www.uspto.gov
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`
`17/250,426
`
`01/20/2021
`
`Rudolf Schmid
`
`81076US004
`
`7144
`
`Solventum Intellectual Properties Company
`2510 Conway Ave E
`3M Center, 275-6E-21
`St Paul, MN 5514
`
`FOLGMANN,DREW S
`
`3772
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`06/04/2024
`
`ELECTRONIC
`
`Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
`
`The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication.
`
`Notice of the Office communication was sent electronically on above-indicated "Notification Date" to the
`following e-mail address(es):
`
`IPDocketing @ Solventum.com
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`17/250,426
`Schmid et al.
`
`Office Action Summary Art Unit|AIA (FITF)StatusExaminer
`DREW S FOLGMANN
`3772
`Yes
`
`
`
`-- The MAILING DATEof this communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address --
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORYPERIOD FOR REPLYIS SET TO EXPIRE 3 MONTHS FROM THE MAILING
`DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensionsof time may be available underthe provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a). In no event, however, may a reply betimely filed after SIX (6) MONTHSfrom the mailing
`date of this communication.
`If NO period for reply is specified above, the maximum statutory period will apply and will expire SIX (6) MONTHSfrom the mailing date of this communication.
`-
`- Failure to reply within the set or extended period for reply will, by statute, cause the application to become ABANDONED (35 U.S.C. § 133).
`Any reply received by the Office later than three months after the mailing date of this communication, evenif timely filed, may reduce any earned patent term
`adjustment. See 37 CFR 1.704(b).
`
`Status
`
`
`
`1) Responsive to communication(s)filed on 29 February 2024.
`C} A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/werefiled on
`2a)[¥) This action is FINAL.
`2b) (J This action is non-final.
`3) An election was madeby the applicant in responseto a restriction requirement set forth during the interview
`on
`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
`4)(2) Since this application is in condition for allowance except for formal matters, prosecution as to the merits is
`closed in accordance with the practice under Exparte Quayle, 1935 C.D. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`1-13 is/are pending in the application.
`)
`Claim(s)
`5a) Of the above claim(s) _ is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`C} Claim(s)__ is/are allowed.
`Claim(s) 1-13 is/are rejected.
`(] Claim(s)__ is/are objectedto.
`C] Claim(s
`are subjectto restriction and/or election requirement
`)
`* If any claims have been determined allowable, you maybeeligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
`http://www.uspto.gov/patents/init_events/pph/index.jsp or send an inquiry to PPHfeedback@uspto.gov.
`
`) ) ) )
`
`Application Papers
`10)( The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11) The drawing(s)filed on 20 January 2021 is/are: a)f¥) accepted or b)( objected to by the Examiner.
`Applicant may not request that any objection to the drawing(s) be held in abeyance. See 37 CFR 1.85(a).
`Replacement drawing sheet(s) including the correction is required if the drawing(s) is objected to. See 37 CFR 1.121(d).
`
`Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119
`12)£) Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d)or (f).
`Certified copies:
`_—_c)L) None ofthe:
`b)L) Some**
`a)Q) All
`1.1) Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.1.) Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No. |
`3.2.) Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been receivedin this National Stage
`application from the International Bureau (PCT Rule 17.2(a)).
`*“ See the attached detailed Office action for a list of the certified copies not received.
`
`Attachment(s)
`
`1)
`
`Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`
`Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`2)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3)
`
`4)
`
`(LJ Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`(Qj Other:
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mail Date 20240521
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/250,426
`Art Unit: 3772
`
`Page 2
`
`Notice of Pre-AlA 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 Objections
`
`Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: “wherein light mixing element”in
`
`claim 1, lines 15-16 should read —wherein the light mixing element--. Appropriate correction is required.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections
`
`set forth in this Office action:
`
`A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is
`not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention
`and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the
`effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinaryskill in the art to which the
`claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention
`was made.
