Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 16, 2026
Application No. 18/710,058

CRYOGENIC REFRIGERATION DEVICE

Final Rejection §103§112
Filed
May 14, 2024
Priority
Nov 17, 2021 — FR FR 2112151 +1 more
Examiner
BANKS, KEONA LAUREN
Art Unit
3763
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
OA Round
2 (Final)
56%
Grant Probability
Moderate
3-4
OA Rounds
2m
Est. Remaining
58%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 56% of resolved cases
56%
Career Allowance Rate
19 granted / 34 resolved
-14.1% vs TC avg
Minimal +2% lift
Without
With
+1.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 5m
Avg Prosecution
38 currently pending
Career history
77
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.7%
-39.3% vs TC avg
§103
50.2%
+10.2% vs TC avg
§102
16.7%
-23.3% vs TC avg
§112
30.8%
-9.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 34 resolved cases

Office Action

§103 §112
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 . Status of Claims The Office Action is in response to the remarks and amendments filed on 3/27/2026. The objections to the Drawings have been withdrawn in light of the amendments filed. The objections to the Specification have been withdrawn in light of the amendments filed. Claims 1-15 are cancelled. The rejections pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 112(b) have been withdrawn in light of the amendments filed. Accordingly, claims 16-32 are pending for consideration in this Office Action. 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. Claim 20 is 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. Regarding Claim 20, the recitation in amended claim 20 of “the same support flange that is disposed within the cover” lacks proper antecedent basis in the claims. In particular, the amendment distinguishes a support flange structure from the cover structure where a support flange is not introduced in the claims. One skilled in the art would not necessarily have the ability to ascertain the metes and bounds of the particular claim limitation. Therefore, the claim is indefinite and is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, second paragraph. For examination purposes, the limitation has been interpreted as - - a support flange that is disposed within the cover - - for clarity. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 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 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. Claims 16-20, 23, 24 and 26-32 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jette et al. (US20230135323A1) in view of Matthews et al. (US20230090979A1). Regarding Claim 16, Jette teaches a cryogenic refrigeration device [dilution refrigerator 100, Figure 1] comprising: an enclosure [cryostat 101, Figure 1] delimiting a vacuum-sealed volume [where flange 101A of cryostat 101 forms an outer vacuum chamber, Figure 1; 0045] closed by a cover [where flanges, including 101A, can be made of plates; 0045, where one of ordinary skill in the art would understand a vacuum sealed volume inherently is closed and covered]; a cryogenic cooler [continuous flow helium refrigerator 106, Figure 1] mounted through the cover [where helium liquefier 108 is thermally coupled to flange 101C as helium flows through piping circuit 107, Figure 1; 0052] and having a first end located outside the enclosure [liquid helium reservoir where flow helium refrigerator 106 externally cools helium, Figure 2A; 0056] and a second end located inside the enclosure [where first closed loop piping circuit 107 couples to flange 101C, Figure 2; 0052], the cryogenic cooler being configured to supply cold at the second end [where helium refrigerator 106 cools flange 101C; 0052]; and at least two thermally conductive plates [flange 101B and flange 101C, Figure 1, where flanges, including 101B and 101C, can be made of plates; 0045 ] distributed in a distribution direction in the enclosure [where the flanges are distributed vertically as seen in Figure 1 forming nested enclosures; 0045] and forming thermal stages [where the flanges define temperature stages; 0045], wherein at least some of the plates are configured to be cooled by the cryogenic cooler to respective predetermined temperatures which decrease in the distribution direction [where flanges 101A-101E define five temperature stages of decreasing temperature moving inward to the inner stage 101E, Figure 1; 0045], wherein at least one of the plates is connected to a thermal shield [where the flanges serve for supporting radiation shields; 0045] forming a volume which encloses at least one following plate [where the flanges 101A-101E are nested, Figure 1], wherein the cryogenic cooler is configured to use a cold source of liquefied cycle fluid [liquid helium reservoir 202, Figure 2A], the cooling power of the cryogenic cooler being stored and/or produced at a first end of the cryogenic cooler [where flow helium refrigerator 106 externally cools helium from cryostat 101, Figure 2A; 0056], at least some of the plates being cooled by the cycle fluid via a set of heat exchangers [heat exchanger 112 and 110, Figure 1] in heat exchange with said at least some of the plates [flange 101B and flange 101C