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 1-10, in the reply filed on 09 June 2026 is acknowledged.
Claims 11-20 are withdrawn from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected invention, there being no allowable generic or linking claim. Election was made without traverse in the aforementioned reply.
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 1-10 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.
Regarding claim 1, the recitation of “configured for…” in lines 3 and 5 is indefinite because it is unclear what Applicant intends. Are the blocks being claimed as having a specified configuration to align the receptacle (i.e. “configured to align…”) or merely recited as an intended use operation not afforded patentable weight (i.e. the current “configured for aligning”)? While it is believed Applicant’s intent is to positively recite the configuration as functional language (i.e. “configured to align…”), clarification and correction are still required.
Claims 9-10 recite the limitation "the connector" in line 1 of each. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Claim 1 recites a universal connector assembly, but does not recite “a connector” to provide antecedent basis to claims 9-10. The preamble of claims 9-10 should be corrected to recite “the universal connector assembly” or “the assembly” to clearly provide antecedent basis to the claims.
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.
(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.
Claim(s) 1-10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by US 2005/0000553 to Noguchi et al. (“Noguchi”).
Regarding claims 1-10, Noguchi (in Figs. 7-14 and associated text) discloses a universal connector assembly for securely connecting a receptacle (106) to an endoscope reprocessing system (101, the assembly comprising:
a first block (145, see Fig. 11) configured for aligning the receptacle to the endoscope reprocessing system in a first direction;
a second block (117b) connectable to the first block, the second block configured for aligning the receptacle to the endoscope reprocessing system in a second direction; and
a third block (131, see ¶ [0189]) comprising one or more internal endoscope hook-ups (see Fig. 10A), the third block configured to fit with the second block (implicit between interaction of 117b and 131),
further comprising a movement mechanism actuatable for connecting the third block to the first block to the second block (see mechanical holding means in ¶ [0200]), wherein the movement mechanism comprises a manual handle (note any structural of the movement mechanism capable of being gripped reads on the generic recitation of manual handle),
wherein the movement mechanism comprises an automated pulling actuator (the electromagnet or suction unit of Noguchi reads on the generic recitation of an automated pulling actuator),
wherein the receptacle comprises a tray, rack, or container (tray 106) configured to receive an endoscope,
wherein the second block comprises a spring-loaded attachment mechanism for securing the second block to the receptacle (see Fig. 19),
wherein the third block is removable (note the third block 131 is removable with the tray),
wherein the third block comprises one or more hook-ups configured to fluidly connect an endoscope thereto (see Fig. 10A),
wherein the first block is configured for vertical alignment of the receptacle (see Fig. 11 and ¶ [0200]),
wherein the first block is configured for lateral alignment of the receptacle (see Fig. 11 and ¶ [0200]).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
US 2021/0127962 to Iwasaki, which discloses an endoscope reprocessor with receptacle and connecting means.
US 2009/0065034 to Suzuki et al., which discloses an endoscope reprocessor with receptacle and connecting means.
WO 2007/042787 to Oliver et al., which discloses an endoscope reprocessor with receptacle and connecting means.
US 2002/0146344 to Walta, which discloses an endoscope reprocessor with receptacle and connecting means.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JOSEPH L PERRIN whose telephone number is (571)272-1305. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7:30-4:00.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Michael E. Barr can be reached at 571-272-1414. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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Joseph L. Perrin, Ph.D.
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 1711
/Joseph L. Perrin/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1711
Prosecution Insights