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 .
Claims 1-12 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the reply filed on 9/2/26.
Applicant’s election without traverse of claims 13-20 in the reply filed on 9/2/26 is acknowledged.
Claims 13-20 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 phrase “the plurality of analog pockets” (cl 13:3-4) lacks antecedent basis in the claim.
The phrase “the plurality of analog pockets” (cl 13:3-4) is indefinite because it is unclear whether the plurality of analog pockets is related to the 3D printed test model. If it is related to the 3D printed test model, it should be clearly and explicitly recited as such.
Corrections are required.
Claims 13-20 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: the prior art of record including the closest prior art CN110680529 neither teaches nor renders obvious every claimed limitation including receiving a set of printer parameters; printing, based on the set of printer parameters, a 3D-printed test model, wherein the plurality of analog pockets have a differing one or more of analog pocket diameters, analog pocket heights, interior dental analog retention features, analog pocket geometries, and analog pocket designs to accommodate different dental analogs having the differing one or more of analog pocket diameters, analog pocket heights, interior dental analog retention features, analog pocket geometries, and analog pocket designs, wherein each of the plurality of analog pockets corresponds to the uniquely identified analog library file, the uniquely identified analog library file describing the differing one or more of analog pocket diameters, analog pocket heights, interior dental analog retention features, analog pocket geometries, and analog pocket designs of the respective analog pocket; receiving an identifier of one of the plurality of analog pockets that best fits a selected dental analog; and printing, based on the set of printer parameters, a dental prototype model of a patient's jaw based on the uniquely identified analog library file corresponding to the best fitting one of the plurality of analog pockets associated with the identifier, wherein a fit between the selected dental analog and an analog pocket in the dental prototype model is substantially the same as the fit between the selected dental analog and the best fitting one of the plurality of analog pockets associated with the identifier. .
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. USPNs 8998614 and 10307227 teach placing a dental implant analog into a model. USPN 4738619 a method of selecting a dental anchor using a transfer sheet. CN1106680529 teaches 3D printing a dental board. JPS62125513 teaches an implant model for dental castings.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to EDMUND H LEE whose telephone number is (571)272-1204. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th 9AM-4PM.
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, Xiao (Sam) Zhao can be reached at 571-270-5343. 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.
EHL
/EDMUND H LEE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1744
Prosecution Insights