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
`
`17/440,008
`
`09/16/2021
`
`Christopher Brian LOCKE
`
`P001759US02PCT
`
`5666
`
`60402
`
`7590
`
`03/01/2024
`
`KINETIC CONCEPTS, INC.
`c/o Harness Dickey & Pierce
`5445 Corporate Drive
`Suite 20
`Troy, MI 48098
`
`EXAMINER
`
`PHAM, KATHERINE-PH MINH
`
`Para NONE
`
`3781
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`03/01/2024
`
`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):
`
`dgodzisz@hdp.com
`troymailroom @hdp.com
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`17/440,008
`LOCKE, Christopher Brian
`
`Office Action Summary Art Unit|AIA (FITF)StatusExaminer
`KATHERINE-PH M PHAM
`3781
`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 01/05/2024.
`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*
`1-27 is/are pending in the application.
`)
`Claim(s)
`5a) Of the above claim(s) 1-11 and 24-27 is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`[] Claim(s)__ is/are allowed.
`Claim(s) 12-19 and 21-23 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:/Awww.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)M The drawing(s) filed on 09/16/2021 is/are: a)¥) 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)2) Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d)or (f).
`Certified copies:
`c)() None ofthe:
`b)( Some**
`a) 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.
`3.1.) 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 20240221
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/440,008
`Art Unit: 3781
`
`Page 2
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`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.
`
`Response to Amendment
`
`Regarding the amendments/remarksfiled on 01/05/2024:
`
`e
`
`Claims 1-19 and 21-27 are currently pending. Claims 1-11 and 24-27 are withdrawn.
`
`Claim 20 is cancelled.
`
`e
`
`Claim 12 is amended.
`
`Response to Arguments
`
`Applicant's argumentsfiled 01/05/2024 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
`
`Regarding the argumentthat the combination of Greener et al. (Publication No. WO 2018/033794 A1) in
`
`view of Look et al. (Publication No. US 2015/0327875 A1) does not teach the amendedclaim 12, the
`
`argument is unpersuasive because Greener in view of Look teaches a memory (Greener; memory device
`
`212; Paragraph 0061; Figure 2) that is configured to store a threshold current value (Look; preset current
`
`value is stored in pump control board 50 and is used to monitor operation of pump 26 — implicit that
`
`control board has memoryto store preset value and is capable of storing a threshold current value
`
`corresponding to a percentage that is less than a full load current draw of the pump and below which a
`
`steady- state amountof negative pressureis present in the enclosed region; Paragraph 0049). Since the
`
`memory of Greener in view of Look is able to store a threshold current value, it is also fully capable of
`
`storing a threshold current value “corresponding to a percentagethatis less than a full load current
`
`draw of the pump and below which a steady- state amount of negative pressure is presentin the
`
`enclosed region” as required by the amendedclaim 12.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/440,008
`Art Unit: 3781
`
`Page 3
`
`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-AlA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory
`
`basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AlA) 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 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.
`
`The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C.
`
`103 are summarized as follows:
`
`1. Determining the scope and contentsofthe prior art.
`
`2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
`
`3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
`
`4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or
`
`nonobviousness.
`
`Claims 12-16 and 18-19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Greener
`
`et al. (Publication No. WO 2018/033794 A1) in view of Look et al. (Publication No. US 2015/0327875
`
`A1).
`
`Regarding claim 12, Greener teaches a system (system 100; Paragraph 0052; Figure 1),
`
`comprising:
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/440,008
`Art Unit: 3781
`
`Page 4
`
`a power source (power source 218; Paragraph 0061; Figure 2) configured to supply power to
`
`a pump (power source 218 powers apparatus 202 including the negative pressure source 214; Paragraph
`
`0061; Figure 2); and
`
`a sensor electrically coupled to the power source and the pump (pressure sensor 220
`
`connected to power source 218 and negative pressure source 214; Figure 2), wherein the system is
`
`configured to maintain an increased negative pressure within an enclosed region between a limb ora
`
`joint and a cover when a user is at rest, and wherein the system is configured to maintain a decreased
`
`negative pressure within the enclosed region when the user is moving (apparatus is placed on limb and
`
`has sensor to detect movement and apparatus’ negative pressure source is enabled/disabled based on
`
`patient’s mobility; Paragraph 0074; Figure 18), a memory (memory device 212; Paragraph 0061; Figure
`
`2) and a processing circuit operably coupled to the memory, the power source, and the pump (controller
`
`210 connected to memory device 212, power source 218, and negative pressure source 214; Figure 2).
