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`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
`
`BELK, SHANNEL NICOLE
`
`3772
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`10/22/2024
`
`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)
`
`

`

`
`
`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`5a) Of the above claim(s) _ is/are withdrawn from consideration.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)
`
`2) (J Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`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 20241016
`
`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`17/250,426
`Schmid et al.
`
`Office Action Summary Art Unit|AIA (FITF)StatusExaminer
`SHANNEL N BELK
`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 04 September 2024.
`C) A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/werefiled on
`
`2a)() This action is FINAL. 2b)¥)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.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/250,426
`Art Unit: 3772
`
`Page 2
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`Notice ofPre-AIA or AIA Status
`
`The presentapplication, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined underthe
`
`first inventorto file provisions of the AIA.
`
`Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114\
`
`A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in
`
`37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this applicationis
`
`eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e)
`
`has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuantto
`
`37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 9/24/2024 has been entered.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which formsthe basis for all obviousness
`
`rejections set forth in this Office action:
`
`A patent fora 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 obviousbefore the effective
`filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed
`invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
`
`The factual inquiries for establishing a backgroundfor determining obviousness under 35
`
`U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
`
`1. Determining the scope and contents of the priorart.
`
`2. Ascertaining the differences betweentheprior art and the claimsat issue.
`
`3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinentart.
`
`4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or
`
`nonobviousness.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/250,426
`Art Unit: 3772
`
`Page 3
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`Claims 1-7 and 9-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
`
`Kim (US 2008/0268401) in view of Abu-Ageel (US 2008/0030974).
`
`Kim discloses s dental light polymerization device (figures 1-11), comprising an intra-
`
`oral tip portion (Led housing 410) and a handle portion (handle housing 430), and further a
`
`polymerization light source (two or morelight emitting chips 120) andalight mixing element
`
`(lens 130, whichis interpreted as a light mixing elementas it receives and transmits lights from a
`
`plurality of LED light sources as disclosed in par 38),
`
`wherein the polymerization light source comprises at least a first LED (chip 124)
`
`exhibitingafirst light emission peak wavelength (par 51 discloses whenonly the secondlight-
`
`emitting chips 124 amongthelight-emitting chips 120 employedin the LED of the present
`
`invention are operated to emit light, only a photopolymerthat can be subjected to a
`
`polymerization reaction by light with a wavelength in a range of 425 nm to 475 nmis cured) and
`
`a second LED (chip 126) exhibiting a second light emission peak wavelength (par 51 discloses
`
`whenonly the third light-emitting chips 126 are operated to emitlight, only a photopolymerthat
`
`can be subjected to a polymerization reaction by light with a range of 475 nm to 525 nm is
`
`cured)
`
`wherein the first and second LED each are configured for emitting visible light within a
`
`wavelength range of 380 nm to 495 nm (par 51), wherein the first and secondlight emission peak
`
`wavelength differ from each otherby at least 10 nm (par 51 discloses wherein the light mixing
`
`elementis formed of a solid transparent body describes howthe different wavelength ranges can
`
`be 10nm apart and are for curing different photopolymers receptive to different wave lengths),
`
`wherein the light mixing elementis formedof a solid transparent body (par 34 discloses a lens
`
`130 madeof a transparent material) having a rear portion (portion of 130 facing 120 as shown in
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/250,426
`Art Unit: 3772
`
`Page 4
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`FIG. 4) and an adjacent front portion (portion of 130 facing away from 120 as shownin FIG. 4),
`
`wherein the lens can be different shapes (par 38, The lens 130 is 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 suchas a rectangle, a pentagon, an octagon, a circle andthe 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 fails to disclose a main body portion and an adjacent front end face extending
`
`directly from the main bodyportion, wherein the main body portion hasthe shape of a square -
`
`based truncated pyramid, a center axis of which forming an optical axis, and wherein the front
`
`end face has a convex shape, wherein the main body portion formsa rear end ofthe light mixing
`
`element andthe front end faceis a front end of the light mixing element, wherein the rear end
`
`formsa first diagonal dimension and the main bodyportion, adjacent the front end, formsa
`
`greater second diagonal dimension, and wherein light mixing element has a square cross-
`
`sectional shape alongits full length other than the convex shapeof the front end face and no
`
`portion of the front end face is wider than the main bodyportion.
