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
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) 1-15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Ahmed et al. (USPN 20130030300-Cited by the Applicant).
Regarding claims 1 and 14, an intraluminal device (figure 2), comprising: a flexible elongate member configured to be positioned within a body lumen of a patient, wherein the flexible elongate member comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion ([0013]); a first sensor (pressure sensor 104 in figure 2) positioned at the distal portion of the flexible elongate member ([0046]); a second sensor (flow sensor 101 in figure 2) positioned at the distal portion of the flexible elongate member ([0044]); and a sensor mount (sensor housing 103 in figure 2) positioned at the distal portion of the flexible elongate member ([0046]), wherein the first sensor is positioned on the sensor mount, wherein the second sensor is spaced from the first sensor, and wherein the sensor mount comprises a first material that is electrically conductive and configured to carry electrical signals associated with the second sensor (figure 20, [0050]).
Regarding claim 2, the first sensor comprises a first intraluminal modality, and wherein the second sensor comprises a different, second intraluminal modality ([0046]).
Regarding claim 3, the first sensor comprises a pressure sensor, and wherein the second sensor comprises a flow sensor ([0044]-[0046]).
Regarding claim 4, the sensor mount comprises a second material forming an outer surface of the sensor mount, wherein, in a cross-section, the second material completely surrounds the conductive first material ([0050]-[0052]).
Regarding claim 5, the second material is electrically conductive, wherein the sensor mount comprises a third material disposed between the first material and the second material, wherein the third material comprises an electrically insulating material ([0050]-[0052]).
Regarding claim 6, in the cross-section, the third material completely surrounds the first material ([0050]-[0052]).
Regarding claim 7, the sensor mount comprises a proximal portion and a distal portion, wherein the first material extends between the proximal portion and the distal portion (figure 2).
Regarding claim 8, the first sensor overlaps with the first material along a length of the sensor mount ([0046]).
Regarding claim 9, a majority of the first material is embedded within the sensor mount, and wherein the first material comprises a first exposed portion and a second exposed portion ([0050]-[0052]).
Regarding claim 10, a connector region positioned at the proximal portion of the flexible elongate member; a first electrical wire coupled to the first exposed portion and the second sensor; and a second electrical wire coupled to the second exposed portion and the connector region such that the second sensor is in electrical communication with the connector region ([0050]-[0052]).
Regarding claim 11, a third electrical wire coupled to the first sensor and the connector region such that the first sensor is in electrical communication with the connector region ([0050]-[0052]).
Regarding claim 12, a connector region positioned at the proximal portion of the flexible elongate member; a first electrical wire coupled to the first exposed portion and the second sensor; a wire bond coupled to the second exposed portion and the first sensor; and a second electrical wire coupled to the first sensor and the connector region such that the first sensor and the second sensor is in electrical communication with the connector region ([0050]-[0052]).
Regarding claim 13, the first exposed portion and the second exposed portion are continuous with an outer surface of the sensor mount (figure 2).
Regarding claim 15, a pressure signal pathway extending between the pressure sensor and the connector region, wherein the pressure signal pathway is configured to carry electrical signals associated with the pressure sensor ([0046).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MARJAN FARDANESH whose telephone number is (571)270-5508. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9:00-17:00.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jacqueline Cheng can be reached at (571)272-5596. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/MARJAN FARDANESH/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3791
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