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 .
Disposition of Claims
Claims 1-17 are pending.
Claims 1-5, 7-11, 13 & 15-16 are allowed.
Claims 6, 12, 14 & 17 are rejected.
Claim Objections
Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities:
Regarding Claim 1, Claim 1 recites the limitation “a light emiting [sic] diode” on Lines 16-17. This is a typographical error. Appropriate correction is required.
Regarding Claim 1, Claim 1 recites the limitation “a light source stop surface” on Line 8. Claim 1 further recites “the first light source stop surface [emphasis added]” on Lines 18-19. Examiner kindly requests Applicant amend “the first light source stop surface” to read “the light source stop surface” to provide consistent claim language throughout.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112(b)
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 6, 12, 14 & 17 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 6, Claim 6 recites the limitation “the light source” on Lines 1-2 & Line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claims. For the purpose of examination, “the light source” is being interpreted as “the LED”.
Regarding Claim 12, Claim 12 recites the limitations “the tip part” and “the tip housing” on Line 1 and Line 2, respectively. There is insufficient antecedent basis for these limitations in the claims. For the purpose of examination, “the tip part” and “the tip housing” are being interpreted as “a tip part” and “a tip housing”, respectively.
Regarding Claim 14, Claim 14 recites the limitations “the tip part” and “the tip housing” on Line 1 and Line 2, respectively. There is insufficient antecedent basis for these limitations in the claims. For the purpose of examination, “the tip part” and “the tip housing” are being interpreted as “a tip part” and “a tip housing”, respectively.
Regarding Claim 17, Claim 17 recites the limitation “wherein the second seat surface is connected to the arm” on Line 3. It is unclear whether this “arm” is the same as the “[first] arm” previously recited on Line 9 of Claim 1, the “second arm” previously recited on Line 1 of Claim 17, or a separate, different arm. For the purpose of examination, “wherein the second seat surface is connected to the arm” is being interpreted as “wherein the second seat surface is connected to the second arm [emphasis added]”
Regarding Claim 17, Claim 17 recites the limitation “connecting the flexible circuit board to a second LED [emphasis added]” on Line 4. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claims. For the purpose of examination, “connecting the flexible circuit board to a second LED” is being interpreted as “connecting a flexible circuit board to a second LED [emphasis added]”.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-5, 7-11, 13 & 15-16 are allowed.
Claims 6, 12, 14 & 17 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejections under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
The closest piece of prior art, Oyama (US 2021/0127953), discloses a method for assembling an endoscope (Figs. 6-8, a process of assembling 11 of 1; [0031] & [0032]), the method comprising:
providing a handle (Fig. 1, 3; [0032]) attached to an insertion cord (Fig. 1, 2; [0032]), the insertion cord including at least an insertion tube (Fig. 1, 13; [0033]) and a bending section (Fig. 1, 12; [0033]);
inserting ([0072]) at least a portion of a camera assembly (Oyama Annotated Fig. 6, an image assembly comprising 30, 35 and 50; [0061]) into an exterior housing (Oyama Annotated Fig. 6, 41; [0047]) through a proximal opening of the exterior housing (41p; see Oyama Annotated Fig. 6), the camera assembly comprising an image sensor (Oyama Annotated Fig. 6, 31; [0034]), and the exterior housing comprising a camera window (Oyama Annotated Fig. 6, a light-receiving-unit portion of 15; [0075]), a light source window (Oyama Annotated Fig. 6, a light-emitting-unit portion of 15; [0075]), a camera stop surface (41s; see Oyama Annotated Fig. 4) and a light source stop surface (41t; see Oyama Annotated Fig. 6);
inserting ([0072]) at least a portion of an interior housing (Oyama Annotated Fig. 6, 40; [0047]) into the exterior housing through the proximal opening of the exterior housing (see Fig. 8), the interior housing comprising a wall (Oyama Annotated Fig. 6, 46a; [0053]), an arm (Oyama Annotated Fig. 6, 47b; [0056]) and a seat surface (Oyama Annotated Fig. 6, 47a; [0054]), the wall including a closure surface (Oyama Annotated Fig. 6, 46; [0048]), the arm connected to and extending distally from the wall (see Oyama Annotated Fig. 6), and the seat surface connected to the arm (see Oyama Annotated Fig. 6); and
providing a light emitting diode LED (Oyama Annotated Fig. 6, 36; [0062]).
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Oyama fails to explicitly disclose the interior housing being configured to translate independently of the image sensor; translating the camera assembly distally until the camera assembly contacts the camera stop surface, the camera stop surface preventing further distal translation of the camera assembly; translating the interior housing distally, independently of the image sensor, to translate the LED to a post-compensation condition in which the LED is positioned between the seat surface and the light source stop surface without an air gap therebetween, the first light source stop surface being traversed by an optical axis of the LED and preventing further distal translation of the LED, wherein translating the interior housing distally adjusts an axial distance between the image sensor and the LED; and while the camera assembly contacts the camera stop surface and the LED is in the post-compensation condition, adhesively bonding the interior housing to an interior surface of the exterior housing.
Additionally, no prior art of record, alone or in combination, discloses, teaches or suggests the interior housing being configured to translate independently of the image sensor; translating the camera assembly distally until the camera assembly contacts the camera stop surface, the camera stop surface preventing further distal translation of the camera assembly; translating the interior housing distally, independently of the image sensor, to translate the LED to a post-compensation condition in which the LED is positioned between the seat surface and the light source stop surface without an air gap therebetween, the first light source stop surface being traversed by an optical axis of the LED and preventing further distal translation of the LED, wherein translating the interior housing distally adjusts an axial distance between the image sensor and the LED; and while the camera assembly contacts the camera stop surface and the LED is in the post-compensation condition, adhesively bonding the interior housing to an interior surface of the exterior housing.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
Takahashi et al. (US 2020/0297193) teaches an endoscope with an image pickup unit and a method of replacing the image pickup device in the endoscope.
Kuo et al. (US 2020/0196434) teaches an endoscope with a flexible printed circuit board assembly.
Hosaka (US 2018/0242831) teaches an LED-type distal end optical adapter.
Ando et al. (US 2018/0055334) teaches an endoscope and a method of assembling the endoscope.
Lin (US 2014/0210976) teaches an endoscope with a T-shaped flexible circuit board and method of assembly thereof.
Kudo (US 2013/0265798) teaches a method of assembling an endoscope.
Han (US 2011/0118549) teaches an endoscopic camera module and method of manufacturing thereof.
Hosaka (US 2008/0300457) teaches a process of assembling a distal end of an endoscope.
Rovegno (US 2008/0027276) teaches an endoscopic probe integrating a compact objective.
Boulais et al. (US 2007/0249907) teaches an imaging assembly with a transparent distal cap.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to STEPHEN FLOYD LONDON whose telephone number is (571)272-4478. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday: 10:00 am ET - 6:00pm ET.
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/STEPHEN FLOYD LONDON/Examiner, Art Unit 3795
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