Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/694,076

QUANTITATIVE MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING AND TUMOR FORECASTING

Final Rejection §112
Filed
Mar 21, 2024
Priority
Sep 22, 2021 — provisional 63/247,233 +2 more
Examiner
NGUYEN, HIEN NGOC
Art Unit
3797
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEM
OA Round
2 (Final)
53%
Grant Probability
Moderate
3-4
OA Rounds
1y 9m
Est. Remaining
93%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 53% of resolved cases
53%
Career Allowance Rate
408 granted / 775 resolved
-17.4% vs TC avg
Strong +40% interview lift
Without
With
+40.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 11m
Avg Prosecution
36 currently pending
Career history
831
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.7%
-38.3% vs TC avg
§103
85.5%
+45.5% vs TC avg
§102
2.6%
-37.4% vs TC avg
§112
9.7%
-30.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 775 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 . DETAILED ACTION Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a): (a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention. The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112: The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention. Limitation “viscoelasticity” is not in the specification. Limitation “proliferation rate parameter” is not disclose in the specification. Limitation “death rate parameter” is not disclose in the specification. 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 1-20 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. Limitations “proliferation rate parameter” and “death rate parameter” are not clear. Since the specification does not disclose the terms “proliferation rate parameter” and “death rate parameter”, it is unclear which terms in the equation 1 are “proliferation rate parameter” and “death rate parameter”. Is α the death rate parameter? No art rejection. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. US 2023/0280271; US 11,366,101; US 2022/0015698; US 2022/0246635; US 2017/0073426; US 2015/0285806; US 2015/0185222; US 2013/0329973; US 2012/0087913 and US 2010/0015051. Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a). A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HIEN NGOC NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)270-7031. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday 8:30am-6:30pm. 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, Anne Kozak can be reached at 571-270-0552. 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. /HIEN N NGUYEN/ Primary Examiner Art Unit 3797
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Mar 21, 2024
Application Filed
Aug 20, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Jan 15, 2026
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Jan 15, 2026
Examiner Interview Summary
Feb 18, 2026
Response Filed
Mar 11, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

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

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
53%
Grant Probability
93%
With Interview (+40.2%)
3y 11m (~1y 9m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 775 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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