Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/863,934

APPARATUS FOR CAPTURING IMAGE OF HAND WORK

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Nov 07, 2024
Examiner
DAGNEW, MEKONNEN D
Art Unit
2638
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
Aqua-Field Co. Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
83%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 6m
To Grant
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 83% — above average
83%
Career Allow Rate
604 granted / 728 resolved
+21.0% vs TC avg
Strong +16% interview lift
Without
With
+15.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 6m
Avg Prosecution
29 currently pending
Career history
757
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
4.5%
-35.5% vs TC avg
§103
63.7%
+23.7% vs TC avg
§102
21.5%
-18.5% vs TC avg
§112
6.3%
-33.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 728 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
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 § 103 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 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action: A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made. The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows: 1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art. 2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue. 3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art. 4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness. Claims 1-6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Moore et al. (US 20210093414 A1; hereafter Moore) in view of Bolin et al. (US 11573481 B1; hereafter Bolin). As of Claim 1: Moore teaches an apparatus for capturing an image of a hand work (¶¶0200, 0492 and FIG. 4, a surgical procedure may be performed with guidance from intraoperative system 108 (FIG. 1) (418)), the apparatus comprising: a box part surrounding a work area in which an operator performs the hand work (a surgical procedure); and an image capturing device installation part capable of installing an image capturing device for capturing an image of the work area thereon (¶0492 and note that the video camera may be mounted on a visualization device worn by a nurse (e.g., a visualization device of MR system 1800B (FIG. 18). In some examples, the video camera may be mounted on a fixed wall, mechanical arm, robot, or other physical object.). Bolin is a similar or analogous system to the claimed invention as evidenced Bolin teaches revolving photography studio disclosed herein cuts manufacture, installation, and repair costs of the rotating background by installing a multifunction horizontal crossbar and removable wheels that would have prompted a predictable variation of Moore by applying Bolin’s known principal of an illumination part disposed in the box part (Col. 6, ¶II and note that FIG. 1, an embodiment of a revolving photography studio 100 is illustrated. The revolving photography studio 100 ), wherein the box part comprises: a wall part surrounding both lateral sides and a depth side of the work area as viewed from the operator, and defining a work opening on a near side that provides communication between the inside and the outside of the work area; a top plate disposed on an upper part of the wall part and covering over the work area (Co. 9, lines 19-65 and note that The upright wall 106 may at least partially surround the product setup location 108 by excluding the opening 116. The upright wall 106 may comprise a single panel or a plurality of panels. The plurality of panels that make up the upright wall 106 may be removable from the frame 102. The upright wall 106 may be made of other rigid material such as wood, metal, cardboard, or another material. ). In view of the motivations such as thereby further improving image quality one of ordinary skill in the art would have implemented the claimed variation of the prior art system of Moore. Therefore, the claimed invention would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. As of Claim 2: Moore in view of Bolin further teaches the wall part comprises: a pair of side walls covering both the lateral sides of the work area; and a back wall covering a far side of the work area (Bolin Col. 12, lines 3-43 and note that FIGS. 12A and 12B, the revolving photography studio 100 may comprise a door 1202. The door 1202 may be used to cover the opening 116. In an embodiment, the door 1202 comprises a front panel 1204 and two side panels 1206.), and the illumination part comprise at least a pair of side illumination parts disposed to extend along lower ends of the pair or side walls and a far side illumination part disposed to extend a lower end of the back wall (Bolin Col. 9, lines 53-67 and note that the revolving photography studio 100 may comprise one or more lights 138. The light(s) 138 may be coupled to the revolving photography studio 100. For example, the light(s) 138 may be coupled to the horizontal crossbar 104. In some embodiments, the light(s) 138 may be coupled to the horizontal crossbar 104 