`
`Abu-Ageel teaches having a main body portion (light tunnel 11a) and an adjacentfront
`
`end face (collimating lens 19a) extending directly from the main bodyportion (see figure 2A )m
`
`wherein the main body portion (11a) has the shape of a square basedtruncated pyramid (see par
`
`46 discloses the tapered light tunnel being square and tapered), a center axis which forms an
`
`optical axis (along z-axis in figure 2A), and wherein the front end face has a convex shape (see
`
`par 46 which discloses the lens 19 being convex as seen in figure 2A), wherein the main body
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/250,426
`Art Unit: 3772
`
`Page 5
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`portion formsa rear endofthe light mixing elementandthe front end faceis a front end of the
`
`light mixing element (see annotated figure 2a), wherein the rear end formsa first diagonal
`
`dimension and the main body portion, adjacent the front end, forms a greater second diagonal
`
`dimension (see annotated figure 2a), and wherein light mixing element has a square cross
`
`sectional shape alongits full length (see par 46 discloses the shape being square alongthe tunnel
`
`while tapering) other than the convex shape of the front end face (19a, see figure 2A), andno
`
`portion of the front end face is wider than the main body portion (see figure 2a) for the purpose
`
`of minimizing opticallosses (par 20).
`
`rearend
`
`|
`
`d
`
`|
`
`, |
`
`first diagonal
`dimension
`
` mension
`
`Annotatedfigure 2a
`
`Therefore, it would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective
`
`filing date of the claimed invention to modify Kim to havea rear portion having a main body
`
`portion and an adjacent front end face extending directly from the main body portion, wherein
`
`the main body portion has the shape of a square-based truncated pyramid, a center axis of which
`
`forming an optical axis, and wherein the front end face has a convex shape, wherein the main
`
`body portion formsa rear end of the light mixing element andthe front end face is a front end of
`
`the light mixing element, wherein the rear end formsa first diagonal dimension and the main
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/250,426
`Art Unit: 3772
`
`Page 6
`
`body portion, adjacent the front end, 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 end face and no portion of the front end face is wider than the main
`
`body portion as taught by Abu-Ageelfor the purpose of minimizing opticallosses.
`
`Regarding claim 2, Kim further discloses whereinthefirst light emission peak
`
`wavelength is a particular wavelength within a range of 440nm to 460nm (par 51 discloses when
`
`only the secondlight-emitting chips 124 amongthe light-emitting chips 120 employed in the
`
`LED of the present invention are operated to emit light, only a photopolymerthat can be
`
`subjected to a polymerization reaction by light with a wavelength in 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 (par 51 discloses when only thethird light-emitting chips 126 are
`
`operated to emit light, only a photopolymerthat 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 comprises a
`
`light guide (guide lens 510, par 67) havingarear end (facing 130) and a front end (facing away
`
`from 130), the front end formingalight output of the dental light polymerization device (par 67
`
`discloses to allow light emitted from the LED 100to be transmitted to the outside), and wherein
`
`the light guide is arranged with the rear end adjacent the front end ofthe light mixing element
`
`(the rear end of 510 faces the light mixing element 130).
`
`Regarding claim 4, Kim/Abu-Ageeldiscloses the claimed invention as set forth above in
`
`claim 1. Abu-Ageel further teaches a gap (open cavity 15a) is provided betweenthe light mixing
`
`element (11a) and a polymerization light source (LED 10).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/250,426
`Art Unit: 3772
`
`Page 7
`
`Therefore, it would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective
`
`filing date of the claimed invention, to modify further Kim/Abu-Ageel to have a gap is provided
`
`betweenthe light mixing element and the polymerization light source, as taught by Abu-Ageel,
`
`for the purpose of controlling the exit width of the light throughthe light mixing elementto a
`
`treatment area.
`
`Regarding claim 5, Kim further discloses having an operation mode in whichthefirst and
`
`second LEDare simultaneously activated for emitting light (par 63 discloses as controller 300
`
`controls the on/off of the LED 100/LED 100 contains both the first and second LEDS 124/126).