respectively, Figure 1] and with a flow of the cycle fluid which transfers the cooling power from the first end to the second end of the cryogenic refrigerator [where helium liquefier 108 is thermally coupled to flange 101C as helium flows through piping circuit 107, Figure 1; 0052] Jette does not teach wherein the set of heat exchangers form a single mechanical entity configured to be inserted into and removed from the enclosure in a single operation. However, Matthews teaches a cryogenic cooling system [0001] wherein the set of heat exchangers [where adjustment members cause the inner primary plates 11-15 and inner secondary plates 21-25 to be brought into conductive thermal contact in the mounted state, Figure 1; 0066] form a single mechanical entity [secondary insert 28, Figure ;0053] configured to be inserted into and removed from the enclosure in a single operation [where secondary insert 28 is demountable from primary insert 18; 0053], where it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made to connect the line strands of Smith, since such modification would have involved making elements integral. Making elements integral is generally recognized as being within the level of ordinary skill in the art. In re Larson, 340 F.2d 965, 968, 144 USPQ 347, 349 (CCPA 1965), i.e., simplifying assembly and operation by providing a subassembly of multiple components [Mattews;0054]. Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the assembly of Jette to have wherein the set of heat exchangers form a single mechanical entity configured to be inserted into and removed from the enclosure in a single operation in view of the teachings of Matthews where the elements could have been combined by known methods with no change in their respective functions, and the combination would have yielded predictable results i.e., simplifying assembly and operation by providing a subassembly of multiple components [Mattews;0054]. Regarding Claim 17, Jette, as modified, teaches the invention of claim 16 and further teaches where the set of heat exchangers [heat exchangers 112 and 110, Figure 1] in heat exchange with said plates [flange 101B and 101C respectively, Figure 1] comprises a plurality of separate heat exchangers associated with the plates [where heat exchanger 112 cools flange 101B and heat exchanger 110 cools flange 101C, Figure 1; 0052; 0053], the exchangers of at least two plates being mechanically connected to one another via pipes [where the heat exchangers 112 and 110 are connected by 3He supply pipe 104, Figure 1; 0052; 0053] but Jette does not teach the pipes are rigid or a frame to maintain the integrity of the single mechanical entity. However, Matthews teaches a cryogenic cooling system [0001] where a frame [where secondary rods 27 form a tiered assembly of insert 28, Figure 1; 0047] maintains the integrity of the single mechanical entity [secondary insert 28, Figure 1] where one of ordinary skill in the art could have combined the elements as claimed by known methods and that in combination, each element would perform the same function as it did separately and one of ordinary skills would have recognized that the results of the combination were predictable i.e., forming a self-supporting assembly, which does not require any additional support structures to maintain its original configuration and can be removed [Matthews;0059]. Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the assembly of the combined teachings to have a frame to maintain the integrity of the single mechanical entity in view of the teachings of Matthews where the elements could have been combined by known methods with no change in their respective functions, and the combination would have yielded predictable results i.e., forming a self-supporting assembly, which does not require any additional support structures to maintain its original configuration and can be removed [Matthews;0059]. Regarding Claim 18, Jette, as modified, teaches the invention of claim 16 and further teaches wherein said heat exchangers [heat exchangers 112 and 110, Figure 1] are arranged and spaced apart in the distribution direction [vertical where flanges 101A-101E define five temperature stages of decreasing temperature moving inward to the inner stage 101E, Figure 1; 0045], the distribution direction being vertical in the operating position in the enclosure [where heat exchanger 110 is below heat exchanger 112, Figure 1]. Regarding Claim 19, Jette, as modified, teaches the invention of claim 18 and does not teach where said heat exchangers [heat exchangers 110 and 112, Figure 1] are configured to be mounted in the enclosure via the same passage in the cover [where both heat exchangers are inside cryostat 101 where heat exchanger 112 is above heat exchanger 110, Figure 1] Regarding Claim 20, Jette, as modified, teaches the invention of claim 18 and further teaches wherein said heat exchanges [heat exchangers 110 and 112, Figure 1] are configured to be mounted in the enclosure [cryostat 101, Figure 1] but Jette, as modified, does not explicitly teach the heat exchangers are mounted via a support flange that is disposed within the cover [flange 101A where the flanges can be plates where components