`
`Claim(s) 1-7, 9-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim (US
`
`2008/0268401)in view ofLillelund (US 2013/0294066).
`
`Regarding claim 1, Kim discloses a dental light polymerization device in FIGS. 1-11, comprising
`
`an intra-oral tip portion (410), and a handle portion (430), and further a polymerization light source
`
`(120) and a light mixing element (130, construed to be a light mixing elementas it receives and transmit
`
`lights from a plurality of LED light sources), wherein the polymerization light source comprises at least a
`
`first LED (124) exhibiting a first light emission peak wavelength ([0051] “when only the second light-
`
`emitting chips 124 amongthe light-emitting chips 120 employed in the LED of the present invention are
`
`operated to emit light, only a photopolymer that can be subjected to a polymerization reaction bylight
`
`with a wavelength in a range of 425 nm to 475 nm is cured”) and a second LED (126) exhibiting a second
`
`light emission peak wavelength ([0051], “When only the third light-emitting chips 126 are operated to
`
`emit light, only a photopolymer that can be subjected to a polymerization reaction bylight with a
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/250,426
`Art Unit: 3772
`
`Page 3
`
`wavelengthin a range of 475 nm to 525 nm is cured”), wherein the first and second LED are each
`
`configured for emitting visible light within a wavelength range of 380nm to 495nm ([0051]), wherein the
`
`first and second light emission peak wavelength differ from each other by at least 10nm ([0051)),
`
`wherein the light mixing elementis formed of a solid transparent body describes how the different
`
`wavelength ranges can be 10nm apart and are for curing different photopolymers receptive to different
`
`wavelengths), wherein the light mixing element is formed of a solid transparent body ([0034], “a lens
`
`|’
`130 made of a transparent material”) having a rear portion (portion of 130 facing 120 as shownin FIG. 4)
`
`and an adjacentfront portion (portion of 130 facing away from 120 as shownin FIG. 4), wherein the lens
`
`can be different shapes ([0038], “The lens 130is to allow the light, which has been emitted from the
`
`light-emitting chips 120, to be transmitted and dispersed therethrough. Although the lens is generally
`
`formed to have a hemispherical shape, it can be modified to have any one of various shapes such as a
`
`rectangle, a pentagon, an octagon,a circle and the like”), wherein the light mixing element is arranged
`
`with the rear end facing the polymerization light source (the rear end of 130 faces 120) and with the
`
`front end facing away from the polymerization light source (the front of 130 faces away from 120).
`
`Kim teaches that the light mixing element can be various shapesbutfail(s) to disclose wherein
`
`the rear portion has the shape of a square-based truncated pyramid, a center axis of which forming an
`
`optical axis, and wherein the front portion has a convex shape, wherein the rear portion forms a rear
`
`end of the light mixing element and the front portion forms a front end of the light mixing element,
`
`wherein the rear end forms a first diagonal dimension and the rear portion, adjacent the front portion
`
`extending directly from the rear portion, forms a greater second diagonal dimension, and wherein light
`
`mixing element has a square cross-sectional shape alongits full length other than the convex shape of
`
`the front portion.
`
`However,Lillelund teaches a light mixing element (701) wherein the rear portion (see figure
`
`below) has the shape of a square-based truncated pyramid ([0037], “pyramid frustum”), a center axis
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/250,426
`Art Unit: 3772
`
`Page 4
`
`(longitudinal axis of 701) forming an optical axis, and wherein the front portion (see figure below) has a
`
`convex shape ([0050], “the con frustum is formed a curve surface” , shownin FIG. 7c to be convex),
`
`wherein the rear portion form a rear end ofthe light mixing element and the front portion forms a front
`
`end of the light mixing element (as shownin FIG. 7c), wherein the rear end forms a first diagonal
`
`dimension (diagonal dimension of 403) and the rear portion, adjacent the rear portion, forms a greater
`
`second diagonal dimension (towards 409/415 as the rear portion is a “pyramid frustum” with a larger
`
`front end), and wherein the light mixing element has a square cross-sectional shape alongits full length
`
`other than the convex shape of the front portion (shown below to have a square cross section alongits
`
`full length outside of the front/convex shape of the front portion).
