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) 1-10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Sohn (USPN 2022/0313167).
Regarding claims 1 and 10, Sohn discloses an apparatus for blood pressure monitoring, comprising: a blood vessel deformation detection sensor unit for monitoring blood volume changes and blood flow in blood vessels of a part of the user's body ([0057]); a ballistocardiogram sensor unit installed adjacent to the user's back to measure the user's heartbeat ([0058]-[0059]); a blood vessel analysis unit for receiving signals from the blood vessel deformation detection sensor unit, analyzing them, and generating a graph ([0057], figures 3 and 9); a ballistocardiogram analysis unit for receiving signals from the ballistocardiogram sensor unit, analyzing them, and generating a graph ([0058]-[0061], figures 3 and 9); a calculation unit for receiving data from the blood vessel analysis unit and the ballistocardiogram analysis unit and deriving at least one parameter; and a machine learning unit for receiving data on the parameter from the calculation unit and performing machine learning to derive blood pressure values ([0058]-[0061], figures 3 and 9).
Regarding claim 2, Sohn discloses the blood vessel deformation detection sensor unit is equipped with an imaging sensor for imaging blood vessels on a part of the user's body ([0057]).
Regarding claim 3, Sohn discloses the ballistocardiogram sensor unit comprises at least one ballistocardiogram sensor, and the ballistocardiogram sensor is an accelerometer, a force sensor, a pressure sensor, or an optical fiber sensor ([0058], [0063]).
Regarding claim 4, Sohn discloses a plurality of ballistocardiogram sensors are arranged to form rows and columns (figures 2 and 7).
Regarding claim 5, Sohn discloses the calculation unit derives cardiac output and pulse transit time (PTT) as parameters using data received from the blood vessel analysis unit and the ballistocardiogram analysis unit ([0060]-[0061]).
Regarding claim 6, Sohn discloses the calculation unit stores the user's body information as a parameter ([0065]-[0066]).
Regarding claim 7, Sohn discloses the calculation unit derives the pulse transit time (PTT) using graph data of the blood vessel analysis unit and graph data of the ballistocardiogram analysis unit ([0060]-[0061]).
Regarding claim 8, Sohn discloses the blood vessel analysis unit generates a graph of changes in blood volume of blood vessels on a part of the user's body (figures 3 and 9).
Regarding claim 9, Sohn discloses the ballistocardiogram analysis unit generates a graph of the user's heartbeat (figures 3 and 9).
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.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
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.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/MARJAN FARDANESH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3791