`
`Greener does not teach a memory configured to store a threshold current value corresponding to a
`
`percentagethatis less than a full load current draw of the pump and below which a steady- state
`
`amountof negative pressure is present in the enclosed region, wherein the processingcircuit is
`
`configured to monitor an amountof current supplied to the pump, and wherein the processingcircuitis
`
`configured to deactivate the pump based on a determination that the monitored amountof current
`
`supplied to the pump is below the threshold current value.
`
`However, Look teaches a memory configured to store a threshold current value corresponding
`
`to a percentagethat is less than a full load current draw of the pump and below whicha steady- state
`
`amount of negative pressure is present in the enclosed region (preset current value is stored in pump
`
`control board 50 and is used to monitor operation of pump 26 — implicit that control board has memory
`
`to store preset value and is capable of storing a threshold current value corresponding to a percentage
`
`that is less than a full load current draw of the pump and below which a steady- state amountof
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/440,008
`Art Unit: 3781
`
`Page 5
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`negative pressureis present in the enclosed region; Paragraph 0049), wherein the processing circuit is
`
`configured to monitor an amount of current supplied to the pump (control board 50 monitors current
`
`delivered to pump 26; Paragraph 0049 and 0074), and wherein the processing circuit is configured to
`
`deactivate the pump based on a determination that the monitored amount of current supplied to the
`
`pump is below the threshold current value (when pump current decreasespast presetlimit, control
`
`board 50 deactivates pump 26; Paragraph 0049).
`
`Look and Greener are both considered to be analogous to the claimed invention because they
`
`are in the same field of negative pressure pump systems. Therefore, it would have been obvious to
`
`someone ofordinaryskill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have
`
`modified Greener to incorporate the teachings of Look and include the processin the processing circuit
`
`in monitoring the current at the pump and its response to decreased current comparedto a threshold
`
`current value, as taught by Look, to the processing circuit of Greener. This would allow for the system to
`
`deactivate the pump in response to abnormal problems in the system (Look; Paragraph 0049).
`
`Regarding claim 13, Greener in view of Look teaches the system of claim 12. Greener further
`
`teaches wherein the sensor is configured to measure data comprising at least one of mobility data and a
`
`condition of the enclosed region (pressure sensor monitors movement and condition of pressure in
`
`system; Paragraph 0005 and 0063), wherein the system further comprises a transceiver (transceiver
`
`222; Figure 2; Paragraph 0061) configured to transmit the data to a user device (transceiver transmit
`
`data to remote data processing system 204; Figure 2; Paragraph 0061).
`
`Regarding claim 14, Greener in view of Look teaches the system of claim 12. Greener further
`
`teaches wherein the sensor is configured to measure mobility data (Paragraph 0005), wherein the
`
`processing circuit is configured to determine whether the user is moving or at rest based on the mobility
`
`data (Paragraph 0005 and 0073; Figure 20), wherein the processingcircuit is configured to maintain an
`
`increased negative pressure based on a determination that the user is at rest (Paragraph 0005 and
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/440,008
`Art Unit: 3781
`
`Page 6
`
`0074), and wherein the processing circuit is configured to maintain a decreased negative pressure based
`
`on a determination that the user is moving (Paragraph 0005 and 0074).
`
`Regarding claim 15, Greener in view of Look teaches the system of claim 14. Greener further
`
`teaches wherein the processingcircuit is configured to maintain an increased negative pressure by at
`
`least one of activating the pump, increasing an operating speed of the pump, and closing a valve (TNP
`
`apparatus containing the controller can disable/enable the negative pressure source to
`
`increase/decrease pressure; Paragraph 0009 and 0074).
`
`Regarding claim 16, Greener in view of Look teaches the system of claim 14. Greener further
`
`teaches wherein the processing circuit is configured to maintain a decreased negative pressure by at
`
`least one of deactivating the pump, reducing an operating speed of the pump, and opening a valve (TNP
`
`apparatus containing the controller can disable/enable the negative pressure source to
`
`increase/decrease pressure; Paragraph 0009 and 0074).
`
`Regarding claim 18, Greener in view of Look teaches the system of claim 12. Greener further
`
`teaches wherein the system is configured to maintain the pressure within the enclosed region in a range
`
`between approximately negative 120 mm Hg and negative 145 mm Hg (pressure range can be between
`
`about -40 mmHg and -150 mmHg; Paragraph 0057).