`
` Back:
`
`portion
`
`Shentontatondins:
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/250,426
`Art Unit: 3772
`
`Page 5
`
`aeFaye
`
`ames FO
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one ofordinaryskill in the art before the effective
`
`filing date of the claimed invention, to modify Kim, by requiring wherein the rear portion has the shape
`
`of a square-based truncated pyramid, a center axis of which forming an optical axis, and wherein the
`
`front portion has a convex shape, wherein the rear portion forms a rear end ofthe light mixing element
`
`and the front portion forms a front end of the light mixing element, wherein the rear end forms a first
`
`diagonal dimension and the rear portion, adjacent the front portion adjacent the front portion
`
`extending directly from the rear portion, forms a greater second diagonal dimension, and wherein light
`
`mixing element has a square cross-sectional shape alongits full length other than the convex shape of
`
`the front portion, as taught by Lillelund, for the purpose of shaping light from an optical mixer for a
`
`desired treatment purpose to a specific area of a treatment zone.
`
`Regarding claim 2, Kim further discloses wherein the first light emission peak wavelength is a
`
`particular wavelength within a range of 440nm to 460nm ([0051] “when only the second light-emitting
`
`chips 124 amongthe light-emitting chips 120 employed in the LED of the present invention are operated
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/250,426
`Art Unit: 3772
`
`Page 6
`
`to emit light, only a photopolymer that can be subjected to a polymerization reaction by light with a
`
`wavelengthin a range of 425 nm to 475 nm is cured”) and the second light emission peak wavelengthis
`
`a particular wavelength within a range of 460nm to 485nm ([0051], “When only the third light-emitting
`
`chips 126 are operated to emit light, only a photopolymer that can be subjected to a polymerization
`
`reaction by light with a wavelength in a range of 475 nm to 525 nm is cured”).
`
`Regarding claim 3, Kim further discloses wherein the intra-oral tip portion comprisesa light
`
`guide (510; [0067], “guide lens 510”) having a rear end (facing 130) and a front end (facing away from
`
`130), the front end forming a light output of the dental light polymerization device ([0067] , “to allow
`
`light emitted from the LED 100 to be transmitted to the outside”), and wherein the light guide is
`
`arranged with the rear end adjacent the front end of the light mixing element (the rear end of 510 faces
`
`the light mixing element 130).
`
`Regardingclaim 4, Kim/Lillelund discloses the claimed invention substantially as claimed as set
`
`forth above.
`
`Kim/Lillelund fail(s) to disclose wherein a gap is provided between the light mixing element and
`
`the polymerization light source.
`
`However,Lillelund teaches providing a gap (shownin FIG. 7c by 726 a/b) between the light
`
`source (720a/b) and the light mixing element (701).
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one ofordinaryskill in the art before the effective
`
`filing date of the claimed invention, to modify Kim/Lillelund, by requiring wherein a gap is provided
`
`between the light mixing element and the polymerization light source, as taught byLillelund, for the
`
`purpose of controlling the exit width of the light through the light mixing element to a treatmentarea.
