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 Rejections - 35 USC § 102
Claim(s) 10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1),102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Kung (6,366,817).
10. (Currently Amended) A medical system, comprising: [[-]](a) an implantable medical device comprising an energy storage device for supplying electrical energy to the medical device and a secondary coil for transferring electrical energy to the energy storage device[[, |]; (see at least col. 7:40-50 which teaches a secondary coil and internal battery, and col. 1:28 teaches that TET systems are used to charge an implanted power source)
and [[-]](b) a charging device designed to charge the energy storage device, the charging device comprising multiple primary coils in an array, (see at least col. 7:50-55 which teaches multiple primary coils)
wherein the medical system is adapted to use impedance tomography to determine which primary coil is optimal for activation to achieve high power transfer efficiency. (the phrase ‘adapted to use’ renders the use of impedance tomography optional and not necessarily required as a limitation. Thus, Kung is considered to teach all of the subject matter of the claim. See MPEP 2111.04. Further, Kung teaches choosing the closest, and thus most optimal, primary coil in which to use, see at least col. 2:39-45.)
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-9 are allowed. The prior art does not fairly teach the medical system of claim 1 including a charging device designed to calculate impedance for each segment.
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/Scott M. Getzow/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3792