Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 17, 2026
Application No. 18/822,830

LYOPHILIZATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Sep 03, 2024
Priority
Aug 31, 2020 — provisional 63/072,633 +1 more
Examiner
GRAVINI, STEPHEN MICHAEL
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
78%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
6m
Est. Remaining
97%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 78% — above average
78%
Career Allowance Rate
1271 granted / 1629 resolved
+18.0% vs TC avg
Strong +19% interview lift
Without
With
+19.1%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 6m
Avg Prosecution
41 currently pending
Career history
1657
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.0%
-38.0% vs TC avg
§103
35.8%
-4.2% vs TC avg
§102
29.7%
-10.3% vs TC avg
§112
18.5%
-21.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1629 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 . 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 21-50 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. Claims 21 and 36 are construed to be indefinite because the recitation “the sensed condition” lacks a positive antecedent basis. Since claims 22-35 and 37-50 depend upon an indefinite claim, those claims are construed to be indefinite by dependency. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 21-50 are allowable over the prior art of record because the method of lyophilizing a therapeutic composition or system for lyophilization of pharmaceutical productions with all the independently claimed features including moving containers through a vacuum drying chamber with sensors of a therapeutic composition condition or independent temperature control of a sensed condition is not found in the prior art either singly or in combination. Claims 21-50 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. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Other prior art references cited with this application may teach one or more features of the claimed invention, but do not rise to a level of anticipation, obviousness, and/or double patenting such that a rejection would be proper or reasonable under current Office practice and procedure. References A, B, N, cited with this action, are patent publications from the same inventive entity as the current application. References C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, O, P, Q, R, S, cited with this application, are patent publications that teach therapeutic composition lyophilizing methods or pharmaceutical product lyophilization systems. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to STEPHEN MICHAEL GRAVINI whose telephone number is (571)272-4875. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th 5:30 am to 5:00 (mid day flex) first F 6:00 am t0 11:00 am. 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, Craig Schneider can be reached at 571 272 3607. 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. Monday, July 27, 2026 /STEPHEN M GRAVINI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3753
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Sep 03, 2024
Application Filed
Jul 30, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12704324
Electrode Drying System
3y 3m to grant Granted Aug 11, 2026
Patent 12701945
SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME
2y 7m to grant Granted Aug 04, 2026
Patent 12690655
AN ELECTRIC HAIR DRYER
3y 7m to grant Granted Jul 28, 2026
Patent 12693073
DRYING SYSTEM
2y 7m to grant Granted Jul 28, 2026
Patent 12685373
HAIRCARE APPLIANCE
3y 4m to grant Granted Jul 21, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

Get a prosecution strategy drawn from examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.
Typically takes 5-10 seconds — AI-generated, attorney review required before filing

Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
78%
Grant Probability
97%
With Interview (+19.1%)
2y 6m (~6m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1629 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

Sign in with your work email

Enter your email to receive a magic link. No password needed.

Personal email addresses (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) are not accepted.

Free tier: 3 strategy analyses per month