Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/758,133

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-Aventis Deutschland GmbH
OA Round
4 (Final)
67%
Grant Probability
Favorable
5-6
OA Rounds
1y 9m
Est. Remaining
90%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 67% — above average
67%
Career Allowance Rate
590 granted / 879 resolved
-2.9% vs TC avg
Strong +23% interview lift
Without
With
+23.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 8m
Avg Prosecution
33 currently pending
Career history
933
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.3%
-39.7% vs TC avg
§103
82.3%
+42.3% vs TC avg
§102
10.0%
-30.0% vs TC avg
§112
5.0%
-35.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 879 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status The present application is being examined under the pre-AIA first to invent provisions. Response to Amendment Examiner acknowledges the reply filed 11/20/2025. Claims 2-8, 10, 11, 13-17, 19, 20, 22 and 27 were amended. Claims 32-35 were newly added. The amendment was accompanied by Remarks, the contents of which are addressed in the Response to Arguments section of this Office action. 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 2, 15, 25, 31, 32, 34, 35 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 2, 15, 25 and 31: the first colored indicator disposed on the outer sleeve. Claim 32: the auto-injector is configured such that the outer sleeve moves relative to the housing prior to the medicament being dispensed from the auto-injector. Claim 34: the auto-injector is configured such that the outer sleeve moves relative to the housing prior to the medicament being dispensed from the auto-injector. Claim 35: the auto-injector is configured such that the outer sleeve moves relative to the housing prior to the medicament being dispensed from the auto-injector. Response to Arguments Applicant's arguments filed 11/20/2025 have been fully considered. The previous rejections have been withdrawn in light of Applicant's amendments and arguments. 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 4 earlier events
May 20, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Jun 12, 2025
Request for Continued Examination
Jun 16, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Sep 29, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Nov 04, 2025
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Nov 04, 2025
Examiner Interview Summary
Nov 20, 2025
Response Filed
Mar 06, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12636483
SEALING MEMBER
7y 3m to grant Granted May 26, 2026
Patent 12636431
DRUG DELIVERY INSERTION APPARATUSES AND SYSTEM
2y 1m to grant Granted May 26, 2026
Patent 12623021
MEDICAMENT DELIVERY DEVICE COMPONENT
3y 9m to grant Granted May 12, 2026
Patent 12611328
OPHTHALMOSURGICAL APPLIANCE
4y 0m to grant Granted Apr 28, 2026
Patent 12611267
DEVICE DRIVE FOR CATHETER PROCEDURE SYSTEM
3y 6m to grant Granted Apr 28, 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 (+23.2%)
3y 8m (~1y 9m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 879 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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