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 .
Specification
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the enablement requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to enable one skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and/or use the invention.
It appears that the specification does not provide sufficient details about “an MRI system component” and it does sufficiently provide details showing how the “MRI system components” in figure 2 are incorporated and used in the apparatus of figure 1? Therefore, the scope of claims 1-20 are not well understood
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(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.
In claim 1, it is unclear what is considered as “a current driver”. Is it shown in any of drawings? Furthermore, it is unclear what “MRI system component” comprises of?
In claim 2, “the MRI main magnet” has not been recited previously, therefore this term is indefinite.
In claim 9, what is considered as “MRI magnet” ? Is it shown in any of drawings?
In claim 14, what are considered as “an MRI system component” and “MRI gradient coil” ? Are they different from each other? Furthermore, it is unclear which device is used for generating “a driving current”?
In claim 15, what is considered as “MRI main magnet”? Is it shown in any of drawings?
The dependent claims not specifically addressed share the same indefiniteness as they depend from rejected base claims.
Conclusion
Searches were performed and no prior art was found to meet the limitations of claims 1-20. However, these claims are not allowed due to their deficiencies as mentioned in the current office action/
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Block et al (pat# 5,856,744) disclose Method And Apparatus For B0 Eddy Current Compensation By B1 Phase Modulation.
Grodzki (Pat# 11,604,241) discloses Method And System Of Automatic Selection For The Suppression Of A Tissue Component.
Ookawa (Pat# 10,234,530) discloses Magnetic Resonance Imaging Apparatus.
Hölsche et al (Pat# 12.055,609) disclose Method And Control Unit For Compensation Of Eddy Current Induced Magnetic Fields In Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to VINH P NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)272-1964. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 6:00am-4:00pm.
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, Phan Huy can be reached on 571-272-7924. 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.
/VINH P NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2858
Prosecution Insights