`
`Regarding claim 6, Kim further discloses wherein the first LED exhibitsa first light
`
`emission range in which light is emitted over a wavelength range of plus or minus 9nm from the
`
`first light emission peak wavelength and the second LED exhibits a secondlight emission range
`
`in which light is emitted over a wavelength range of plus or minus 10 nm from the secondlight
`
`emission peak wavelength (par 51 discloses only the second light-emitting chips 124 amongthe
`
`light-emitting chips 120 employedin the LEDofthe presentinvention are operated to emit light,
`
`only a photopolymerthat can be subjected to a polymerization reaction by light with a
`
`wavelength in a range of 425 nm to 475 nm is cured and only thethird light-emitting chips 126
`
`are operated to emit light, only a photopolymerthat 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 otherrespectively), wherein the first and secondlight
`
`emission range are defined based on the FWHMvalue (Full Width at Half Maximum value) (par
`
`51 as best understood by the examineronly light output wavelengths to meet the wavelength Nm
`
`requirements are required by the device).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/250,426
`Art Unit: 3772
`
`Page 8
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`Regarding claim 7, Kim further discloses wherein the light mixing elementis
`
`monolithically formed (130 is a single piece, the limitation “monolithically formed”is construed
`
`as a product-by- process limitation resulting in the structure of an integral/single piece as both
`
`the light mixing elements of Kim and Abu-Ageelare integral/single pieces it would be construed
`
`to meet the resultant structure of “monolithically formed”. Product-by-process claims are not
`
`limited to the manipulations of the recited steps, only the structure implied by the steps. See
`
`MPEP 2113).
`
`Regarding claim 9, Kim/Abu-Ageeldiscloses the claimed invention substantially as
`
`claimedasset forth above in claim 1, but fails to disclose wherein the first diagonal dimension of
`
`the light mixing elementis 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 elementis defined by a
`
`square having a secondedge length within a range of 7mm to 10 mm,and wherein the length of
`
`the light mixing elementis within a range of 10mm to 20mm.
`
`However,as the size of the light mixeris a result effective variable (i.e. the larger or
`
`smaller the LEDs are the larger the light mixing elementor vice versa would be required) as
`
`Kim/Abu-Ageelteach thatthe first diagonal dimension (cross section of the rear end set forth
`
`above in annotated figure 2a) is square and the second diagonal dimension (see annotated figure
`
`2a) is larger at the rear adjacentthe front portion is also squareas they are part of (square shaped
`
`disclosed in par 46 of Abu-Ageel), it would have been obviousto one of ordinary skill in the art
`
`before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify Kim/Abu-Ageel, by requiring
`
`wherein the first diagonal dimension ofthe light mixing elementis 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
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/250,426
`Art Unit: 3772
`
`Page 9
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`light mixing elementis defined by a square having a second edge length within a range of 7mm
`
`to 10 mm, and wherein the length ofthe light mixing elementis within a range of 10mm to
`
`20mm for the purposeof scaling the light mixing deviceto be a suitable size and shapetofit
`
`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
`
`elementhas a sphere shape (par 38, “the lensis generally formed to havea hemispherical shape”
`
`as both Kim and Abu-Ageel teach convex rounded shapes on a front end they are construedto
`
`both be “spherical” as they are both part of a sphere based on the convex curvature).
`
`Claim 8 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim in view of
`
`Abu-Ageel, and further in view of HE (US 2017/0328542).
`
`Regarding claim 8, Kim/Abu-Ageel discloses the claimed invention substantially as
`
`claimedasset forth above in claim 1, but fail to disclose wherein the light mixing elementis
`
`made of polymethy! methacrylate.
`
`However, He teaches making optical elements/lenses out of PMMA material (par 27
`
`discloses the first lens part 3 and the second lens part 4 are formedby transparentplastic or
`
`optical glass, preferably an optical grade (PolyMethyl Methacrylate) (PMMA)material. These
`
`materials belongto the traditional art, and improvementof the materials is not involved in the
`
`present invention).
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the
`
`effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify Kim/Abu-Ageel, by requiring wherein
`
`the light mixing elementis made of polymethyl methacrylate, as taught by He, for the purpose of
`
`using an optical quality material to ensure properlight transmission through a light mixing
`
`element.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/250,426
`Art Unit: 3772
`
`Page 10
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`Claims 11-12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim in
`
`view of Abu-Ageel as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Kablik (US
`
`2006/0122619).
`
`Regarding claim 11-12, Kim/Abu-Ageeldiscloses the claimed invention as set forth
`
`above in claim |. Kim further discloses an activator button (210) for switching the
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`polymerization light source on oroff (par 65 discloses to generate on/off signals).
`
`Kim/Abu-Ageelfails to disclose (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.