can be affixed; 0045, where the heat exchangers are both inside cryostat 101, where heat exchanger 112 is above heat exchanger 110, Figure 1]. However, Matthews teaches a cryogenic cooling system [0001] where the heat exchangers [where adjustment members cause the inner primary plates 11-15 and inner secondary plates 21-25 to be brought into conductive thermal contact in the mounted state, Figure 1; 0066] are mounted via a support flange [support plate 26, Figure 3] that is disposed within the cover [primary plate 16, Figure 3] where one of ordinary skill in the art could have combined the elements as claimed by known methods and that in combination, each element would perform the same function as it did separately and one of ordinary skills would have recognized that the results of the combination were predictable i.e., forming a self-supporting assembly, which does not require any additional support structures to maintain its original configuration and can be removed [Matthews;0059]. Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the assembly of the combined teachings to have the heat exchangers mounted via a support flange that is disposed within the cover in view of the teachings of Matthews where the elements could have been combined by known methods with no change in their respective functions, and the combination would have yielded predictable results i.e., forming a self-supporting assembly, which does not require any additional support structures to maintain its original configuration and can be removed [Matthews;0059]. Regarding Claim 23, Jette, as modified, teaches the invention of claim 16 and further teaches where at least some of the set of heat exchangers [heat exchangers 110 and 112, Figure 1] are arranged in a sealed casing delimiting a volume [where flanges 101B and 101C support radiation shields and need not be perfectly sealed, implying they are sealed but not as perfectly sealed as vacuum chamber 101A, Figure 1; 0045] that is independent of the remainder of the volume of the enclosure [flange 101A also called an outer vacuum chamber; 0045]. Regarding Claim 24, Jette, as modified, teaches the invention of claim 23 and further teaches where at least some of the heat exchangers [heat exchangers 112 and 110, Figure 1] are in heat exchange with said plates [flange 101D and 101E, Figure 1] without being in contact with the plates but via an intermediate gas [where heat exchanger 112 and 110 cool supply line 104, Figure 1; 0052; 0053], a gas containing at least one of the following: helium, [gaseous 3He supply via supply line 104, Figure 1; 0048]. Regarding Claim 26, Jette, as modified, teaches the invention of claim 16 and further teaches where the cryogenic cooler [where gas handling system 105 includes continuous flow helium refrigerator 106, Figure 2A] comprises: a refrigerator [continuous flow helium refrigerator 106, Figure 2A] having a cycle of refrigeration of a cycle fluid [where helium liquefier 108 uses a recuperative cycle of helium; 0055 ], said refrigerator comprising: a cycle circuit [a recuperative cycle including branch 212C and 212F, Figure 2A; 0055] composed of the following elements arranged in series: a compression mechanism [compressor 208, Figure 2A] configured to compress the cycle fluid [0055], a cooling member [heat exchanger 206, Figure 2A] configured to cool the cycle fluid [where helium gas from branch 212A is used to cool compressed helium, Figure 2A; 0055], an expansion mechanism [expander 210, Figure 2A] configured to expand the cycle fluid [0055], and a reheating member configured to reheat the expanded cycle fluid [where expanded fluid returns to heat exchanger 206 via branch 212G to cool compressed helium, Figure 2A; 0055], wherein the cycle fluid comprises at least one of the following: helium, hydrogen, nitrogen, argon, [where the cycle fluid is helium; 0052] and wherein the cycle circuit is configured to subject the cycle fluid to a thermodynamic cycle [a recuperative thermodynamic cycle such as Linde-Hampson cycle, Figure 2A; 0055] which brings the cycle fluid at at least one end of the cycle circuit to a predetermined cold temperature [T1 and T2, Figure 2A; 0054], and in that the cycle fluid flow in heat exchange with said plates [via closed loop piping circuit 107 and 109, Figure 1 and 2A] in the set of heat exchangers comprises the cycle fluid at the cold temperature [where circuit 107 cools heat exchanger 110 and circuit 109 cools heat exchanger 112; 0057; 0059], wherein the cryogenic refrigeration device further comprises a set of pipes [loop piping circuit 107 and loop piping circuit 109, Figure 1] configured to supply at least part of the cycle fluid from the cycle circuit to the set of exchangers [Figure 1, 0057; 0059] and for returning said cycle fluid from the set of exchangers to the cycle circuit of the refrigerator [Figure 1, 0057; 0059]. Regarding Claim 27, Jette, as modified, teaches the invention of claim 26 and further teaches wherein the cycle circuit [a recuperative cycle including branch 212C and 212F, Figure 2A; 0055] is configured to subject the cycle fluid [helium;0055] to a thermodynamic cycle [a recuperative cycle; 0055] which brings the cycle fluid to a plurality