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.
Claims 2-21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Matsumoto (US Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0111612).
In regard to claim 2, Matsumoto discloses an endoscope (10, Fig. 1) comprising:
an elongated shaft (12) defining a central axis and a distal tip (19), the distal tip of the elongated shaft including a first portion defining a first area lying within a first plane that forms a non-perpendicular angle relative to the central axis of the elongated shaft (see annotated Fig. 2 below), a second portion defining a second area lying within a second plane that is perpendicular to the central axis of the elongated shaft (see annotated Fig. 2 below), and first and second transition portions interconnecting the first and second portions of the distal tip of the elongated shaft on opposed first and second sides of the distal tip of the elongated shaft, respectively (see annotated Fig. 15 below);
an interior volume (lumen of channel tube (46)) extending through the elongated shaft, wherein a first portion of the interior volume terminates coplanarly with the first portion of the distal tip of the elongated shaft and fully occupies the first area, wherein a second portion of the interior volume terminates coplanarly with the second portion of the distal tip of the elongated shaft and partially occupies the second area, and wherein a third portion of the interior volume terminates between the first and second transition portions of the distal tip of the elongated shaft (Fig. 2 illustrates the interior family having the first, second and third portions as claimed); and
a visualization conduit (via conduit housing image fiber (56), Fig. 2) extending through the elongated shaft, the visualization conduit optically exposed coplanarly with the second plane such that a viewing angle through the visualization conduit is parallel to the central axis (Fig. 2).
In regard to claim 12, Matsumoto discloses an endoscope (10, Fig. 1) comprising:
an elongated shaft (12) defining a central axis and a distal tip, the distal tip of the elongated shaft including a first portion that terminates to define a first area within a first plane disposed at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the central axis of the elongated shaft (see annotated Fig. 2 below), a second portion that terminates to define a second area within a second plane disposed at a perpendicular angle relative to the central axis of the elongated shaft (see annotated Fig. 2 below), and first and second transition portions interconnecting the first and second portions of the distal tip of the elongated shaft (see annotated Fig. 15 below);
a first interior volume (lumen of channel tube (46)) extending through the elongated shaft (Fig. 2), the first interior volume terminating coextensively with the distal tip of the elongated shaft to fully occupy the first area and partially occupy the second area (Fig. 2); and
a second interior volume (via volume through which fiber (72a)) extending through the elongated shaft, the second interior volume separate from the first interior volume and terminating coextensively with the distal tip of the elongated shaft to partially occupy a portion of the second area not occupied by the first interior volume (Figs. 7-11).
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In regard to claim 3, Matsumoto teaches wherein the interior volume is defined by a channel (46) disposed within the elongated shaft (Fig. 2).
In regard to claim 4, Matsumoto teaches wherein the visualization conduit is separate from the interior volume (Fig. 2).
In regard to claim 5, Matsuomoto teaches further comprising an additional interior volume (via volume through which fiber (72a)) extends) extending through the elongated shaft and separate from the interior volume (Figs. 7-11).
In regard to claim 6, Matsumoto teaches wherein the additional interior volume is separate from the visualization conduit (Figs. 7-11).
In regard to claim 7, Matsumoto teaches further comprising first and second additional interior volumes (first and second volumes that house fibers (72)) extending through the elongated shaft, the first and second additional interior volumes separate from the interior volume and disposed on opposing sides of the visualization conduit (Figs. 7-11).
In regard to claim 8, Matsumoto teaches wherein the first plane forms an angle of from 20 degrees to 40 degrees relative to the central axis (Par. 67).
In regard to claim 9, Matsumoto teaches wherein the first portion of the distal tip of the elongated shaft defines a curvature (Fig. 11).
In regard to claim 10, Matsumoto teaches wherein the second portion of the distal tip of the elongated shaft defines a curvature (Fig. 11).
In regard to claim 11, Matsumoto teaches wherein the first and second transition portions of the distal tip of the elongated shaft define curvatures (Fig. 11).
In regard to claim 13, Matsumoto teaches further comprising a visualization conduit(via conduit housing image fiber (56), Fig. 2) extending through the elongated shaft, the visualization conduit separate from the first interior volume (Fig. 2).
In regard to claim 14, Matsumoto teaches wherein the visualization conduit is optically exposed coplanarly with the second plane of the distal tip of the elongated shaft (Fig. 2).
In regard to claim 15, Matsumoto teaches further comprising a third interior volume (via volume through which fiber (72a)) extending through the elongated shaft (Figs. 7-11).
In regard to claim 16, Matsumoto teaches wherein the second and third interior volumes are disposed on opposing sides of the visualization conduit (Figs. 7-11).
In regard to claim 17, Matsumoto teaches further comprising a light fiber bundle (72) disposed within the second interior volume (Figs. 7-11).
In regard to claim 18, Matsumoto teaches wherein the first plane forms an angle of from 20 degrees to 40 degrees relative to the central axis (Par. 67).
In regard to claim 19, Matsumoto teaches wherein the first portion of the distal tip of the elongated shaft defines a curvature (Fig. 11).
In regard to claim 20, Matsumoto teaches wherein the second portion of the distal tip of the elongated shaft defines a curvature (Fig. 11).
In regard to claim 21, Matsumoto teaches wherein the first and second transition portions of the distal tip of the elongated shaft define curvatures (Fig. 11).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to RYAN N HENDERSON whose telephone number is (571)270-1430. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 6am-5pm (PST).
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/RYAN N HENDERSON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3795 May 19, 2026
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