`
`Regarding claim 19, Greener in view of Look teaches the system of claim 12. Greener further
`
`teaches wherein the cover is disposable (dressing can be changed/disposedsinceit is used to treat
`
`wound; Paragraph 0056) and at least one of the pump and the sensor are reusable (dressing is separate
`
`from TNP system and can be changed — implicit that pump/sensor of TNP can be reused with different
`
`dressings; Paragraph 0054 and 0056).
`
`Claim 17 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Greener etal. (W.O.
`
`Patent Application No. 2018/033794 A1) in view of Look etal. (Publication No. US 2015/0327875 A1),
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/440,008
`Art Unit: 3781
`
`Page 7
`
`as applied to claim 12 above, and further in view of Pratt et al. (W.O. Patent Application No.
`
`2017/079174 Al).
`
`Regarding claim 17, Greener in view of Look teaches the system of claim 12. Greener further
`
`teaches wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor (pressure sensor 220; Figure 2), and wherein
`
`the pressure sensor is configured to electrically couple the pump to the power source in response to the
`
`pressure exceeding a threshold value (Paragraph 0009; Figure 2). Greener does not teach wherein the
`
`sensor comprises an electro-mechanical pressure switch, and wherein the electro-mechanical pressure
`
`switch is configured to electrically couple the pump to the power sourcein response to the pressure
`
`exceeding a threshold value.
`
`However, Pratt teaches wherein the sensor comprises an electro-mechanical pressure switch
`
`(switching element 330 is electromechanical device that is coupled to negative-pressure source and
`
`power source; Paragraph 0065; Figure 3), and wherein the electro-mechanical pressure switchis
`
`configured to electrically couple the pump to the power source in responseto the pressure exceeding a
`
`threshold value (switch connected to power and pump turns pump on and off based on threshold;
`
`Paragraph 0065 and 00108).
`
`Pratt and Greener in view of Look are both considered to be analogous to the claimed invention
`
`because they are in the same field of negative pressure therapy systems. Therefore, it would have been
`
`obvious to someone of ordinaryskill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to
`
`have modified Greener in view of Look to incorporate the teachings of Pratt and incorporate the electro-
`
`mechanical pressure switch in the pressure sensor of Greener in view of Look. This would allow for the
`
`pump of the negative pressure device to turn on and off through the power control of the
`
`electromechanical switch based on if the pressure threshold is exceeded or below during treatment
`
`(Pratt et al.; Paragraph 0065).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/440,008
`Art Unit: 3781
`
`Page 8
`
`Claim 21 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Greener etal. (W.O.
`
`Patent Application No. 2018/033794 A1) in view of Look etal. (Publication No. US 2015/0327875 A1),
`
`as applied to claim 12 above, and further in view of Askem (U.S. Patent Application No. 2015/0051560
`
`A1).
`
`Regarding claim 21, Greener in view of Look teaches the system of claim 12. Greener does not
`
`teach wherein the memoryis configured to store a threshold rate of change of the amount of current
`
`and a cycling frequency, wherein the processingcircuit is configured to activate and deactivate the
`
`pump at the cycling frequency, wherein the processing circuit is configured to determine a rate of
`
`change of the amountof current, and wherein the processing circuit is configured to reduce the cycling
`
`frequencyif the determined rate of change of the amountof currentis less than the threshold rate of
`
`change of the amountof current.
`
`However, Look teaches wherein the memoryis configured to store a threshold rate of change of
`
`the amountof current (current fluxuations/rate of change in current thresholds are stored in control
`
`board 50 to determine operation status — implicit that control board has memory to store threshold
`
`current fluxuations; Paragraph 0049), wherein the processing circuit is configured to determine a rate of
`
`change of the amount of current (control board can determine current fluxuation/rate of change of
`
`current; Paragraph 0049), and wherein the processing circuit is configured to reduce pump operation if
`
`the determined rate of change of the amount of currentis less than the threshold rate of change of the
`
`amountof current (pump 26 can be disabled/decreased if rate of change of current falls below
`
`threshold; Paragraph 0049).
`
`Look is analogous to the claimed invention, therefore, it would have been obvious to someone
`
`of ordinaryskill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified
`
`Greener in view of Look to incorporate the teachings of Look and include the processin the processing
`
`circuit in monitoring the rate of change of the current at the pump and its response to decreased rate of
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/440,008
`Art Unit: 3781
`
`Page 9
`
`change of current compared to a threshold rate of change current value, as taught by Look, to the
`
`processing circuit of Greener. This would allow for the system to deactivate the pump in response to
`
`abnormal problems in the system (Look; Paragraph 0049). Greener in view of Look does not teach
`
`wherein the memoryis configured to store a cycling frequency, wherein the processing circuit is
`
`configured to activate and deactivate the pump at the cycling frequency, wherein the processing circuit
`
`is configured to activate and deactivate the pump at the cycling frequency, and wherein the processing
`
`circuit is configured to reduce the cycling frequencyif the determined rate of change of a value is less
`
`than the threshold rate of changeof the value.
