Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 17, 2026
Application No. 18/738,498

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR STANDARDIZED TEETH WHITENESS MEASUREMENT AND MONITORING TEETH WHITENING PROGRESS USING A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Jun 10, 2024
Examiner
WILLIAMS, JEFFERY A
Art Unit
2488
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
unknown
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
84%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 7m
To Grant
92%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 84% — above average
84%
Career Allow Rate
768 granted / 920 resolved
+25.5% vs TC avg
Moderate +9% lift
Without
With
+9.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 7m
Avg Prosecution
47 currently pending
Career history
967
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
8.0%
-32.0% vs TC avg
§103
43.7%
+3.7% vs TC avg
§102
21.9%
-18.1% vs TC avg
§112
19.4%
-20.6% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 920 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 . Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1 and 10 have been considered but are moot in view of the new grounds of rejection. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 Claims 1-24 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. The term “substantially perpendicular” in claims 1 and 10 is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The term “substantially” is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention. The term “substantially” does not clearly define the amount for which the imaging device is to be perpendicular to a user’s face. The examiner acknowledges the applicant’s attempt to further define the amount for which the imaging device is to be perpendicular to a user’s face by including the limitation (+-20º), it is unclear if the limitation (+-20º) is intended to be construed as part of the claim since it is in parenthesis. Claims 2-9 and 11-24 are rejected based on their respective dependencies upon claims 1 and 10. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JEFFERY A WILLIAMS whose telephone number is (571)270-7579. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:00-5:00. 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, Sath Perungavoor can be reached at 571-272-7455. 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. /JEFFERY A WILLIAMS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2488
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Prosecution Timeline

Jun 10, 2024
Application Filed
Sep 26, 2025
Request for Continued Examination
Oct 07, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Dec 03, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12603981
IMAGE DATA ENCODING/DECODING METHOD AND APPARATUS
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 14, 2026
Patent 12596182
OPTICAL SYSTEM FOR LIGHT DETECTION AND RANGING
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 07, 2026
Patent 12581040
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COORDINATED COLLECTION OF STREET-LEVEL IMAGE DATA
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 17, 2026
Patent 12581049
IMAGE DATA ENCODING/DECODING METHOD AND APPARATUS
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 17, 2026
Patent 12556824
IMAGE DATA ENCODING/DECODING METHOD AND APPARATUS
2y 5m to grant Granted Feb 17, 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
84%
Grant Probability
92%
With Interview (+9.0%)
2y 7m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 920 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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