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 .
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.
Claims 7 and 15-16 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.
Claim 7, “the plurality of detents” lacks antecedent basis.
Claims 15-16, “fusible link” lacks antecedent basis and maybe the claims should depend from claim 1? These claims where not rejected under art due to their ambiguity.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-7, 9-14 and 17-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Christenson et al (2019/0175370).
Christenson et al teaches a device, comprising:
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a housing 112 comprising a first end (top) and a second end (bottom);
a disconnect member 114 coupled with the first end of the housing, the disconnect member to couple with a percutaneous post 104 that is osseointegrated in a human limb;
a ring 148 coupled with the second end of the housing;
a fusible link 106 coupled with the ring; and
a fastener 108 coupled with the fusible link, the fastener to fasten the fusible link with a prosthesis.
Claim 2, see at least par. 0019 teaching the housing cap is rotatably coupled with the housing.
Claim 3, see figure 1A showing the claim language.
Claim 4, the compliant member is both a compliant material an a spring-loaded cam. See At least par. 0020 and figure 1B.
Claim 5, ring 148 is termed a ring spring.
Claim 6, the spring comprises an interior surface comprising a plurality of detents 152 and a plurality of rollers 144 to selectively engage the plurality of detents.
Claims 6-7, a diameter of the spring is set such that for a given torsion, the spring is to distend and the plurality of rollers are to roll out of the detents; see par. 0024-0029.
Claim 9, figure 5 shows the fusible link 106 removed from the housing 112.
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Claim 10: Christenson et al teaches prosthesis connector 100, comprising:
a housing 106 comprising a first end (top) and a second end (bottom);
a cap 112 coupled with the first end of the housing, the cap to receive (functional) a post 104 that is implanted in a human limb;
a spring 148 coupled with the second end (and first end) of the housing (see figure 4 and par. 0025);
and a link 108 coupled with the spring, the link to be connected with a prosthesis.
Claim 11, see at least par. 0019 teaching the cap is rotatably coupled with the housing.
Claim 12, at least figures 3A and 4 show the spring 148 comprises a ring shape.
Claim 13, the spring comprises an interior surface comprising a plurality of detents 152 and a plurality of rollers 144 to selectively engage the plurality of detents.
Claim 14, a diameter of the spring is set such that for a given torsion, the spring is to distend and the plurality of rollers are to roll out of the detents; see par. 0024-0028.
Claim 17, further comprising one or more O-rings 186, 188 coupled with one or more interfaces of the prosthesis connector to seal the one or more interfaces.
Claim 18, a device comprising:
a housing 106 comprising a first end and a second end;
a support 112 coupled with the first end of the housing, the support to couple with a percutaneous post 104;
a ring spring 148 comprising one or more detents 152, wherein the ring spring is coupled with the second end (and first end) of the housing;
at least one roller coupled 144 with the ring spring;
and a carousel 142 attached to the at least one roller and the percutaneous post support (indirectly).
Claim 19, further comprising a prosthesis (see abstract) attached to the carousel (indirectly).
Claim 20, see par. 0001 teaching prosthesis comprises a prosthetic hand.
Claims 1-4 and 8-9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Porter et al (2020/0368042).
Porter et al teaches a device comprising:
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a housing 120 having a first end (proximal) and a second end (distal);
a disconnect 122 coupled to the first end of the housing, the disconnect member to couple (functional language) with a percutaneous post 116 that is osseointegrated in a human limb;
a ring (118) coupled with the second end of the housing;
a fusible link (121, 124) coupled to the ring; and
a fastener (via 129, see figure 6A) coupled to the fusible link to enable fastening of the fusible link to a prosthesis (via 121).
Claim 2, the disconnect member has a collar 164 capping the first end.
Claim 3 is self-evident.
Claim 4, compliant member has a spring-loaded cam 158.
Claim 8, the pull prongs 178a-f of the 124 are is flexible.
Claim 9, the device was designed such that the fusible link breaks away from the housing. See at least the abstract.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BRUCE EDWARD SNOW whose telephone number is (571)272-4759. The examiner can normally be reached 6:00 am - 5:00 pm Monday through Thursday.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Melanie Tyson can be reached on 5712729062. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/BRUCE E SNOW/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3774
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