DETAILED ACTION
PIPETTE TIP FOR A LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS
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 .
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 03/03/2025 and 02/20/2024 are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Oath/Declaration
The Oath/Declaration submitted on 11/27/2017 is noted by the Examiner.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a) because they fail to show (a plurality of tip clamping members as described in claims 3-5 and claims 8-10) as described in the specification, nor do they have reference numbers represented in the drawing.
Any structural detail that is essential for a proper understanding of the disclosed invention should be shown in the drawing. MPEP § 608.02(d).
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Specification
The abstract of the disclosure is objected to because: the abstract is not on a separate sheet.
Applicant is reminded of the proper language and format for an abstract of the disclosure.
The abstract should be in narrative form and generally limited to a single paragraph on a separate sheet within the range of 50 to 150 words in length. The abstract should describe the disclosure sufficiently to assist readers in deciding whether there is a need for consulting the full patent text for details.
The language should be clear and concise and should not repeat information given in the title. It should avoid using phrases which can be implied, such as, “The disclosure concerns,” “The disclosure defined by this invention,” “The disclosure describes,” etc. In addition, the form and legal phraseology often used in patent claims, such as “means” and “said,” should be avoided.
A corrected abstract of the disclosure is required and must be presented on a separate sheet, apart from any other text. See MPEP § 608.01(b).
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
The following title is suggested: Pipetting Head for Liquid Dispensing Has Plunger Clamping Rod.
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities:
The “plunger connection mechanism and plurality of tip clamping members” does not have a reference number in the specification.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Objections
Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: The claim is objected to because the element characteristics “pipette tip connection mechanism" described in claim 1 is also described as a "pipette tip clamping drive mechanism" in the specification and have both been used to designate numeral 130.
Applicant is advised to use consistent names and using the same name for each element throughout the specification and claims.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 1 is objected to because the element characteristics “plunger connection mechanism" described in claim 1 is also described as a "plunger clamping mechanism" in the specification and have both been used to designate numeral 140.
Applicant is advised to use consistent names and using the same name for each element throughout the specification and claims.
Appropriate correction is required.
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: at page 14, line 10, numeral 143 is referred as "plunger mount”, however, at line 4, numerals 143 is referred as “plunger mount sleeve” and at line 14 referred to as “tip mount sleeve”.
Applicant is advised to use consistent numbering and using the same name for each element throughout the specification and drawing. Appropriate correction is required
Appropriate correction is required.
Upon review of the specification, the Examiner noticed that the specification may include a number of similar reference numerals with different names.
Applicant is advised to check the specification thoroughly for similar issues.
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 1-2 and 8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Kurianto et al. [herein after Kurianto] (WO 2020/159659) “admitted by Applicant on IDS”.
Regarding claim 1, Kurianto discloses, a pipetting head (110) for a liquid dispensing apparatus for use with an array of pipettes each having a pipette tip and a plunger disposed within the pipette tip, the pipetting head (110) having
a pipette tip connection mechanism (130) with a plurality of tip mounts (150) for holding the pipette tips of the array of pipettes during use (Fig. 12); and
a plunger connection mechanism (140) with a plurality of plunger mounts (118) for holding the plungers (160) of the array of pipettes during use, wherein: (¶0064, lines 1-3),
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each of the plurality of plunger mounts (150) have a radially extending feature on its inner surface (inner surface of 150) which is configured to form one half of a snap-fit connection (Fig. 18), and wherein the plunger connection mechanism (140) being a plunger clamping mechanism (140) further comprising:
a plurality of plunger clamping members (160) each associated with one of the plurality of plunger mounts (118) and each having a clamping region (¶00065, lines 3-6; “the hollow sleeve portion 454 pushes down around the collet chuck portion 412 of the plunger collet 400, which causes the plunger collet 400 to close or contract. In this state, the plunger collet 400 is clamped onto the pipette plunger”), and
a plunger clamping drive mechanism (116B) comprising an actuator operable to drive “motor 116b” relative movement between the plunger mounts (¶0035, lines 1-8; “For example, the pipetting head 110 may include, any types of actuators,”) and the plunger clamping members (140) in an axial direction to selectively engage the plunger clamping mechanism (140) by moving it between a clamp position and a release position (Fig. 25A - Fig. 25B; ¶0064, “ the non-clamping state and the collet chuck portion 412 of the plunger collet 400, which allows the plunger collet 400 to open up or expand”),
wherein the plurality of plunger mounts (118) comprises a plurality of axially extending sleeves (454) and wherein the plurality of plunger clamping members (140) comprises a plurality of axially extending clamping rods (400) which define the clamping region (Fig. 10) and extend inside the plurality of axially extending sleeves (454) when the plunger clamping mechanism (140) being engaged, the clamping region of each plunger clamping rod (400) being axially adjacent to the radially extending feature on the inner surface of its associated plunger mount (118) when the plunger clamping mechanism (160) being in the clamp position (¶00065, lines 3-6; “the hollow sleeve portion 454 pushes down around the collet chuck portion 412 of the plunger collet 400, which causes the plunger collet 400 to close or contract. In this state, the plunger collet 400 is clamped onto the pipette plunger”), and
the clamping region of each plunger clamping rod (400) is axially offset from the radially extending feature on the inner surface of its associated plunger mount when the plunger clamping mechanism (140) being in the release position (¶00064, lines 1-4; Fig. 25A).
