Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 01, 2026
Application No. 18/757,830

Medicament Delivery Device and Actuation Mechanism for a Drug Delivery Device

Final Rejection §112
Filed
Jun 28, 2024
Priority
Sep 23, 2011 — EU 11182632.7 +4 more
Examiner
MEDWAY, SCOTT J
Art Unit
3783
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Sanofi S.A.
OA Round
4 (Final)
67%
Grant Probability
Favorable
5-6
OA Rounds
1y 5m
Est. Remaining
90%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 67% — above average
67%
Career Allowance Rate
594 granted / 890 resolved
-3.3% vs TC avg
Strong +23% interview lift
Without
With
+23.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 8m
Avg Prosecution
50 currently pending
Career history
941
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.8%
-39.2% vs TC avg
§103
54.0%
+14.0% vs TC avg
§102
23.4%
-16.6% vs TC avg
§112
18.5%
-21.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 890 resolved cases

Office Action

§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 . Response to Amendment Examiner acknowledges the reply filed 11/17/2025. Claims 1-31 were canceled and claims 32-61 were newly added. 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 32, 38, 39, 46, 52, 54, 58 and all claims depending therefrom 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. The new matter is as follows: Claims 32, 46, 52: wherein the auto-injector is configured such that axial movement of the inner member towards the housing actuates the auto-injector. Claims 38 and 39: the first colored indicator is disposed on a hollow cylindrical portion of the outer member. Claim 39: the proximal portion and the distal portion of the outer surface of the hollow cylindrical portion being exposed to an exterior of the auto-injector. Claim 54: axial movement of the inner member towards the housing as the inner member is forced in an axial direction towards the housing by direct contact with the patient actuates the auto-injector to automatically deliver the medicament from the syringe into the injection site. Claim 58: the first colored indicator is disposed on the outer surface of the outer member, and the proximal portion and the distal portion of the outer surface are exposed to an exterior of the auto-injector. Response to Arguments Applicant's arguments filed 11/17/2025 have been fully considered. Based on the new claims and the arguments, the previous rejections have been withdrawn. Conclusion THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 SCOTT J MEDWAY whose telephone number is (571)270-3656. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. 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, Chelsea Stinson can be reached at (571) 270-1744. 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. /SCOTT J MEDWAY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3783 03/04/2026
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Show 6 earlier events
Apr 22, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
May 23, 2025
Request for Continued Examination
May 29, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Sep 05, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Sep 12, 2025
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Sep 12, 2025
Examiner Interview Summary
Nov 17, 2025
Response Filed
Mar 06, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12746345
FLUID CONDUIT ASSEMBLY WITH GAS TRAPPING FILTER IN THE FLUID FLOW PATH
3y 0m to grant Granted Sep 29, 2026
Patent 12740871
METHOD AND CONTAINER FOR DELIVERING BONE GRAFT MATERIAL
6y 10m to grant Granted Sep 22, 2026
Patent 12741077
METHOD FOR OPERATING AN OPHTHALMIC SURGICAL SYSTEM, AND OPHTHALMIC SURGICAL SYSTEM
2y 6m to grant Granted Sep 22, 2026
Patent 12721982
DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ADMINISTERING LIQUID TO THE EAR CANAL
3y 6m to grant Granted Sep 01, 2026
Patent 12721972
Subcutaneous Anchor Device for Securing a Catheter
2y 10m to grant Granted Sep 01, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

5-6
Expected OA Rounds
67%
Grant Probability
90%
With Interview (+23.4%)
3y 8m (~1y 5m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 890 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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