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 .
This office action is in response to applicant’s communication of 4/4/2024. Currently claims 1-8, 10-11, 14-17, 22-23, 27, 30-31, 33 are pending and rejected below.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 6/27/2024 is being considered by the examiner.
Claim Objections
The numbering of claims is not in accordance with 37 CFR 1.126 which requires the original numbering of the claims to be preserved throughout the prosecution. When claims are canceled, the remaining claims must not be renumbered. When new claims are presented, they must be numbered consecutively beginning with the number next following the highest numbered claims previously presented (whether entered or not).
There is no claim 13 in the pending claims of 4/4/2024.
Appropriate correction is required.
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)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-4, 10-11, 14-15, 22-23, 27, 33 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Almasian et al. (US 20050090797 A1).
Almasian discloses an aseptic coupling system (figure 3) comprising: first and second connectors (56 and 58 for example), each comprising: a body defining a plug portion (64) and a connector fluid path 66); and an aseptic cap (60) releasably secured to an end of the plug portion by an attachment feature on the cap that releasably engages the plug portion for attachment thereto (figure 3); and a coupler comprising: a housing defining first and second socket portions (52 and 54) for receiving the plug portions of the first and second connectors, and a cavity (inner portion of 50) disposed between the first and second socket portions; a seal translating element (72) assembled with the housing and at least partially disposed within the cavity of the coupler housing; and an actuator element (80) connected to the seal translating element and operable to move the seal translating element from a cap receiving closed position to a cap displacing open position; wherein when the seal translating element is in the cap receiving closed position, the caps of the first and second connectors are receivable in the cavity of the coupler housing in alignment with the seal translating element (see figure 5c); and when the seal translating element is moved from the cap receiving closed position to the cap displacing open position, the caps are disengaged from the connector plug portions and a coupler fluid path, defined by the seal translating element, is moved from an offset portion of the coupler housing cavity into alignment with the connector fluid paths (see figure 5e).
Concerning claim 2 and the seal translating element is in the cap receiving closed position, first and second recessed portions of the seal translating element are positioned to receive the caps of the first and second connectors (see figure 5a-5b).
Concerning claim 3 and the coupler further comprises sealing arrangements between the first and second recessed portions of the seal translating element and each of the coupler fluid path and the connector fluid paths (see 78 as in figure 3).
Concerning claim 4 and the first and second recessed portions of the seal translating element are configured to retain the caps when the seal translating element is moved from the cap receiving closed position to the cap displacing open position (see figure 5e).
Concerning claim 10 and the housing includes an access port that aligns with the coupler fluid path when the seal translating element is in the cap displacing open position (see opening 76).
Concerning claim 11 and the access port comprises at least one of a septum and a plugged connection (see figures 3-4).
Concerning claim 14 and an aseptic coupling system comprising: at least one connector (56/58), each comprising a body defining a plug portion (64) and a connector fluid path and an aseptic cap (60) releasably secured to an end of the plug portion by an attachment feature on the cap that releasably engages the plug portion for attachment thereto; and a coupler comprising a housing defining at least one socket portion (52/54) for receiving the plug portion of the at least one connector and a cavity (inner portion of 50) adjacent to the at least one socket portion, a seal translating element (72) assembled with the housing and at least partially disposed within the cavity of the coupler housing, and an actuator element (80) connected to the seal translating element and operable to move the seal translating element between a cap receiving closed position and a cap displacing open position; wherein when the seal translating element is in the cap receiving closed position, a recessed portion of the seal translating element is positioned to receive the cap of the at least one connector (see figure 5b-5c); and when the seal translating element is moved from the cap receiving closed position to the cap displacing open position, the cap is disengaged from the connector plug portion and displaced to a first offset portion of the coupler housing cavity, and a coupler fluid path, defined by the seal translating element, is moved from a second offset portion of the coupler housing cavity into alignment with the connector fluid path (see figure 5d); and wherein the coupler further comprises sealing arrangements between the recessed portion of the seal translating element and each of the coupler fluid path and the connector fluid path (see figure 3 and 76/78 for examples).
Concerning claim 15 and the recessed portion of the seal translating element is configured to retain the cap when the seal translating element is moved from the cap receiving closed position to the cap displacing open position (see 74/86 and figure 5d).
Concerning claim 22 and the housing includes an access port that aligns with the coupler fluid path when the seal translating element is in the cap displacing open position (see figure 5d for example).
