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 .
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 03/20/2025 was considered by the examiner.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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 and 2 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Brusacá et al. (20150289841). With respect to claim 1, Brusacá et al. discloses an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus comprising: an apparatus main body (1, 3) that includes an operation panel (4); a monitor part (2, 5) that is movable between a closing position at which the monitor part is laid over the operation panel (4) and an opening position at which the monitor part (2, 5) is erected on a rear edge portion of the apparatus main body (1); and a hinge member (12) that is supported by the apparatus main body (1, 3) at the rear edge portion of the apparatus main body (1, 3) and that supports the monitor part (2, 5), wherein the hinge member (12) is supported by the apparatus main body (1, 3) to be rotationally movable around a revolution axis inclined rearward with respect to a direction perpendicular to the operation panel, the monitor part (2, 5) revolving as the hinge member (12) rotationally moves around the revolution axis, the hinge member (12) supports the monitor part (2, 5) to be rotationally movable around an opening and closing axis orthogonal to a direction in which the revolution axis extends, the monitor part (2, 5) being opened and closed between the closing position and the opening position as the monitor part (2, 5) rotationally moves around the opening and closing axis, and the hinge member (12) includes a biasing mechanism that biases, toward the closing position, the monitor part (2, 5) positioned in a vicinity of the closing position. With respect to claim 2, Brusacá et al. discloses the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in a case where the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus is installed at a predetermined position, a front side of the operation panel is lowered and the revolution axis extends along a vertical direction, see foe example figures 1 and 2.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LISA LEA-EDMONDS whose telephone number is (571)272-2043. The examiner can normally be reached M-F.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Timothy Thompson can be reached at 571-272-2342. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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LISA LEA-EDMONDS
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2847
/LISA LEA EDMONDS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2847 2026-09-14
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