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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Group I, Claims 1-15, in the reply filed on 20 May 2026 is acknowledged. Claims 16-21 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention/group, there being no allowable generic or linking claim.
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 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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Olson et al. (US 2015/0005785; hereinafter “Olson”).
Regarding claim 1, Olson discloses a multi-control system comprising: a first robotic catheter system for a first steerable catheter; a second robotic catheter system for a second steerable catheter; and an interface processor configured to generate a control interface for control of both the first and second robotic catheter systems (e.g. ¶¶ 32-33, Fig. 10; ¶¶ 128-132; Claim 1 – “a robotic control system that is configured to manipulate first and second catheters”, ¶¶ 60 – a single processor; etc.).
Regarding claim 2, Olson discloses the first steerable catheter comprises an intracardiac echocardiography catheter, the first robotic catheter system configured to robotically control the intracardiac echocardiography catheter (e.g. ¶¶ 29, 38, etc.).
Regarding claim 8, Olson discloses the interface processor is configured to use an image from the intracardiac echocardiography catheter for image-based control of the second steerable catheter by the second robotic catheter system (e.g. ¶¶ 65 – where magnetic resonance imaging can be used in the anti collision steering systems).
Regarding claim 9, Olson discloses the image-based control comprises (a) updating kinematics of the second robotic catheter system based on detection of the second steerable catheter in the image, (b) updating a Jacobian matrix for the second robotic catheter system based on a mismatch between a predicted position of the second steerable catheter and an observed position of the second steerable catheter in the image, and/or (c) updating a hysteresis model based on the image (e.g. ¶¶ 83, 89-90, etc.).
Regarding claim 3, Olson discloses the first and second robotic catheter systems comprise first and second bases having motors for steering the first and second steerable catheters, the first base separate from the second base, and comprise first and second adaptors connected with the first and second bases, respectively, the first and second adaptors configured to hold the first and second steerable catheters respectively (e.g. ¶¶ 40 – “The assembly 302 also includes a plurality of manipulation bases onto which the device cartridges are mounted. After mounting, the manipulator assembly 302, through the manipulation bases, is capable of manipulating the attached catheter and sheath.”).
Regarding claim 4, Olson discloses the first and second robotic catheter systems comprise a shared base with motors for steering the first and second steerable catheters (e.g. ¶¶ 38, 126, etc.).
Regarding claim 5, Olson discloses the interface processor is configured to communicate from the control interface to robot interfaces for the first and second robotic catheter systems, the control interface configured to receive input from the user for the control of both the first and second robotic catheter systems and the robot interfaces configured to convert the input to instructions for operating motors of the first and second robotic catheter systems (e.g. ¶¶ 70-78).
Regarding claim 6, Olson discloses the interface processor is configured as a common interface for the control of both the first and second robotic catheter systems and as first and second interfaces for control of the first and second robotic catheter systems, respectively, based on the control from the common interface (e.g. ¶¶ 85-86).
Regarding claim 7, Olson discloses the interface processor is configured to generate the control interface for user input of the control for both of the first and second robotic catheter systems in a same way (e.g. ¶¶ 33-40, 57, etc.).
Regarding claim 10, Olson discloses the interface processor is configured for calibration of the first and second robotic catheter systems and co-registration of the first robotic catheter system with the second robotic catheter system (e.g. ¶¶ 66).
Regarding claim 11, Olson discloses the interface processor is configured to co-register by kinematics update of the first robotic catheter system relative to the second robotic catheter system with respect to a known tip position of the second steerable catheter (e.g. ¶¶ 83-90).
Regarding claim 12, Olson discloses the interface processor is configured to avoid collision between the first and second steerable catheters (e.g. ¶¶ 76, 87, 121-126).
Regarding claim 13, Olson discloses the interface processor is in a different room than the first and second robotic catheter systems (e.g. ¶¶ 48 – where the examiner notes the use of remote guidance systems).
Regarding claim 14, Olson discloses the interface processor is configured to use an image from the first steerable catheter for automatic control by the second robotic catheter system of the second steerable catheter (e.g. ¶¶ 76-87, 93, 121-124, etc.).
Regarding claim 15, Olson discloses the interface processor is configured to automatically control the first robotic catheter system to steer the first steerable catheter system to image the second steerable catheter as the second steerable catheter is steered by the second robotic catheter system based on the control from the interface processor (e.g. ¶¶ 93, 121-126, etc.).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Michael D’Abreu whose telephone number is (571) 270-3816. The examiner can normally be reached on 7AM-4PM.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, David Hamaoui can be reached at (571) 270-5625. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/MICHAEL J D'ABREU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3796
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