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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant response:
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Claims 2-6 and 10-20 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b), as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Applicant timely traversed the restriction (election) requirement in the reply filed on 7/10/2026. Claims 1, 2-5 and 7-19 have been withdrawn.
Applicant’s arguments are very specific relative to the claim language. The knob 5035 and deflection knob 5032 may move together with rotation of knob 5035, however, rotation of 5032 fulfills the language that support bodies being slidable engaged with each other; see at least par. 0175. Also, “slidable engaged with each other” may be interpreted that they slide together. Further note, Manash et al teaches three driving members (knob) all of which move a support body.
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 applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1, 7-9 and 21 are 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 1, a plurality of mounting seats installed on the corresponding support bodies fixedly or movably, wherein a mounting seat(s) on one support body” is ambiguous. “Seats” is not commensurate with “seat(s)”. How many mounting seats per support body is being claimed? Please depict a figure.
Claim 21, the mounting seat(s) is indefinite. Please depict a figure.
Claim 7, the examiner is unclear how the language, “wherein the delivery tube comprises an outer sheath, a support tube and an inner core tube arranged sequentially from outside to inside, proximal ends of which are respectively coupled with the corresponding mounting seats and movable relative to each other; the mounting seats on the second support body comprise a third movable seat, a second fixed seat and a fourth movable seat arranged from the distal end to the proximal end, which are respectively connected to the outer sheath, the support tube and the inner core tube” further limits the control handle. The examiner notes that Manash et al teaches an outer sheath, support tube 40 and inner core tube 50.
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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 and 21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Manash et al (2018/0049873).
Manash et al teaches a control handle for operating an interventional assembly comprising a delivery tube (60, 40, 50) for loading an interventional device (such as 70,1010)
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and a bending component (bending section, catheter or steerable catheter portions) for changing an orientation of a distal end of the delivery tube. The control handle (14, 5014) has an axial direction in space, two ends of the control handle in the axial direction being distal and proximal ends respectively (self-evident in at least figure 22). The interventional assembly is not positively claimed.
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The control handle comprises:
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(at least) two support bodies arranged sequentially in the axial direction, the two support bodies comprising a first support body (corresponding with knob 5033 or 5032) and a second support body (corresponding with knob 5032 or knob 5035) located at a proximal end of the first support body and the (at least) two support bodies being slidably engaged with each other in the axial direction. Knob 5033 connects to a support body that translates the outer sheath; see at least par. 0184. Knob 5032 connects to a support body that pulls pull wire 612 and pushes the mid shaft assembly 20; see at least par. 0175. Knob 5032 connects to a support body having threads 5031.
a plurality of mounting seats (interpreted as the corresponding threads to the driving members to the knobs and/or the connects from the bending component and the delivery tube) installed on the corresponding support bodies fixedly or movably, wherein a mounting seat(s) on one support body is configured to connect the bending component (corresponding to knob 5032), and a mounting seat(s) on the other support body is configured to connect the delivery tube (corresponding to knob 5033 or 5035); and
a plurality of driving members (knobs 5033, 5032, 5035) movably installed on the corresponding support bodies, which are engaged with and configured to drive the corresponding mounting seats on the support bodies.
Claim 21, wherein the mounting seat(s) on the first support body (corresponding to knob 5032) is configured to connect to the bending component, and the mounting seat(s) on second support body (corresponding to knob 5035) is configured to connect the delivery tube.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BRUCE EDWARD SNOW whose telephone number is (571)272-4759. The examiner can normally be reached 7:30 am - 5:00 pm Monday through Thursday.
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, Melanie Tyson can be reached at 5712729062. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/BRUCE E SNOW/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3774