Regarding claim 2, Kurianto further discloses the plurality of clamping rods (400) each have an enlarged distal end portion connected to a narrower shaft portion (410), the enlarged distal end portion defining the clamping region (Fig. 23A).
Regarding claim 8, Kurianto discloses pipetting head (110) for a liquid dispensing apparatus for use with an array of pipettes each having a pipette tip (150) and a plunger disposed within the pipette tip (150), the pipetting head (see abstract).
a plunger connection mechanism (140) with a plurality of plunger mounts (118) for holding the plungers of the array of pipettes during use, and
a pipette tip connection mechanism (130) with a plurality of tip mounts (160) for holding the pipette tips (150) of the array of pipettes during use (Fig. 6), wherein each of the plurality of tip mounts (150) comprises a radially extending feature on its outer surface which is configured to form one half of a snap-fit connection (Fig. 12), and wherein the pipette tip connection mechanism (130) is a pipette tip clamping mechanism (Fig. 11) further comprising:
a plurality of tip clamping members (450) each associated with one of the plurality of tip mounts (150) and each having a clamping region, and
a tip clamping drive mechanism (116b) comprising an actuator operable to drive “motor 116b” relative movement between the tip mounts (¶0035, lines 1-8; “For example, the pipetting head 110 may include, any types of actuators,”) and the tip clamping members in an axial direction to selectively engage the pipette tip clamping mechanism (130) by moving it between a clamp position and a release position (¶00065, lines 3-6; “the hollow sleeve portion 454 pushes down around the collet chuck portion 412 of the plunger collet 400, which causes the plunger collet 400 to close or contract. In this state, the plunger collet 400 is clamped onto the pipette plunger”),
wherein the plurality of tip clamping members (450) comprises a plurality of sleeves (454) which define the clamping region (Fig. 25A) and which are coaxial with the plurality of tip mounts (150) such that the plurality of sleeves (454) circumscribe the plurality of tip mounts (150) with the clamping region of each of the plurality of sleeves (454) being axially adjacent to the radially extending feature on the outer surface of its associated tip mount (150) when the pipette tip clamping mechanism (130) is in the clamp position (Fig. 25A), and wherein the clamping region of each sleeve (454) being axially offset from the radially extending feature on the outer surface of its associated tip mount when the pipette tip clamping mechanism (130) being in the release position (¶00064, lines 1-4; Fig. 25A).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 3-7, 9-19 and 21 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.
Conclusion
Butz discloses multi-channel pipettor has an electronically controlled motor to reposition pipette tips for different center to center spacing. Each repositionable tip fitting assembly has a cam following pin that is driven by cam tracks in a motor driven roller drum. Stationary ports for the multiple aspiration cylinders are strategically placed to simplify management of flexible tubes leading to the repositionable pipette tip fitting assemblies.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BRANDI N HOPKINS whose telephone number is (571)270-7042. The examiner can normally be reached M & F 9-5 and T-TH, 6-4.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Kristina Deherrera can be reached at (303) 297-4237. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/BRANDI N HOPKINS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2855