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 .
DETAILED ACTION
Claims 1-20 are pending. Claims 1-20 are examined on the merits.
Claim Rejections –35 USC § 112, 2nd
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 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112, second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which applicant regards as the invention.
Claim 1 recites parenthetical expression "(D-microgels)" at line 9; “(L-microgels)” at line 10; “(D-microgel assembly)” at line 11; and “(L-microgel assembly)” at line 12. The metes and bounds of Claim 1 are rendered vague and indefinite by the parenthetical recitation of because it is unclear as to whether the limitation is part of the instantly claimed subject matter. Claim 17 is rejected for the same reason.
Claim 16 recites “D-beads and L-beads” at line 4, it is not clear what they stand for, there is no mentioning about “D-beads and L-beads” in the prior claims, Applicant should at least have some brief description about the definition of “D-beads and L-beads”.
Claim 19 recites “The method according to claim 17, wherein the number of alloreactive CD45R+ B cells and/or allorcactive CD3+ T cells is reduced”, but there is no antecedent basis about that recitation.
Therefore, the metes and bounds of claims are rendered vague and indefinite. The lack of clarity renders the claims very confusing and ambiguous since the resulting claims do not clearly set forth the metes and bounds of the patent protection desired.
All other cited claims depend directly or indirectly from rejected claims and are, therefore, also, rejected under U.S.C. 112, second paragraph for the reasons set forth above.
Conclusion
No claim is allowed.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to QIUWEN MI whose telephone number is (571)272-5984. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
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/Qiuwen Mi/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1655
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