of separate cold temperatures [T1 and T2, Figure 2A; 0054] at a plurality of ends of the cycle circuit [branch 214B and branch 212J, Figure 2A], and in that a plurality of separate flows of the cycle fluid at said separate cold temperatures are placed in heat exchange with the at least two separate plates [flange 101B and flange 101C; 0054] via two respective sets of heat exchangers [heat exchanger 112 and 110, respectively, Figure 1; 0054]. Regarding Claim 28, Jette, as modified, teaches the invention of claim 26 and further teaches where the cycle fluid is or contains predominantly helium [from helium liquefier 108; 0054], the cycle circuit being configured to bring the cycle fluid to at least one of the following cold temperatures: 80 K, between 20 and 70 K, between 2 K and 5 K, and/or into a supercritical state [where flange 101C may be cooled to temperatures varying between 2.5K to 5 K, where flange 101B may be cooled to 50K; 0054] Regarding Claim 29, Jette, as modified, teaches the invention of claim 16 and further teaches wherein the cryogenic cooler [flow helium refrigerator 106, Figure 1] comprises a reserve of liquefied cryogenic gas [liquid helium reservoir 202, Figure 2A], and a set of pipes for supplying liquefied cryogenic gas from the reserve to the set of exchangers [loop piping circuits 109 and 107, Figure 2A]. Regarding Claim 30, Jette, as modified, teaches the invention of claim 16 and further teaches a dilution refrigerator [dilution unit 103, Figure 1] in heat exchange with at least one plate [flange 101D and 101E, Figure 1;0051]. Regarding Claim 31, Jette, as modified, teaches a method for cryogenic refrigeration of sample(s) [where the dilution refrigerator is configured to cool a device 102, Figure 1] using a cryogenic refrigeration device as claimed in Claim 16 [refer to the rejection of claim 16 above], the method comprising the steps of: storing and/or producing a cold source of liquefied cycle fluid [liquid helium 202, Figure 2A] at the first end of the cryogenic cooler [liquid helium reservoir where flow helium refrigerator 106 externally cools helium, Figure 2A; 0056]; and transferring a flow of that cycle fluid from the first end to the second end of the cryogenic cooler [via looping pipes 107 and 109, Figure 1; 0052], said flow of cycle fluid being placed in heat exchange with the set of heat exchangers [heat exchanger 112 and heat exchanger 110, Figure 1] at the second end [at flange 101C and flange 101B of cryostat 101, Figure 1] in a sealed manner [where each flange forms a thermal shield that are not perfectly sealed, implying they are sealed but less perfect than the vacuum chamber of 101A, Figure 1; 0045] without communicating with the internal gas volume of the enclosure [where circuit 107 and 109 are closed loop piping circuits, Figure 1]. Regarding Claim 32 Jette, as modified, teaches the invention of claim 31 and further teaches where the cycle fluid comprises helium or nitrogen [liquid helium reservoir 202, Figure 2A and additionally liquid nitrogen reservoir 304 in an alternative embodiment, Figure 3B] Claim 21 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jette et al. (US20230135323A1) in view of in view of Matthews et al. (US20230090979A1) as applied to claim 16 above and in further view of DeMann et al. (DeMann, A., et al., 1K cryostat with sub-millikelvin stability based on a pulse-tube cryocooler, Cryogenics, Jan 2016, p. 60-67, [retrieved on 12/22/25] retrieved from Internet <DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cryogenics.2015.11.008>). Regarding Claim 21, Jette, as modified, teaches the invention of claim 16 and further teaches wherein the heat exchangers [heat exchangers 110 and 112, Figure 1] comprise a block of thermally conductive material [where helium liquefier 108 is thermally coupled to the flange 101B and 101C; 0052; 0053] in contact with a tube [piping circuit 107 and 109, Figure 1; 0052;0053] transporting the cycle fluid flow [helium; 0052;0053]. Jette does not teach where the tube of thermally conductive is soldered to the block and/or machined in the block and/or molded and/or cast in the block. However, DeMann teaches a cryogenic system [Abstract] including the block of thermally conductive material [where the heat exchanger consists of sealed copper cylinder packed with fine copper mesh, p.61, left-col, para. 2] and the tube of thermally conductive material [where the helium line inserts through copper tubes of each anchor of the heat exchanger, p.61, right-col, para. 1], said tube being soldered to the block and/or machined in the block and/or molded and/or cast in the block [where the helium line is soft soldered into place, p.61, right-col, para. 1] where one of ordinary skill in the art would have been capable of applying this known technique to a known device that was ready for improvement and the results would have been predictable to one of ordinary skill in the art i.e., improving heat transfer with high conductivity material and secure joining for thermal contact. Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the assembly of Jette to have where the tube of thermally conductive material is soldered to the block and/or machined in the block and/or molded and/or cast in the block in view of the teachings of DeMann where this known technique could have been applied to a known device that was ready for improvement and the results would have been predictable i.e., improving heat transfer with high conductivity material and secure joining for thermal contact. Claim 22 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jette et al. (US20230135323A1) in view of Matthews et al. (US20230090979A1) as applied to claim 16 above and in further view of in view of Prester et al. (US20140007596A1). Regarding Claim 22, Jette, as modified, teaches the invention of claim 16 and further teaches wherein at least some of the heat exchangers [heat exchangers 110 and 112, Figure 1] are mounted on the plates [flanges 101B and 101c, Figure 1] and are in heat exchange with said plates by conduction and contact [where flange 101C and flange 101B are cooled via heat exchangers 110 and 112, respectively as helium flows through the exchangers; 0053;0052], but does not teach the heat exchangers contact said plates via one of the following: bolting, at least one thermal connecting braid, a clamp. However, Prester teaches a cryostat [0002] where a heat exchanger [recondenser 50, Figure 1] contacts a plate [first stage plate 32, Figure 1] via thermal connecting braid [thermal link 51 realized by use of copper braid or similar thermal conducting materials; 0034] where one of ordinary skill in the art would have been capable of applying this known technique to a known device that was ready for improvement and the results would have been predictable to one of ordinary skill in the art i.e., enabling damping for vibrations between parts Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the assembly of Jette where the heat exchangers contact said plates via at least one thermal connecting braid in view of the teachings of Prester where this known technique could have been applied to a known device that was ready for improvement and the results would have been predictable, i.e, enabling damping for vibrations between parts Claim 25 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jette et al. (US20230135323A1) in view of Matthews et al. (US20230090979A1) as applied to claim 16 above and in further view of Salerno et al. (Salerno, L., et al., Thermal Contact Conductance, Feb 1997, NASA Technical Memorandum 110429,[retrieved on 12/22/25] Retrieved from Internet <https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/19970026086>) Regarding Claim 25, Jette, as modfied, teaches the invention of claim 16 and does not teach where at least some of the heat exchangers comprise a layer of gilt configured to increase the heat exchange. However, Salerno teaches the effect of different coatings on contact conductance in cryogenic temperatures [Introduction, p. 1] where at least some of the heat exchangers [where two surfaces were pressed together to exchange heat through contact; p.5, Summary of Experimental Data, para. 1] comprise a layer of gilt configured to increase the heat exchange [where gold coating copper improves the conductance compared to only copper, p.5, Summary of Experimental Data, para. 1] where one of ordinary skill in the art would have been capable of applying this known, adding a gold coating, technique to a known device that was ready for improvement and the results would have been predictable to one of ordinary skill in the art i.e., improving thermal conductance Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the assembly of Jette to have where at least some of the heat exchangers comprise a layer of gilt configured to increase the heat exchange in view of the teachings of Salerno where this known technique could have been applied to a known device that was ready for improvement and the results would have been predictable i.e., improving thermal conductance Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments filed 3/27/2027 with respect to amended claims 16, 17 and 20 rejected under 25 U.S.C. 35 102(a)(2) have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument. Applicant does not separately argue the rejection of claims 18,19, and 21-32 except for their dependence upon claim 16. Accordingly, the rejections of record are considered proper and remain. Conclusion 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 KEONA LAUREN BANKS whose telephone number is (571)270-0426. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 8:30- 5:00 EST. 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, Jerry-Daryl Fletcher can be reached at 5712705054. 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. /KEONA LAUREN BANKS/Examiner, Art Unit 3763 /ELIZABETH J MARTIN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3763
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

May 14, 2024
Application Filed
Dec 29, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103, §112
Mar 27, 2026
Response Filed
Jun 23, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §103, §112 (current)

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3-4
Expected OA Rounds
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Grant Probability
58%
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