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 .
DETAILED ACTION
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
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. Regarding claims 1 and 20, limitation “the probe body detachably connected to a proximal end of the probe cable” is unclear. It is unclear how the probe body can connect to proximal end of the probe cable. The proximal end of probe cable would be connected to power. The specification discloses the probe body detachably connected to a proximal end of the probe cable. Examiner interprets the claim as probe body detachably connected to a distal end of the probe cable. Regarding claims 1 and 20, limitation “a bite block configured to activate and/or deactivate the control of the flexion angle with the touch interface based on an amount of the probe cable transesophageally inserted through the bite block” and “activating and/or deactivating control of a flexion angle of the transducer of the transesophageal ultrasound probe using the bite block based on the amount of the probe cable transesophageally inserted” is unclear. It is unclear how the system can both activate and deactivate buttons/functions based on the amount of probe cable that has been inserted into the patient. As see in paragraph [0064], the control panel interface on the probe are enabled or disabled during at least a portion of the transesophageal insertion process based on the amount of probe cable that has been inserted into the patient.
No art rejection.
Closest prior art US 2007/0198074; US 2007/0006878; US 2014/0007868 and US 9,345,435.
Conclusion
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/HIEN N NGUYEN/
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3797
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