Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/693,477

BACTERIOLYSIS METHOD, BACTERIOLYSIS AID, AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF BACTERIA

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Mar 19, 2024
Examiner
OGUNBIYI, OLUWATOSIN A
Art Unit
1645
Tech Center
1600 — Biotechnology & Organic Chemistry
Assignee
Asahi Kasei Kabushiki Kaisha
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
63%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
3y 1m
To Grant
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 63% of resolved cases
63%
Career Allow Rate
579 granted / 914 resolved
+3.3% vs TC avg
Strong +43% interview lift
Without
With
+42.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 1m
Avg Prosecution
45 currently pending
Career history
959
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
5.5%
-34.5% vs TC avg
§103
26.4%
-13.6% vs TC avg
§102
24.0%
-16.0% vs TC avg
§112
26.4%
-13.6% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 914 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
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 . Claims 1-40 are pending and are under examination. Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement filed 5/20/24, 9/6/24 and 7/15/25 has been considered and initialed copies are enclosed. Claim Objections Claims 6-9, 20, 21, 23, 30-32 and 36-38 are objected to because of the following informalities: In claim 6, please insert a space between “from” and “7” in line 6. In claim 6, acronyms are permissible, however, the full meaning should be included in the first recitation. See claim 6 reciting the acronym “HLB”. In claim 7, please insert a space between “from” and “7.5” in line 2. In claim 9, please insert a space between “500” and “mM” in line 2. In claim 20, please insert a space between “from” and “7” in line 3. In claim 21, please insert a space between “from” and “7.5” in line 2. In claim 23, please insert a space between “500” and “mM” in line 2. In claim 30, please insert a space between “1.5” and “M” in line 1. In claim 30, please insert a space between “500” and “mM” in line 1. In claim 36, please insert a space between “from” and “7” in line 3. In claim 37, please insert a space between “from” and “7.5” in line 2. In claim 40, “wherein in the step” should “wherein in the step to prepare the mixture solution”. Appropriate correction is required. Specification Applicant is reminded of the proper content of an abstract of the disclosure. A patent abstract is a concise statement of the technical disclosure of the patent and should include that which is new in the art to which the invention pertains. The abstract should not refer to purported merits or speculative applications of the invention and should not compare the invention with the prior art. If the patent is of a basic nature, the entire technical disclosure may be new in the art, and the abstract should be directed to the entire disclosure. If the patent is in the nature of an improvement in an old apparatus, process, product, or composition, the abstract should include the technical disclosure of the improvement. The abstract should also mention by way of example any preferred modifications or alternatives. Where applicable, the abstract should include the following: (1) if a machine or apparatus, its organization and operation; (2) if an article, its method of making; (3) if a chemical compound, its identity and use; (4) if a mixture, its ingredients; (5) if a process, the steps. Extensive mechanical and design details of an apparatus should not be included in the abstract. The abstract should be in narrative form and generally limited to a single paragraph within the range of 50 to 150 words in length. See MPEP § 608.01(b) for guidelines for the preparation of patent abstracts. The abstract of the disclosure is objected to because the abstract is 164 words in length. 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). 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 11, 25 and 33-40 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 recites “…in particular Escherichia species, Staphylococcus species, and Streptococcus species.” Description of examples or preferences is properly set forth in the specification rather than the claims. If stated in the claims, examples and preferences may lead to confusion over the intended scope of a claim. It is not clear whether the claims are limited to only at least one bacterial species elected from Escherichia species, Staphylococcus species, and Streptococcus species or that the other bacterial species are optional. In addition in claim 40, the claim recites that the bacteriolysis enzyme which includes all four bacteriolysis enzymes can lyse all of the Escherichia species, the staphylococcus species, and the streptococcus species. However, claim 33 recites that the lysozyme can lyse the Escherichia, the lysostaphin can lyse the Staphylococcus species, and the lysozyme, acetyl glucosaminidase, and endopeptidase can lyse the Streptococcus species. The metes and bounds of claim 40 is not clear because the enzymes lyse each bacteria as set forth in claim 33 or all the enzymes lyse all of the same bacteria. Status of Claims Claims 6-9, 20, 21, 23, 30-32 and 36-38 are objected to. Claims 1-5, 10, 12-19, 22, 24 and 26-29 are allowable. Claims 11, 25 and 33-40 are rejected. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to OLUWATOSIN A OGUNBIYI whose telephone number is (571)272-9939. The examiner can normally be reached IFP. 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, Daniel Kolker can be reached at 5712723181. 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. /OLUWATOSIN A OGUNBIYI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1645
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Mar 19, 2024
Application Filed
Jan 27, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 31, 2026
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
99%
With Interview (+42.9%)
3y 1m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 914 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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