`
`Regarding claim 5, Kim further discloses having an operation mode in which the first and second
`
`LED are simulatenously activated for emitting light ([0063] as controller 300 controls the on/off of the
`
`LED 100” LED 100 contains boththe first and second LEDS 124/126).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/250,426
`Art Unit: 3772
`
`Page 7
`
`Regarding claim 6, Kim further discloses wherein the first LED exhibits a first light emission
`
`range in whichlight is emitted over a wavelength range of plus or minus 9nm from the first light
`
`emission peak wavelength and the second LED exhibits a second light emission range in which light is
`
`emitted over a wavelength range of plus or minus 10 nm from the second light emission peak
`
`wavelength ([0051] “when only the second light-emitting chips 124 amongthe light-emitting chips 120
`
`employed in the LED of the present invention are operated to emit light, only a photopolymer that can
`
`be subjected to a polymerization reaction by light with a wavelength in a range of 425 nm to 475 nm is
`
`cured”; [0051], “Whenonly the third light-emitting chips 126 are operated to emit light, only a
`
`photopolymer that can be subjected to a polymerization reaction by light with a wavelength in a range
`
`of 475 nm to 525 nm is cured” as Kim discloses that two distinct wavelengths are used for curing which
`
`ranges include values that can be selected to be plus or minus 9nm/ 10nm from each other
`
`respectively), wherein the first and second light emission range are defined based on the FWHM value
`
`(Full Width at Half Maximum value) ([0051] as best understood by the examiner only light output
`
`wavelengths to meet the wavelength Nm requirements are required by the device).
`
`Regarding claim 7, Kim further discloses wherein the light mixing element is monolithically
`
`formed (130 is a single piece, the limitation “monolithically formed” is construed as a product-by-
`
`processlimitation resulting in the structure of an integral/single piece as both the light mixing elements
`
`of Kim and Lillelund are integral/single pieces it would be construed to meet the resultant structure of
`
`“monolithically formed”. Product-by-processclaims are not limited to the manipulations of the recited
`
`steps, only the structure implied by the steps. See MPEP 2113).
`
`Regardingclaim 9, Kim/Lilllelund discloses the claimed invention substantially as claimed as set
`
`forth above.
`
`Kim/Lillelund fail(s) to disclose wherein the first diagonal dimension of the light mixing element
`
`is defined by a square having a first edge length within a range of 3 mm to 6 mm, wherein the second
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/250,426
`Art Unit: 3772
`
`Page 8
`
`diagonal dimension of the light mixing element is defined by a square having a second edge length
`
`within a range of 7mm to 10 mm, and wherein the length of the light mixing element is within a range
`
`of 10mm to 20mm.
`
`However, as the size of the light mixer is a result effective variable (i.e. the larger or smaller the
`
`LEDs are the larger the light mixing element or vice versa would be required) as Kim/Lellund teach that
`
`the first diagonal dimension (on the surface of 403 of Llelund) is square and the second diagonal
`
`dimension (towards 415) is larger at the rear adjacent the front portion is also square as they are part of
`
`(a square pyramid shape [0037], “pyramid frustum”ofLillelund), it would have been obvious to one of
`
`ordinaryskill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify Kim/Lillelund,
`
`by requiring wherein the first diagonal dimension of the light mixing element is defined by a square
`
`having a first edge length within a range of 3 mm to 6 mm, wherein the second diagonal dimension of
`
`the light mixing element is defined by a square having a second edge length within a range of 7mm to 10
`
`mm , and wherein the length of the light mixing element is within a range of 10mm to 20mm for the
`
`purpose of scaling the light mixing device to be a suitable size and shapeto fit within a handpiece based
`
`on the size of the LED diodes used. See MPEP 2144.04 and 2144.05.
`
`Regarding claim 10, Kim further discloses wherein the front portion of the light mixing element
`
`has a sphere shape ([0038], “the lens is generally formed to have a hemispherical shape” as both
`
`Lillelund/Kim teach convex rounded shapes on a front end they are construed to both be “spherical”
`
`|”
`
`as
`
`they are both part of a sphere based on the convex curvature.).
