Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/681,676

MICROFLUIDIC CHIP, AND NUCLEIC ACID EXTRACTION METHOD USING SAME AND NUCLEIC ACID EXTRACTION DEVICE COMPRISING SAME

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Feb 06, 2024
Priority
Aug 17, 2021 — CN 202110942041.2 +1 more
Examiner
SIEFKE, SAMUEL P
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
63%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
11m
Est. Remaining
80%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 63% of resolved cases
63%
Career Allowance Rate
658 granted / 1044 resolved
+3.0% vs TC avg
Strong +17% interview lift
Without
With
+17.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 4m
Avg Prosecution
33 currently pending
Career history
1070
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.5%
-39.5% vs TC avg
§103
37.2%
-2.8% vs TC avg
§102
36.0%
-4.0% vs TC avg
§112
1.2%
-38.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1044 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 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 40 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by CN 109536366 (herein after Zhu). Regarding claim 1, Zhu teaches a microfluidic chip, comprises: a channel plate layer (3) comprising: a liquid inlet groove (channel from cavity 61 where sample is added or channel from cavity 62), a mixing and lysing channel (8 or 5 or both), a nucleic acid extraction channel (step 7, nucleic acid amplification is performed in channel 91,92,93,94), a first air pressure drive port (air solenoid connected to port 77) and a second air pressure drive port (72), wherein the liquid inlet groove (channel after 61), the mixing and lysing channel (8 or 5 or both), the nucleic acid extraction channel (91 or 92, or 93 or 94) and the first air pressure drive port (77) are connected successively to form a liquid flow channel (all the channels are fluidically connected to one another and are in order starting with the liquid inlet groove to the nucleic acid extraction channel), and the liquid inlet groove (channel after 62 or 61), the mixing and lysing channel (8 or 5 or both) and the second air pressure drive port (72) are connected successively to form another liquid flow channel (see fig. 1); a cover plate layer (1) arranged opposite to the channel plate layer (3) and comprising a liquid inlet (61 or 62) through hole corresponding to the liquid inlet groove (channel after 61 or 62); a solution storage cavity on a side (injection pump that is connected to input 64 is used wot pump de-ionized water into the cartridge), away from the channel plate layer, of the cover plate layer, the solution storage cavity comprising a liquid outlet through hole corresponding to the liquid inlet through hole (the storage cavity which holds the de-iolized water would inherently have an outlet that is connected to input 64). Regarding claim 40, nucleic acid extraction device, comprising a microfluidic chip and a magnetic supply component, wherein the microfluidic chip is the microfluidic chip according to claim 1, and the magnetic supply component is on a side, away from the cover plate layer, of the channel plate layer (a magnetic supply component controls 102,104 valves). Claims 2, 4, 5, 8, 10-11, 13, 17, 19, 21-22, 25, 27, 30 and 32-35 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. Regarding claim 2, the prior art of CN 109536366 (herein after Zhu) does not teach or fairly suggest a microfluidic chip of claim 1, wherein: the solution storage cavity comprises a magnetic-bead buffer storage cavity, a binding-solution storage cavity, a cleaning-solution storage cavity and an eluent storage cavity; the liquid inlet through hole comprises a magnetic-bead buffer liquid inlet through hole, a binding-solution inlet through hole, a cleaning-solution inlet through hole and an eluent inlet through hole; the liquid inlet groove comprises a magnetic-bead buffer liquid inlet groove, a binding-solution inlet groove, a cleaning-solution inlet groove and an eluent inlet groove; wherein the magnetic-bead buffer storage cavity, the magnetic-bead buffer liquid inlet through hole and the magnetic-bead buffer liquid inlet groove are connected successively; the binding-solution storage cavity, the binding-solution inlet through hole and the binding- solution inlet groove are connected successively; the cleaning-solution storage cavity, the cleaning-solution inlet through hole and the cleaning- solution inlet groove are connected successively; the eluent storage cavity, the eluent inlet through hole and the eluent inlet groove are connected successively; and the mixing and lysing channel comprises: a mixing and lysing groove, a first channel directly connecting the mixing and lysing groove and the magnetic-bead buffer inlet groove, a second channel directly connecting the mixing and lysing groove and the binding-solution inlet groove, a third channel directly connecting the mixing and lysing groove and the cleaning-solution inlet groove, a fourth channel directly connecting the mixing and lysing groove and the eluent inlet groove, a fifth channel indirectly connected to the mixing and lysing groove and the second air pressure drive port, and a sixth channel directly connecting the mixing and lysing groove and the nucleic acid extraction channel. Claims 4, 5, 8, 10-11, 13, 17, 19, 21-22, 25, 27, 30 and 31 depend from claim 2 or claims that depended from claim 2. Regarding claim 32, the prior art of CN 109536366 (herein after Zhu) does not teach or fairly suggest a microfluidic chip of claim 1, wherein the channel plate layer further comprises a first slot on a side away from the cover plate layer, and an orthographic projection of the first slot on a plane where the cover plate layer is, does not overlap with an orthographic projection of the first air pressure drive port and an orthographic projection of the second air pressure drive port on the plane where the cover plate layer is; the cover plate layer further comprises a second slot on the side away from the channel plate layer, wherein an orthographic projection of the second slot on the plane where the cover plate layer is overlaps with the orthographic projection of the first slot on the plane where the cover plate layer is; the microfluidic chip further comprises a claw-type connector, parts of the claw-type connector are embedded in the first slot and the second slot, and the claw-type connector comprises a pressure supply channel connected to the first air pressure drive port or the second air pressure drive port. Claim 33 depends from claim 32. Regarding claim 34, the prior art of CN 109536366 (herein after Zhu) does not teach or fairly suggest a microfluidic chip of claim 1, wherein the solution storage cavity comprises a liquid storage cavity with a liquid discharge port, and an electrode release layer and a heat-melt sealing structure on a side close to the liquid discharge port, wherein the electrode release layer comprises an opening at a position corresponding to the liquid discharge port, and the heat-melt sealing structure seals the liquid discharge port and the opening; the liquid discharge port and the opening form the liquid outlet through hole. Claim 35 depends from claim 34. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SAMUEL P SIEFKE whose telephone number is (571)272-1262. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8-5. 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, Maris Kessel can be reached at 571-270-7698. 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. /SAMUEL P SIEFKE/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1758
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Feb 06, 2024
Application Filed
Jun 25, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
63%
Grant Probability
80%
With Interview (+17.2%)
3y 4m (~11m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1044 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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