, a HS then these patients would typically be sent to a surgical unit to repair the damaged blood vessels . Page 8, para. 2). Regarding claims 40 and 42, McConnell discloses a kit comprising monoclonal antibodies for detecting the levels of a H-FABP, DDI, and GFAP ( When identifying the various biomarkers of the invention it will be apparent to the skilled person that as well as identifying the full-length protein, the identification of a fragment or several fragments of a protein is possible, provided this allows accurate identification of the protein. Similarly, although a preferred probe of the invention is a polyclonal or monoclonal antibody. Page 4) . Regarding claim 43, McConnell discloses a method for treating large vessel occlusion (LVO) in a subject, said method comprising: obtaining an isolated sample from the subject, wherein the isolated sample is a bio fluid ( EDTA plasma samples of blood obtained from the patients of the study group ; Page 9, Sample Analysis); determining the level of a fatty acid binding protein (FABP) in the isolated sample ( The following proteins were tested against EDTA plasma samples of blood obtained from the patients of the study group: h-FABP … Page 9, Sample Analysis), and comparing the level of the FABP in the isolated sample with a cut-off value stratifying the subject diagnosed with LVO according to a dependency degree ( determining the sample concentration of one or more of h-FABP, D-dimer, sTNFRI and IL-6 in which the following concentrations ('cut-off' concentration) taken individually support the diagnosis of IS in the patient: h-FABP≥ about 4.70 ng/ml, D- dimer≥ about 200 ng/ml, sTNFRI ≥ about 2.30 pg /ml, IL-6≥ about 5.90 pg /ml. These cut-offs are displayed in Table 2 and are based on the ROC curves derived using stroke mimics and stroke mimics + TIA populations as the control group . Page 7 ); determining that the patient (i) has a prognosis defined by a dependency degree greater than 2 according to modified ranking score ( mRS ) determined within 1-5 months after stroke onset ( Functional outcome was measured with the modified Rankin scale ( mRS ) on day 7 and acute stroke patients were categorised into three severity groups (mild, moderate and severe) according to their mRS -score: mild (mRS-score:0-2), moderate (mRS-score:3-4) and severe (mRS-score:5-6). Clinical evaluation (using criteria highlighted in the background section above) and neuroimaging techniques identified 10 haemorrhagic stroke (HS), 53 ischaemic stroke (IS), 13 transient ischaemic attack (TIA) and 37 stroke mimics (M); 79 healthy subjects served as controls (C ). Patient Group, Page 9); subjecting the subject with a prognosis defined by (i) to a therapy with neuroprotective drugs ( … of particular importance is the diagnosis of IS, as this condition has immediate life-debilitating and life-threatening potential that can be counter-acted by the administration of clot-busting drugs such as TPA . Page 2) Regarding claim 44, McConnell discloses the claimed invention as discussed above in claim 43. McConnell discloses the method further comprises determining one or more clinical parameters of the subject, wherein the clinical parameters of the subject are selected from gender, age ( If two or more biomarkers are to be used in the diagnostic method a suitable mathematical model, such as logistic regression equation, can be derived. The logistic regression equation might include other variables such as age and gender of patient . Page 6, para. 1), glycemia ( Traumatic brain injury, hypoglycaemia , hyperglycaemia …were stroke mimic events encountered in this study . Page 3, Detailed Description of the Invention), time from onset of symptoms ( Blood samples (serum and EDTA plasma) were taken at the time of admission and at 24, 48, 72, 96 hours and 7 days post admission...The mean time from the onset of stroke-symptoms to hospital admission was 3.2 hours . Page 9, Patient Group), and systemic assessment tools of stroke-related neurologic deficits, wherein the score from systematic assessment tools of stroke-related neurologic deficits is selected from National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score ( Stroke severity was measured at the time of admission with the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) . Page 9, Patient Group). Regarding claim 45, McConnell discloses the claimed invention as discussed above in claim 43. McConnell discloses the method further comprises determining the level of d-dimer and GFAP in the isolated sample of the subject ( The following proteins were tested against EDTA plasma samples of blood obtained from the patients of the study group: h-FABP, D-dimer, GFAP …Page 9, Sample Analysis). Claim(s) 40-43 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Merck (Measurement of cardiovascular disease biomarkers in human clinical samples using magnetic bead-based MILLIPLEX map multiplex panels, March 2015). Regarding claim 40-43, Merck discloses a magnetic bead-based multiplex panels comprising monoclonal/polyclonal antibodies coated bead ( antibody-conjugated beads and biotinylated detection antibody , CVD biomarker analysis, page 4) for simultaneously detecting ( Each panel simultaneously measured multiple CVD biomarkers , CVD biomarker analysis, page 4) the levels of a HFABP (FABP3 and FABP4, Panel 1, page 5), NT- proBNP (Panel 1, page 5), and D-dimer (panel 2, page 5). Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 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: 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. The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows: 1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art. 2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue. 3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art. 4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness . Claim(s) 33 and 46 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over McConnell in view of Ho (The Prognostic significance of heart-type fatty acid binding protein in patients with stable coronary heart disease, 2018). Regarding claims 33 and 46, McConnell discloses the claimed invention as disclosed above in claim 25 and 43 respectively. McConnell discloses the method further comprises determining the level of d-dimer ( The following proteins were tested against EDTA plasma samples of blood obtained from the patients of the study group: h-FABP, D-dimer, GFAP …Page 9, Sample Analysis). However, McConnell does not disclose a step of determining the level of N-terminal fragment of B-type natriuretic peptide (NT- proBNP ). In an analogous art, Ho discloses an investigation of prognosis significance of H-FABP in patients with coronary heart disease. Specifically, NT- proBNP and H-FABP were measured as biomarkers (Baseline clinical and biomarker data collection). Ho discloses the patients with high level of H-FABP also have high level of NT- proBNP (… patients with a high level of H-FABP had significantly higher blood glucose…and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT- proBNP ) than those with a low level of H-FABP (Table 2 ); Results, Patients, para. 2; Table 2, page 3). Furthermore, Ho discloses the patients in the study including nonfatal strokes (Results, Patients, para. 1, page 2), suggesting a correlation between cardiovascular disease and strokes. Therefore, based on Ho’s disclosure, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to have incorporate the detection NT- proBNP in conjunction of H-FABP level method of McConnell to derive the claimed invention. One of ordinary skill in the art would have a reasonable expectation of success for the combination as Ho discloses the general positive predictive correlation between both H-FABP and NT- proBNP (… additional H-FABP measurements improved the diagnostic specificity and positive predictive value of NT- proBNP tests. Discussion, para. 4) in patients suffering both cardiovascular failure or a stroke (Clinical follow-up). Furthermore, additional biomarkers detection improves diagnostic specificity (… additional H-FABP measurements improved the diagnostic specificity and positive predictive value of NT- proBNP tests . Discussions, para. 4). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FILLIN "Examiner name" \* MERGEFORMAT MICKEY HUANG whose telephone number is FILLIN "Phone number" \* MERGEFORMAT (571)272-7690 . The examiner can normally be reached FILLIN "Work Schedule?" \* MERGEFORMAT M-F 9:30-5:30 PM ET . 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 Maris Kessel can be reached at FILLIN "SPE Phone?" \* MERGEFORMAT 5712707698 . 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. /M.H./ Examiner, Art Unit 1758 /MARIS R KESSEL/ Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1758
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Prosecution Timeline

Oct 12, 2023
Application Filed
Mar 12, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §101, §102, §103 (current)

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1-2
Expected OA Rounds
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Grant Probability
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3y 4m
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