`
`Claim(s) 13 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim (US 2008/0268401)
`
`in view ofLillelund (US 2013/0294066) as evidenced by Schmid (US 2017/0231733) and Stone (US
`
`2013/0101953).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/250,426
`Art Unit: 3772
`
`Page 9
`
`Regarding claim 13, Kim further discloses wherein the first light emission peak wavelengthis a
`
`particular wavelength within a range of 440nm to 460nm ([0051] “when only the second light-emitting
`
`chips 124 amongthe light-emitting chips 120 employed in the LED of the present invention are operated
`
`to emit light, only a photopolymer that can be subjected to a polymerization reaction by light with a
`
`wavelengthin a range of 425 nm to 475 nm is cured”) and the second light emission peak wavelengthis
`
`a particular wavelength within a range of 460nm to 485nm ([0051], “When only the third light-emitting
`
`chips 126 are operated to emit light, only a photopolymer that can be subjected to a polymerization
`
`reaction by light with a wavelength in a range of 475 nm to 525 nm is cured”).
`
`Kim fail(s) to disclose wherein the second light emission peak wavelength is 469nm.
`
`However, as blue light is within a range of 430nm and about 490 nm (Schmid US 2017/0231733
`
`is cited as evidence of such and [0009] states ““blue light” refers to light having a wavelength within a
`
`range of about 430 nm (nanometers) and about 490 nm”) and both valuesdisclosed by applicant are
`
`within a blue light range (ie. 457 nm as the first light emission peak wavelength and 469nm as the
`
`second light emission peak wavelength). Changing wavelengths within the blue light range would be
`
`result effective variables as photo polymerizable compounds particularly Camphorquinone are knownin
`
`the art to absorb wavelengths oflight to start polymerization (As evidenced by Stone US 2013/0101953
`
`which teaches “light-curable dental materials contain photo-initiators, which absorb certain
`
`wavelengths of light and start a polymerization of a resin monomer. A commonly used photo-initiator is
`
`Camphorquinone, which has a light absorption peak around 469 nm.”). Furthermore, both claimed
`
`wavelengths are within the blue range the light source is capable of emitting blue light. The specification
`
`discloses that the rangesare notcritical and can be (Page 8, lines 15-17 “configured to emit light at
`
`different but overlapping wavelength ranges within the spectrum of visible violet and blue light (380 nm
`
`to 495 nm).”).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/250,426
`Art Unit: 3772
`
`Page 10
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one ofordinaryskill in the art before the effective
`
`filing date of the claimed invention, to modify Kim, by modifying the blue light wavelength to be 469nm
`
`instead of 475nm, for the purpose of adjusting the blue light wavelength to different wavelengths to
`
`provide a photo polymerization with a specific compound knownin the art with a reasonable degree of
`
`success as shownby the evidence of Stone US 2013/0101953. See MPEP 2144.05(II).
`
`Claim 8 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim (US 2008/0268401) in
`
`view of Lillelund (US 2013/0294066), and further in view of HE (US 2017/0328542).
`
`Regarding claim 8, Kim/Lillelund discloses the claimed invention substantially as claimed as set
`
`forth above.
`
`Kim/Lillelund fail(s) to disclose wherein the light mixing element is made of polymethyl
`
`methacrylate.
`
`However, He teaches making optical elements/lenses out of PMMA material ([0027], “The first
`
`lens part 3 and the second lens part 4 are formed by transparentplastic or optical glass, preferably an
`
`optical grade (PolyMethyl Methacrylate) (PMMA) material. These materials belong to the traditional art,
`
`and improvementof the materials is not involved in the present invention”).
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one ofordinaryskill in the art before the effective
`
`filing date of the claimed invention, to modify Kim/Lillelund, by requiring wherein the light mixing
`
`element is made of polymethyl methacrylate, as taught by He, for the purpose of using an optical quality
`
`material to ensure proper light transmission through a light mixing element.
`
`Claim(s) 11-12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim (US
`
`2008/0268401)in view ofLillelund (US 2013/0294066), and further in view of Kablik (US
`
`2006/0122619).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/250,426
`Art Unit: 3772
`
`Page 11
`
`Regarding claims 11-12, Kim/Lillelund discloses the claimed invention substantially as claimed as
`
`set forth above.
`
`Kim further discloses an activator button (210) for switching the polymerization light source on
`
`or off ([0065], “to generate on/off signals”).