via one or more of the plurality of bolt holes 502 on the horizontal cross bar 104). As of Claim 3: Moore in view of Bolin further teaches the image capturing device installation part is disposed on the top plate, and the illumination part further comprises at least a top plate illumination part disposed on a lower surface of the top plate on a near side of the image capturing device installation part (Bolin Col. 7, lines 27-47 and note that the plate 124 may comprise a plurality of bolt holes 202. The first camera mount 128 may be coupled to the plate via one of the plurality of bolt holes 202 (e.g., using bolts, screws, and/or other hardware). Alternatively, the plate 124 and the first camera mount 128 may be magnetic, and the plate 124 and the first camera mount 128 ). As of Claim 4: Moore in view of Bolin further teaches the wall part comprises: a pair of side walls covering both the lateral sides of the work area; a back wall covering the far side of the work area (Bolin Col. 9, lines 53-67 and note that upright wall 106 may be coupled to the frame 102. In an embodiment, the upright wall 106 is of a curved configuration like the frame 102 to which it is coupled. The upright wall 106 may be flat initially and curved upon installation or curved initially. The upright wall 106 may at least partially surround the product setup location 108 by excluding the opening 116. The upright wall 106 may comprise a single panel or a plurality of panels.); one coupling wall coupling one of the pair of side walls with the back wall; and another coupling wall coupling the other one of the pair of side walls with the back wall (Bolin Col. 9, lines 19-53 and note that he upright wall 106 may be coupled to the frame 102. In an embodiment, the upright wall 106 is of a curved configuration like the frame 102 to which it is coupled. ) , and the illumination part further comprises coupling-part illumination parts disposed to respectively extend along the one coupling wall and the other coupling wall. As of Claim 5: Moore in view of Bolin further teaches illumination part attachment fittings that comprise: wall attachment parts respectively attachable to the one coupling wall and the other coupling wall; and light holding parts respectively holding the coupling-part illumination parts (Bolin Col. 9, lines 53-67 and note that the revolving photography studio 100 may comprise one or more lights 138. The light(s) 138 may be coupled to the revolving photography studio 100. For example, the light(s) 138 may be coupled to the horizontal crossbar 104. In some embodiments, the light(s) 138 may be coupled to the horizontal crossbar 104 via one or more of the plurality of bolt holes 502 on the horizontal cross bar 104). As of Claim 6: Moore in view of Bolin further teaches the top plate comprises: a top plate body having a plate shape and supported by the wall part from below; and a reinforcing part, and the reinforcing part is configured to reinforce an opening-side piece of the top plate body, the reinforcing part defining an upper end of the work opening (Bolin Col. 7, lines 60-67; Col. 8, lines 1-17 and note that The T-shaped bar 404 may comprise a plurality of bars (e.g., a vertical bar and a horizontal bar) welded together to form one solid piece. The T-shaped bar 404 may comprise two thru holes (not illustrated) to couple the vertical bars 402 with bolts or some other coupling. The plate 124 may be mounted below the crossbar 104 to the vertical spacer bar 120 via the T-shaped bar 404. The bolt holes 406 of the T-shaped bar 404 may align with the bolt holes 408 of the plate 124. The plate 124 may couple to the vertical spacer bar 120 via the bolt holes 406 in the T-shaped bar 404 and the bolt holes 408 in the plate 124 using one or more bolts or some other coupling. The plurality of bolt holes 408 in the plate 124 enable adjustment of the position of the first camera mount 124 further into the product setup location 108). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MEKONNEN D DAGNEW whose telephone number is (571)270-5092. The examiner can normally be reached on 8:00AM-5:00PM M-Th. 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, Lin Ye can be reached on 571-272-7372. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see https://ppair-my.uspto.gov/pair/PrivatePair. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /MEKONNEN D DAGNEW/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2638
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Nov 07, 2024
Application Filed
Nov 07, 2024
Response after Non-Final Action
Jun 26, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Jan 23, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §103 (current)

Precedent Cases

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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
83%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+15.8%)
2y 6m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 728 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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