Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/890,912

CIRCULATORY SUPPORT DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Sep 20, 2024
Priority
Sep 25, 2023 — provisional 63/540,346
Examiner
DIETRICH, JOSEPH M
Art Unit
3796
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Boston Scientific Scimed Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
81%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 2m
Est. Remaining
89%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 81% — above average
81%
Career Allowance Rate
753 granted / 930 resolved
+11.0% vs TC avg
Moderate +8% lift
Without
With
+8.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 0m
Avg Prosecution
32 currently pending
Career history
974
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.1%
-38.9% vs TC avg
§103
76.8%
+36.8% vs TC avg
§102
8.8%
-31.2% vs TC avg
§112
3.9%
-36.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 930 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 § 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. Claim(s) 1 – 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Tuval et al. (US PGPUB 2022/0072297 – in IDS). Regarding claims 1, 11, and 17, Tuval discloses a circulatory support system (e.g. ABSTRACT, ¶ 8) comprising: a blood pump (e.g. ¶ 9) comprising: a driven component (e.g. impeller 50); and a motor (e.g. motor unit 23) in communication with the driven component and configured to drive the driven component to pump a blood flow through the blood pump (e.g. ¶ 242); one or more sensors (e.g. 84) configured to sense a value related to a speed of the motor (e.g. ¶ 242 – 253); a controller (e.g. control console 21, 25) in communication with the motor and the one or more sensors configured to sense the value related to the speed of the motor (e.g. ¶ 242 – 245), and wherein the controller is configured to output a command signal to the motor to drive the driven component and determine one or more values related to the blood flow pumped through the blood pump based on the value related to the speed of the motor and the command signal (e.g. ¶ 242 – 253). Regarding claims 2 – 4, 12, 13, and 18, Tuval discloses the one or more values related to the blood flow through the blood pump include a flow rate of the blood flow through the blood pump wherein the one or more values related to the blood flow through the blood pump includes a left ventricular pressure and the controller is configured to determine the left ventricular pressure based on the motor torque and the motor mechanical loss (e.g. ¶ 242 – 253). Regarding claims 5 – 7, 14, 16, 19 and 20, Tuval discloses wherein the one or more values related to the blood flow through the blood pump includes a left ventricular pressure wherein the controller is further configured to: determine a motor torque based on the command signal and the value related to the speed of the motor; determine a motor mechanical loss based on the value related to the speed of the motor; and wherein the pressure drop is determined based on the motor torque and the motor mechanical loss (e.g. ¶ 242 – 253). Regarding claim 8, Tuval discloses the controller is configured to adjust the command signal based on the one or more values related to the blood flow pumped through the blood pump (e.g. ¶ 242 – 248). Regarding claim 9, Tuval discloses the controller is configured to output an indication of a sufficiency of the blood pump for pumping blood from a left ventricle to an aorta based on the one or more values related to the blood flow pumped through the blood pump (e.g. ¶ 242 – 243). Regarding claims 10 and 16, Tuval discloses the command signal comprises a voltage level (e.g. ¶ 242 – 253). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JOSEPH M DIETRICH whose telephone number is (571)270-1895. The examiner can normally be reached Mon - Fri 8:00-5:00. 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, Jennifer McDonald can be reached at 571-270-3061. 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. /JOSEPH M DIETRICH/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3796
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Prosecution Timeline

Sep 20, 2024
Application Filed
Jun 03, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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INTRA-CARDIAC LEFT ATRIAL AND DUAL SUPPORT SYSTEMS
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Patent 12642981
WCD PACING PULSE GENERATION
2y 9m to grant Granted Jun 02, 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
81%
Grant Probability
89%
With Interview (+8.3%)
3y 0m (~1y 2m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 930 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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