`
`Kim/Lillelund fail(s) to disclose (claim 11) a selector button for pre-selecting a time period after
`
`whichthe activated polymerization light source is automatically deactivated; (claim 12) wherein the
`
`handle portion comprises a battery for powering the dental light polymerization device.
`
`However, Kablik teaches a dental light unit which includes a handle portion (26) which contains
`
`batteries as a power source (22)([0067], “batteries”) and a plurality of integrated circuits, electronic
`
`circuits, and/or electronic devices are hardwired on a substrate 29 of the control board 11 to provide a
`
`desired application time between about 40 and about 60 seconds (preferably about 50 seconds), and
`
`also to modify the driving current to the light source 20. In operation, a user can turn on the light source
`
`20 using an ON button and the hardwired control board 11 will deliver the desired driving current for
`
`the desired duty cycle then shut OFF automatically. This process can be repeated as necessary to cure,
`
`polymerize, bond, and/or cross-link the light-activated material ([0068]).
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one ofordinaryskill in the art before the effective
`
`filing date of the claimed invention, to modify Kim/Lillelund, by requiring (claim 11) a selector button for
`
`pre-selecting a time period after which the activated polymerization light source is automatically
`
`deactivated; (claim 12) wherein the handle portion comprises a battery for powering the dental light
`
`polymerization device, as taught by Kablik, for the purpose of powering and controlling an on/off
`
`sequenceofa light curing device to control the amountoflight/time period of light application to a
`
`treatment area.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/250,426
`Art Unit: 3772
`
`Page 12
`
`Response to Arguments
`
`Applicant's argumentsfiled 29 February 2024 have been fully considered but they are not
`
`persuasive.
`
`On page5, applicant argues “the combination of Kim and Lillelund fails to teach or suggest
`
`wherein the light mixing elementis formed of a solid transparent body having a rear portion and an
`
`adjacent front portion, wherein the rear portion has the shape of a square-based truncated pyramid, a
`
`center axis of which forming an optical axis, and wherein the front portion has a convex shape”...
`
`“Thanksto the presence of the cone frustrum, no front portion having a convex shape extends directly
`
`from the pyramid frustrum”. However, as shownbelowthe front portion/ convex shape extends directly
`
`from the pyramid frustrum as shown below and taught by Kim.
`
`5
`
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`

`Application/Control Number: 17/250,426
`Art Unit: 3772
`
`Page 13
`
`On page6, applicant further argues that “nor does any light mixing elementof Lillelund posses a
`
`square cross-sectional shapealongits full length other than the convex shape of the front portion”.
`
`However, as shownbelow the length outside of the front/convex shape of the front portion is entirely
`
`square shaped.
`
`
`
`For these reasons the arguments are not found to be persuasive and the groundsof rejection
`
`are upheld.
`
`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 shortenedstatutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from
`
`the mailing date of this action.
`
`In the eventa first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS ofthe mailing date
`
`of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/250,426
`Art Unit: 3772
`
`Page 14
`
`shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory
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`action is mailed, and any extension fee pursuantto 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing
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`date of the advisory action.
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`In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than
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`SIX MONTHS from the dateof this final action.
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`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner
`should be directed to DREW S FOLGMANN whosetelephone number is (571)270-7397. The examiner
`can normally be reached Mon - Fri 9:00-5:30.
`Examiner interviewsare available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a
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`USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use
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`the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
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`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor,
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`Jacqueline Johanas can be reached on 571-270-5085. The fax phone numberfor the organization where
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`this application or proceedingis assigned is 571-273-8300.
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`Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from
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`Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To
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`file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov.Visit
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`https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and
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`https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information aboutfiling in DOCX format. For additional
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`assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA)or
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`/DREW S FOLGMANN/
`Examiner, Art Unit 3772
`/JACQUELINE T JOHANAS/
`Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3772
`
`