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 .
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-20 are allowable over the prior art.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Most pertinent prior art, including U.S. Patent No. 10,758,286 to Ammerman et al., U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2016/0038195 to Genovese et al., U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2010/0286486 to Parker et al., U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2015/0374354 to Boyd et al. and U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2015/0230834 to Cannestra disclose a medical device for use with a patient. The device comprises at least one first retractor that is configured to be connected to a pedicle screw structure, and at least one second retractor that is configured to provide access to a disc space of the patient through an interior of the second retractor. A second retractor is configured to be adjustable within the first retractor to displace tissue of the patient in or adjacent to the disc space.
The prior art fails to teach or disclose, however, wherein at least a portion of the second retractor may be inserted into an interior of the first retractor and is configured to provide access to a disc space of the patient through an interior of the second retractor, when the at least one first retractor that is configured to be connected to a pedicle screw structure.
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.
Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-15 of U.S. Patent No. 11,259,940. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because both the present application and granted patent disclose a medical device for use with a patient. The device includes at least one first retractor that is configured to be connected to a pedicle screw structure, and at least one second retractor that is configured such that at least a portion of the second retractor may be inserted into an interior of the first retractor. The second retractor is configured to provide access to a disc space of the patient through an interior of said second retractor. The second retractor is adjustable within the first retractor to displace tissue of the patient in or adjacent to the disc space.
Conclusion
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/CHRISTOPHER J BECCIA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3775
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