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. Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 12/19/23 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97(b). Accordingly, the IDS is being considered by the Examiner. 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. Claim 10 is 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 10 recites the limitation "the table" in line 2. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claims 13 and 15 are further rejected based on dependency. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 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 ( i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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. 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. Claims 1-4,8,10,13,15,17-19,21,23,31,35-37,41,46-47 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Burton et al. (US 2015/0352295) (“Burton”). Burton discloses: (claims 1, 46) A microneedle patch applicator system [0038-0050,0059-0060,0065,0091-0092] Figs. 2A- F ,3A-C, 4,5, 6A-E, comprising: an applicator 100 for applying, by a user of the system, a microneedle patch 106 to a skin of a subject [0060], the applicator comprising: a coupling interface 150 for coupling to the microneedle patch when the applicator is brought in a, predetermined, coupling position relative to the microneedle patch, and when the microneedle patch in a pre-application state (Figs.3A,6A,6B) in which the microneedle patch is not ready-for-application to a skin of a subject; and (see Fig.3B,6B) wherein the applicator is arranged to transfer the microneedle patch from the pre- application state into a state ready-for-application, such that the microneedle patch is in said ready-for-application state when the microneedle patch is coupled to the applicator and the applicator has been moved out of the coupling position. Figs.6C,6D (claim 46) in addition, Burton discloses: bringing an applicator for applying the microneedle patch to the skin of the subject in a coupling position relative to the microneedle patch, thereby coupling a coupling interface of the applicator to the microneedle patch [0060] Claims 2,47: further comprising a docking platform for docking the microneedle patch in the pre-application state; and wherein the coupling interface is arranged to couple to the microneedle patch when all of the following conditions (i)-(ii) are met: (i) the microneedle patch is docked on the docking platform, (ii) the applicator is brought in a predetermined position relative to the docking platform; and wherein the docking platform and the applicator are arranged to collaborate to transfer the microneedle patch from the pre-application state into the state ready-for-application, such that the microneedle patch is in the ready-for-application state when all of the following conditions (iii)-(iv) are met: (iii) the microneedle patch is coupled to the applicator; (iv) the applicator has been moved out of the predetermined position and the microneedle patch has thereby been taken from the docking platform. See Figs.6A-6C Claim 3: the docking platform and the applicator are movable relative to each other by manual force of the user, the docking platform and the applicator are arranged to transfer the microneedle patch from the pre-application state into the ready-for application when a predetermined manual manipulation of the docking platform and/or the applicator is performed by the user. [0047-0050] Claim 4: the docking system comprising: the docking platform, and a base with a top side on which the docking platform is located; and wherein the docking platform is shaped to dock the microneedle patch: oriented with a microneedle side of the microneedle patch facing towards the base, the microneedle side provided with a microneedle, and oriented with an applicator coupling side of the microneedle patch facing away from the base, the applicator coupling side further facing away from the microneedle side. Fig. 3B Claim 8: the docking platform is arranged to: latch a microneedle patch which comprises in the pre-application state a removable part, which has to be removed to bring the microneedle patch into the ready-for-application state, and retain the removable part on the docking platform when the applicator is being moved out of the predetermined position and the microneedle patch is being taken from the docking platform. [0052,0065] Claim 10: the docking platform comprises a latch which latches upon docking the microneedle patch onto the table , and which is locked upon placing the applicator into the predetermined position ; and, wherein: the applicator comprises a sheath for sliding over the top-side of the docking platform, and the latch comprises a resiliently or plastically deformable fastener which prior to sliding is movable in an inwards direction perpendicular to a sliding direction of the sheath, to latch the microneedle patch and the sheath when slid over the top-side blocking an outwards movement opposite to the inwards movement thereby locking the latch. Figs.6A-E Claim 13: the applicator comprises an actuator 130 for actuating, when in operation, a movement of the microneedle patch in the ready-for-application state relative to the skin to penetrate at least into, or through, the stratum corneum of the epidermis of the skin with the microneedle; and wherein the applicator comprises an energy storage 132 for storing energy to drive the actuator, and the energy is stored upon bringing the applicator in the predetermined position. [0059] Claim 15: the applicator comprises a transducer for converting kinetic energy of the applicator into potential energy stored in the energy storage; and wherein the applicator comprises: a housing, and a movable platform for holding the microneedle patch when coupled to the applicator, the movable platform being moved relative to the housing when the applicator is brought into the predetermined position, and wherein the energy storage comprises a spring which is resiliently deformed by the movement of the movable platform to store the potential energy by bringing the applicator into the predetermined position, a spring latch for latching the spring in tensioned state when the microneedle patch is transferred to the state ready-for-application and for releasing the spring to actuate the movement of the movable platform upon a point in time selected by the user, to place the microneedle onto the skin and penetrate the skin with the microneedles. Figs.1B-2F Claim 17: the applicator comprises: a base for positioning onto the skin, the base comprising: a skin-side end; a holder for holding the microneedle patch in the ready-for application state in position relative to the skin-side end, and an interface for an actuator, for actuating a movement of the microneedle patch relative to the skin-side end to penetrate at least into the stratum corneum of the epidermis of the skin with the microneedle. Fig. 1B Claim 18: in the pre-application state the microneedle patch comprises a microneedle carrier provided with a microneedle array at a microneedle side of the carrier, and a cover covering at least a part of the microneedle side; the applicator further arranged to separate the cover from the microneedle patch. Fig. 1B Claim 19: a guide for the applicator, the guide defining a predetermined path for moving the application from an initial position into the predetermined position. Fig. 1B Claim 21: the applicator 150 is arranged to transfer the microneedle patch into the ready-for application state without human contact to the microneedle patch . [0050] Claim 23: the system comprising a set of microneedle patches in the pre-application state. 106,108 Claim 31: a microneedle carrier with a microneedle provided at a microneedle side of the microneedle carrier, and a removable cover covering at least a part of the microneedle side; wherein the carrier is provided at the microneedle side with an adhesive surface which in pre-application state is covered and in the ready-for-application state is exposed, for attaching the microneedle patch onto the skin by the stiction of the adhesive surface. Fig. 1B, [0044,0060] Claim 35: at least one microneedle projects relative to the skin-adhesive surface out of the microneedle patch at the microneedle side. [0060] Claim 36: the cover is non-destructively releasably attached to the carrier and engages when docked in the pre-application state with a latch of the docking platform. Figs.6A-E Claim 37: the cover is arranged to be separated from the carrier when a predetermined force is exerted on the carrier by the applicator while the cover is held onto the docking platform. [0060,0065] Claim 41: the cover covers the microneedle and the cover has a depression in which the microneedle is admitted, and a contact area outside the depression which contacts the microneedle side and the microneedles project out of the microneedle side beyond contact area. Fig.3B Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FILLIN "Examiner name" \* MERGEFORMAT DEANNA K HALL whose telephone number is FILLIN "Phone number" \* MERGEFORMAT (571)272-2819 . The examiner can normally be reached FILLIN "Work Schedule?" \* MERGEFORMAT M-F 8:30am- 4:30pm EST . 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 Kevin Sirmons can be reached at FILLIN "SPE Phone?" \* MERGEFORMAT 571-272-4965 . 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. /DEANNA K HALL/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3783