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) 1-6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by US 20110028942, Saitoh.
In regards to claim 1, in Figures 6-10 and paragraphs detailing said figures, Saitoh discloses a tube connector to connect a medical tube to a medical device, the tube connector comprising: a first member (2) into which the medical tube (8) is inserted; a second member (3) that is screwed into the first member; and an 0-ring (5) that is housed in the first member, deforms with screwing of the second member into the first member, and fixes the medical tube by deformation, wherein one of the first member and the second member comprises an engagement raised portion (see Fig. 7 below), and wherein the other of the first member and the second member comprises a retaining portion (see Fig. 7 below) that mechanically stops the engagement raised portion in a direction of separation of the second member from the first member, wherein the second member comprises a shaft-shaped portion with a second member-side thread portion, wherein the first member comprises a receiving portion that comprises a first member-side thread portion to be threadedly engaged with the second member-side thread portion and receives the shaft-shaped portion, wherein the shaft-shaped portion comprises one of the engagement raised portion and the retaining portion, wherein the receiving portion comprises the other of the engagement raised portion and the retaining portion, and wherein the retaining portion stops the engagement raised portion even when a threaded engagement between the first member-side thread portion and the second member-side thread portion is released.
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In regards to claim 2, in Figures 6-10 and paragraphs detailing said figures, Saitoh discloses n a stop surface of the retaining portion comprises an inclined surface that is sloped up in the direction of separation.
In regards to claim 3, in Figures 6-10 and paragraphs detailing said figures, Saitoh discloses the second member comprises a shaft-shaped portion with a second member-side thread portion (33), wherein the first member comprises a receiving portion that comprises a first member-side thread portion (23) to be threadedly engaged with the second member-side thread portion and receives the shaft-shaped portion, wherein the shaft-shaped portion comprises one of the engagement raised portion and the retaining portion, and wherein the receiving portion comprises the other of the engagement raised portion and the retaining portion at an open end of the receiving portion.
In regards to claim 4, in Figures 6-10 and paragraphs detailing said figures, Saitoh discloses the second member comprises a shaft-shaped portion with a second member-side thread portion, wherein the first member comprises a receiving portion that comprises a first member-side thread portion to be threadedly engaged with the second member-side thread portion and receives the shaft-shaped portion, wherein the shaft-shaped portion comprises one of the engagement raised portion and the retaining portion, and wherein the receiving portion comprises the other of the engagement raised portion and the retaining portion at an open end of the receiving portion.
In regards to claim 5, in Figures 6-10 and paragraphs detailing said figures, Saitoh discloses a tube with connector, comprising: a medical tube; and a tube connector to connect the medical tube to a medical device, wherein the tube connector comprises a first member into which the medical tube is inserted, a second member that is screwed into the first member, and an O-ring seal ring that is housed in the first member, deforms with screwing of the second member into the first member, and fixes the medical tube by deformation, wherein one of the first member and the second member comprises an engagement raised portion, and wherein the other of the first member and the second member comprises a retaining portion that mechanically stops the engagement raised portion in a direction of separation of the second member from the first member.
In regards to claim 6, in Figures 6-10 and paragraphs detailing said figures, Saitoh discloses the O-ring is a ring- shaped seal ring that is made of synthetic rubber ([0075]) and has a circular cross section, and the tube connector is configured to press the O-ring.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) above 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.
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 AARON M DUNWOODY whose telephone number is (571)272-7080. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Matthew Troutman can be reached at 571-270-3654. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/AARON M DUNWOODY/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3679