`
`However, Kablik teaches a dentallight unit which includes a handle portion (26) which
`
`contains batteries as a power source (22, see par 67 discloses batteries) andaplurality of
`
`integrated circuits, electronic circuits, and/or electronic devices are hardwired on a substrate 29
`
`of the control board 11 to provideadesired application time between about 40 and about 60
`
`seconds (preferably about 50 seconds), and also to modify the driving currentto the light source
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`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 currentfor 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 (par 68).
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinaryskill in the art before the
`
`effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify Kim/Abu-Ageel, by requiring (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
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/250,426
`Art Unit: 3772
`
`Page 11
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`for powering the dentallight polymerization device, as taught by Kablik, for the purpose of
`
`powering and controlling an on/off sequence of a light curing device to control the amount of
`
`light/time period of light application to a treatmentarea.
`
`Claim 13 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim in view of
`
`Abu-Ageelas applied to claim 1 above, as evidenced by Schmid (US 2017/0231733) and
`
`Stone (US 2013/0101953).
`
`Regarding claim 13, Kim/Abu-Ageeldiscloses the claimed invention as set forth above in
`
`claim 1, Kim further discloses whereinthefirst light emission peak wavelength is a particular
`
`wavelength within a range of 440nm to 460nm (par 51 discloses when only the secondlight-
`
`emitting chips 124 amongthelight-emitting chips 120 employedin the LED of the present
`
`invention are operated to emitlight, only a photopolymerthat can be subjected to a
`
`polymerization reaction by light with a wavelength in a range of 425 nm to 475 nmis cured) and
`
`the secondlight emission peak wavelength is a particular wavelength within a range of 460nm to
`
`485nm (par 51 discloses whenonly thethird light-emitting chips 126 are operated to emitlight,
`
`only a photopolymerthat can be subjected to a polymerization reaction by light with a
`
`wavelength in a range of 475 nm to 525 nm is cured).
`
`Kim/Abu-Ageelfail to disclose wherein the secondlight emission peak wavelength is
`
`469nm.
`
`However,as bluelight is within a range of 430nm and about 490 nm (Schmid US
`
`2017/023 1733is cited as evidence of such andpar 9 states blue light refers to light having a
`
`wavelength within a range of about 430 nm (nanometers) and about 490 nm)and both values
`
`disclosed by applicant are within a blue light range (ie. 457 nm as thefirst light emission peak
`
`wavelength and 469nm as the secondlight emission peak wavelength). Changing wavelengths
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/250,426
`Art Unit: 3772
`
`Page 12
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`within the blue light range would be result effective variables as photo polymerizable
`
`compoundsparticularly Camphorquinone are knownin the art to absorb wavelengths oflight to
`
`start polymerization (As evidenced by Stone US 2013/0101953 whichteaches light-curable
`
`dental materials contain photo-initiators, which absorb certain wavelengths oflight and start a
`
`polymerization of a resin monomer. A commonly used photo -initiator is Camphorquinone,
`
`whichhas a light absorption peak around 469 nm.). Furthermore, both claimed wavelengths are
`
`within the blue rangethe light source is capable of emitting blue light. The specification
`
`discloses that the ranges are notcritical and can be (Page8, lines 15-17 discloses configured to
`
`emit light at different but overlapping wavelength ranges within the spectrum of visible violet
`
`and bluelight (380 nm to 495 nm).).
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinaryskill in the art before the
`
`effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify Kim/Abu-Ageel, by modifying the blue
`
`light wavelength to be 469nminstead 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 shown by the evidence of Stone US
`
`2013/0101953. See MPEP 2144.05(II).
`
`Response to Arguments
`
`Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim 1 have been considered but are moot
`
`because the new ground of rejection does not rely on the combination of references appliedin the
`
`prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/250,426
`Art Unit: 3772
`
`Page 13
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`Conclusion
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`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to SHANNEL N BELK whosetelephone numberis (571)272-9671.
`
`The examiner can normally be reached Mon. -Fri. 11:30 am - 3:30 pm.
`
`Examinerinterviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using
`
`a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicantis
`
`encouragedto use the USPTO AutomatedInterview Request (AIR)at
`
`http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
`
`If attempts to reach the examinerby telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
`
`supervisor, Jacqueline Johanas can be reached on 571-270-5085. The fax phone numberfor the
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`organization where this application or proceedingis assignedis 571-273-8300.
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`/S.N.B./
`Examiner, Art Unit 3772
`/HEIDI M EIDE/
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3772
`10/17/2024
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