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) 17-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Kang (US20180325608).
Regarding claim 17, Kang discloses a method comprising: positioning (Fig. 12, step 202) a tool support (Figs. 10B and 11, elements TG, 93) supported by a robotic arm (Figs. 1-3, 7-8, 10B and 11, elements 20, 22, 24, 26, 28) at a predetermined location with a longitudinal axis of the tool support coaxially aligned with a planned trajectory (paragraph 0027, 0070-0072, 0074-0076); causing (Fig. 12, steps 202-206) a processor of a controller (Figs. 1-3, element 32) associated with the robotic arm to move the tool support in a first direction (toward the spine) along the planned trajectory keeping the longitudinal axis of the tool support substantially coaxially aligned with the at least one planned trajectory (paragraphs 0028-0029, 0072, 0074-0076); causing (Fig. 12, step 210) the processor of the controller to move the tool support in a second direction (withdrawn away from the anatomy) along the at least one planned trajectory keeping the longitudinal axis of the tool support substantially coaxially aligned with the planned trajectory (paragraphs 0044-0046, 0056, 0072, 0075-0076).
Regarding claim 18, Kang discloses the method of claim 17, wherein the step of causing the processor of the controller associated with the robotic arm to move the tool guide in the first direction along the planned trajectory keeping the longitudinal axis of the tool support substantially coaxially aligned with the at least one planned trajectory is defined further as receiving, by the processor, a signal from a first trajectory button (Figs. 4-6, element 49) on the robotic arm thereby providing an instruction to the processor to cause the processor to move the tool support in the first direction along the planned trajectory keeping the longitudinal axis of the tool support substantially coaxially aligned with the at least one planned trajectory (paragraphs 0048, 0055-0056, 0075).
Regarding claim 19, Kang discloses the method of claim 18, wherein the first trajectory button is supported by a body of a handgrip (Figs. 4-5, element 46) attached to the robotic arm, and the method further comprises receiving a force on the first trajectory button whereby the first trajectory button initiates the signal in response to force on the first trajectory button (paragraph 0047-0048).
Regarding claim 20, Kang discloses a method comprising: receiving data indicative of a planned trajectory to be followed by a tool support (Figs. 6, 10B and 11, elements 30, 40, 45, TG, 93) connected to a robotic arm (Figs. 1-3, 7-8, 10B and 11, elements 20, 22, 24, 26, 28; paragraph 0027, 0031, 0035, 0041, 0050, 0052-0053, 0055); configuring a processor of a controller (Figs. 1-3, element 32) associated with the robotic arm to move the tool support in a first direction (toward vertebral body 100, Figs. 4-5) along the planned trajectory keeping the longitudinal axis of the tool support substantially coaxially aligned with the at least one planned trajectory (paragraphs 0052-0053, 0055-0058 and 0060-0061); and configuring the processor of the controller to move the tool support in a second direction (back … away from the patient; remove drill) along the at least one planned trajectory keeping the longitudinal axis of the tool support substantially coaxially aligned with the planned trajectory (paragraph 0053, 0055-0061).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-16 are allowed.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DALE MOYER whose telephone number is (571)270-7821. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8am-5pm PT.
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/Dale Moyer/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3656
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