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 .
Status of Claims and Application
This final action on the merits is in response to the remarks and amendments received by the office on 24 November 2025. Claims 1-20 are pending. Claims 1, 11, and 17 are amended. No claims are added or cancelled.
Response to Amendment
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 11-14 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.
The term “sufficient to 3D print two or more 3D-printed objects” in claim 11 is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The volume of a dental restoration is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention as “3-D printed object” is not a known or commonly used unit of volume.
Claims 12-14 depend upon claim 11 and are therefore also rejected.
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- 17 & 18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by U.S. Patent Application Publication 2017/0246797 to Lambrecht et al. (‘797 hereafter).
Regarding claim 1, ‘797 teaches a modular reservoir assembly for use with a three- dimensional (3D) printing system, the modular reservoir assembly comprising: a cartridge including a bottom, an opening, and sidewalls extending from the bottom to the opening defining an inner volume (Fig 4 items 44, 41, 42); a build platform including a build surface and disposed entirely within the inner volume, the inner volume between the sidewalls and a vertical wall of the platform (Fig 4 item 60); an amount of photosensitive resin stored within the inner volume (paragraph 0024); and a releasable sealing member configured to seal the opening of the cartridge with the build platform and the amount of photosensitive resin entirely within the inner volume (Fig 4 item 43, paragraph 0116); wherein the build platform is adapted to hold the photosensitive resin inside the inner volume, and when the releasable sealing member is released, the build platform is configurable to a movement arm of the 3D printing system and adapted to release the photosensitive resin from the inner volume to a space between the bottom of the cartridge and a build surface of the build platform (paragraphs 0022 and 0116).
Regarding claim 2, ‘797 teaches the assembly wherein the bottom of the cartridge is adapted to allow curing light to pass into the inner volume (Fig 4 item 44, paragraph 0122).
Regarding claim 3, ‘797 teaches the assembly wherein the bottom is transparent and/or semi- transparent (Fig 4 item 44, paragraph 0122).
Regarding claim 4, ‘797 teaches the assembly wherein the 3D printing system includes a screen adapted to provide the curing light, the modular reservoir assembly further comprising: a cartridge holder configurable with the screen and adapted to releasably attach the cartridge to the screen (Fig 2 items 14, 15).
Regarding claim 5, ‘797 teaches the assembly wherein the screen includes a screen perimeter, and the cartridge holder attaches the cartridge to the screen within the screen perimeter (Fig 2 items 14, 15).
Regarding claim 6, ‘797 teaches the assembly wherein the cartridge holder includes a cavity adapted to receive at least a portion of the cartridge (Fig 2 items 14, 15).
Regarding claim 7. ‘797 teaches the assembly wherein the cartridge includes at least one outer protrusion, and the cartridge holder includes at least one corresponding slot to receive the at least one outer protrusion (Fig 2 item 15).
Regarding claim 8, ‘797 teaches the assembly wherein when the build platform is configured with the movement arm, the movement arm moves the build surface with respect to the bottom of the cartridge while the inner volume receives the curing light to perform 3D printing (Fig 4 items 51, 60).
Regarding claim 9, ‘797 teaches the assembly wherein the curing light cures a layer of the photosensitive resin to the build surface (paragraph 0065). Examiner’s note regarding claim interpretation: This claim is directed solely to a recitation of intended use of the claimed invention without reciting any structural limitation. This claim is not regarded as further limiting applicant’s claimed invention. (See MPEP 2114 (II) for more information)
Regarding claim 10, ‘797 teaches the assembly wherein a surface area of the build surface is 2500mm2 or less (paragraph 0016).
Regarding claim 11, ‘797 teaches the wherein the amount of photosensitive resin is sufficient to 3D print two or more dental restorations insofar as this is a recitation of intended use of the claimed apparatus.
Regarding claim 12, ‘797 teaches the assembly wherein the modular reservoir assembly includes a first cartridge that is replaceable with a second cartridge (paragraph 0122).
Regarding claim 13, ‘797 teaches the assembly wherein the first cartridge includes a first type of the photosensitive resin, and the second cartridge includes a second type of the photosensitive resin (paragraph 0038).
Regarding claim 14, ‘797 teaches the assembly wherein the first type of the photosensitive resin is used to 3D print a first type of dental restoration and the second type of the photosensitive resin is used to 3D print a second type of dental restoration insofar as this is a recitation of intended use of the claimed apparatus. As disclosed, the prior art device is capable of being used in this manner.
Regarding claim 15, ‘797 teaches the assembly wherein the cartridge is disposable insofar as the disposal of the assembly claimed is a recitation of intended use. Since the assembly of the prior art is fully detachable from the prior art additive manufacturing apparatus, it is capable of being disposed of.
Regarding claim 16, ‘797 teaches the assembly wherein when sealed within the inner volume, the build surface contacts a surface of the bottom of the cartridge (paragraph 0022).
Regarding claim 17, ‘797 teaches a method of manufacturing a modular reservoir assembly for use with a three-dimensional (3D) printing system, the method comprising: providing a cartridge including a bottom, an opening opposite the bottom and along a top region of the cartridge, and sidewalls extending from the bottom to the opening defining an inner volume (Fig 4 items 44, 41 and 42); placing a build platform including a build surface entirely within the inner volume, the inner volume between the sidewalls and a vertical wall of the platform (Fig 4 item 60); placing an amount of photosensitive resin within the inner volume (paragraph 0022); adapting the build platform to hold the photosensitive resin inside the inner volume such that moving the build platform releases the photosensitive resin from the inner volume to a space between the bottom of the cartridge and a build surface of the build platform (paragraph 0026); and with the build platform and the amount of photosensitive resin within the inner volume, using a sealing member to seal the opening ( Fig 4 item 43).
Regarding claim 18, ‘797 teaches the method wherein the bottom is transparent and/or semi- transparent (Fig 4 item 44, paragraph 0122).
Regarding claim 19, ‘797 teaches the method wherein the amount of photosensitive resin is sufficient to 3D print two or more dental restorations (paragraph 0016).
Regarding claim 20, ‘797 teaches the method wherein placing the build platform including the build surface entirely within the inner volume includes placing the build surface in contact with a surface of the bottom of the cartridge (paragraph 0022).
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1-20 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument. Amendment to independent claims necessitated application of newly identified prior art
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to John P Robitaille whose telephone number is (571)270-7006. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8:30AM-6:00PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Galen Hauth can be reached at (571) 270-5516. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JPR/Examiner, Art Unit 1743
/GALEN H HAUTH/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 1743