Concerning claim 23 and the access port comprises at least one of a septum and a plugged connection (see figures 3-4).
Concerning claim 27 and an aseptic coupling system comprising: at least one connector (56/58), each comprising a body defining a plug portion (64) and a connector fluid path and an aseptic cap (60) releasably secured to an end of the plug portion by at least one extension (periphery of 60) configured to interlock with a corresponding notch on the plug portion (interior of 62); and a coupler comprising a housing defining at least one socket portion (52/54) for receiving the plug portion of the at least one connector and a cavity (interior of 50 ) adjacent to the at least one socket portion, a seal translating element (72) assembled with the housing and at least partially disposed within the cavity of the coupler housing, and an actuator element (80) connected to the seal translating element and operable to move the seal translating element from a cap receiving closed position (figure 5b) to a cap displacing open position (figure 5d); wherein when the seal translating element is in the cap receiving closed position, the cap of the at least one connector is receivable in the cavity of the coupler housing in alignment with the seal translating element (figure 5b-5c); and when the seal translating element is moved from the cap receiving closed position to the cap displacing open position, the at least one extension disengages from the corresponding notch such that the cap is disengaged from the connector plug portion, and a coupler fluid path, defined by the seal translating element, is moved from an offset portion of the coupler housing cavity into alignment with the connector fluid path (see figure 5d).
Concerning claim 33 and the housing includes a recessed groove that receives the at least one extension when the seal translating element is moved from the cap receiving closed position to the cap displacing open position (see groove 92 near 52).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim(s) 5-8, 16-17, and 30-31 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Almasian et al. (US 2005/0090797 A1) in view of Fujii (US 6,485,483 B1).
Almasian discloses the claimed invention except for the caps are re-attached to the plug portions by at least one extension configured to interlock with a corresponding notch on the plug portion. Fujii teaches that it is known to use the caps (Fujii 12) are re-attached to the plug portions (11) by at least one extension (12a) configured to interlock with a corresponding notch (11a) on the plug portion as set forth in figures 1-15 to provide easy connection and disconnection without allowing channel ends to be touched by fingers and sealing of the device.. It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made to modify the system as taught by Almasian with the caps are re-attached to the plug portions by at least one extension configured to interlock with a corresponding notch on the plug portion as taught by Fujii, since such a modification would provide the system with the caps are re-attached to the plug portions by at least one extension configured to interlock with a corresponding notch on the plug portion for providing easy connection and disconnection without allowing channel ends to be touched by fingers and sealing of the device.
Concerning claim 5 and the actuator element is operable to move the seal translating element from the cap displacing open position back to the cap receiving closed position (see Almasian para [0072] and multiple actuations).
Concerning claim 6 and when the seal translating element is moved from the cap displacing open position back to the cap receiving closed position, the caps are re-attached to the plug portions of the first and second connectors (see Almasian para [0072] and multiple actuations, it is examiners position that if the device was reactuated that the caps would be reattached to the plug portions as a return to figure 5b state).
Concerning claim 7 and the attachment feature on each cap (Fujii 12) comprises at least one extension (12a) configured to interlock with a corresponding notch (11a) on the plug portion (11), the at least one extension disengaging from the corresponding notch when the seal translating element is moved from the cap receiving closed position to the cap displacing open position (see figures 2-15).
Concerning claim 8. And the housing includes a recessed groove that receives the at least one extension when the seal translating element is moved from the cap receiving closed position to the cap displacing open position (see Fujii 18 area).
Concerning claim 16 and the actuator element is operable to move the seal translating element from the cap displacing open position back to the cap receiving closed position (see Fujii figures 14-15).
Concerning claim 17 and when the seal translating element is moved from the cap displacing open position back to the cap receiving closed position, the cap is re-attached to the plug portion of the at least one connector (see Fujii figures 14-15).
Concerning claim 30 and the actuator element is operable to move the seal translating element from the cap displacing open position back to the cap receiving closed position (again see Fujii figures 14-15).
Concerning claim 31 and the seal translating element is moved from the cap displacing open position back to the cap receiving closed position, the cap is re-attached to the plug portion of the at least one connector (again see Fujii figures 14-15).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PHILLIP A GRAY whose telephone number is (571)272-7180. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9-5 EST (FLEX).
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, Michael Tsai can be reached at (571)270-5246. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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PHILLIP A. GRAY
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3783
/PHILLIP A GRAY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3783
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