Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 28, 2026
Application No. 18/790,020

Methods of Operating Electrochemical-Additive Manufacturing Systems Comprising Modular Cartridge Assemblies

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Jul 31, 2024
Examiner
TENTONI, LEO B
Art Unit
1742
Tech Center
1700 — Chemical & Materials Engineering
Assignee
Fabric8Labs Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
82%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
11m
Est. Remaining
92%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 82% — above average
82%
Career Allowance Rate
1141 granted / 1394 resolved
+16.9% vs TC avg
Moderate +10% lift
Without
With
+10.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 9m
Avg Prosecution
30 currently pending
Career history
1417
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.5%
-39.5% vs TC avg
§103
69.8%
+29.8% vs TC avg
§102
5.6%
-34.4% vs TC avg
§112
9.1%
-30.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1394 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 . Drawings The drawings are objected to because in Figure 2C, top drawing, numeral “309” should be - - 409 - - . Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance. 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 6, 9, 13-17, 21 and 22 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. In claim 6, lines 1-2, the expression “the power supply” does not have clear and proper antecedent basis in the claims. In claim 9, lines 2 and 3, the term “fasters” is confusing and unclear. In claim 13, lines 2 and 4, the term “gasket2” is confusing and unclear. In claim 14, line 3, the term “gasket2” is confusing and unclear. In claim 16, lines 2 and 4, the term “gasket4” is confusing and unclear. In claim 17, line 1, the term “gasket4” is confusing and unclear. In claim 17, line 2, the term “gasket2” is confusing and unclear. In claim 21, line 8, the term “support0” is confusing and unclear. In claim 22, line 3, the term “support0” is confusing and unclear. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-5, 7, 8, 10-12, 18-20 and 23-25 are allowable over the prior art references currently of record. Claims 6, 9, 13-17, 21 and 22 would be allowable if rewritten 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 and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: None of the prior art references currently of record, alone or in combination, disclose, suggest or teach a process of electrochemical additive manufacturing, including assembling a modular cartridge assembly including a base, a cover, an ECAM printhead including an electrode array, a support unit, a control board external connector and a busbar external connector (as recited in claim 1). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LEO B. TENTONI whose telephone number is (571)272-1209. The examiner can normally be reached 7:30-4:00 ET M-F. 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, Christina A. Johnson can be reached at (571)272-1176. 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. LEO B. TENTONI Primary Examiner Art Unit 1742 /LEO B TENTONI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1742
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jul 31, 2024
Application Filed
Apr 13, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Apr 17, 2026
Response Filed

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12629888
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
2y 10m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
Patent 12629895
METHODS FOR PRODUCING THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECTS
2y 6m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
Patent 12624477
A METHOD FOR PROVIDING A FILTERED SPINNING DOPE
2y 4m to grant Granted May 12, 2026
Patent 12606488
ELECTROCERAMIC COMPOSITE MATERIAL AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING IT
3y 10m to grant Granted Apr 21, 2026
Patent 12606497
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LIMITING VOID FORMATION IN CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITE COMPONENTS
2y 0m to grant Granted Apr 21, 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
82%
Grant Probability
92%
With Interview (+10.0%)
2y 9m (~11m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1394 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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