`
`However, Askem teaches wherein the memory is configured to store a cycling frequency,
`
`wherein the processing circuit is configured to activate and deactivate the pump at the cycling
`
`frequency (memory can store program code or instructions (executed by the controller), system
`
`parameters, operational data, user data, etc. or any combination thereof and store the duty cycle
`
`threshold and duty cycle difference; Paragraph 0044, 0047, 0052, and 0056), wherein the processing
`
`circuit is configured to activate and deactivate the pump at the cycling frequency (controller can
`
`deactivate/activate pump based on duty cycle value; Paragraph 0052), and wherein the processing
`
`circuit is configured to reduce the cycling frequencyif the determined rate of change of a value is less
`
`than the threshold rate of change of the value (controller can deactivate/activate pump based
`
`comparison of duty value to duty value threshold; Paragraph 0052).
`
`Askem and Greenerin view of Look are both considered to be analogous to the claimed
`
`invention because they are in the same field of negative pressure therapy systems. Therefore, it would
`
`have been obvious to someone of ordinaryskill in the art before the effectivefiling date of the claimed
`
`invention to have modified Greenerin view of Look to incorporate the teachings of Askem and
`
`incorporate the storage of cycling frequency in the memoryof Greener in view of Look and the
`
`configuration of the processing circuit to reduce the duty cycle/cycle frequency based on the rate of
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/440,008
`Art Unit: 3781
`
`Page 10
`
`changeof a valueis less than a threshold value, as taught by Askem, with respect to the rate of change
`
`of the current value and its threshold monitored in the processing circuit and memory of Greenerin
`
`view of Look. This would allow for the system to activate/deactivate the pump during treatment and
`
`detect different operating conditions of the system in real time (Askem; Paragraph 0047).
`
`Claim 22 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Greener etal. (W.O.
`
`Patent Application No. 2018/033794 A1) in view of Look etal. (Publication No. US 2015/0327875 A1),
`
`as applied to claim 12 above, and further in view of Kamen etal. (U.S. Patent Application No.
`
`2007/0219597A1).
`
`Regarding claim 22, Greener in view of Look teaches the system of claim 12. Greener further
`
`teachesfurther comprising a user interface and a processing circuit operably coupled thereto (user
`
`interface 216 connected to controller; Paragraph 0061; Figure 2), and wherein the user interface is
`
`configured to display the alert (user interface has screen to provide output to user; Paragraph 0062).
`
`Greener does not teach wherein the processing circuit is configured to generate an alert based ona
`
`determination that the processing circuit is separated from the pump.
`
`However, Kamen teaches wherein the processing circuit is configured to generate an alert based
`
`on a determination that the processingcircuit is separated from the pump (alarm condition generated
`
`when disconnect occur between repeater, comprising memory, processor, and alarm, and wearable
`
`medical device, comprising the pump,is disconnected; Paragraph 0016).
`
`Kamen and Greener in view of Look are both considered to be analogous to the claimed
`
`invention because theyare in the same field of pressurized treatment systems. Therefore, it would have
`
`been obvious to someone ofordinaryskill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed
`
`invention to have modified Greener in view of Look to incorporate the teachings of Kamen and
`
`incorporate the alarm/alert condition when the pump is separated from the processing circuit of the
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/440,008
`Art Unit: 3781
`
`Page 11
`
`device of Greener in view of Look. This would allow for the user to be notified of the fault
`
`condition/disconnect of the device (Kamen; Paragraph 0016).
`
`Claim 23 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Greener etal. (W.O.
`
`Patent Application No. 2018/033794 A1) in view of Look etal. (Publication No. US 2015/0327875 A1),
`
`as applied to claim 12 above, and further in view of Brzencheck etal. (U.S. Patent Application No.
`
`2017/0239131 A1).
`
`Regarding claim 23, Greener in view of Look teaches the system of claim 12. Greener further
`
`teachesa transceiver (transceiver 222; Figure 2; Paragraph 0061) configured to receive commands from
`
`a user device (transceiver 222 connect to data processing system and controller to send and receive
`
`commands;Figure 1; Paragraph 0061 and 0064). Greener does not teach a locking member configured
`
`to prevent removal of a processing circuit from the cover; wherein the processingcircuit is configured to
`
`operate the locking member in response to the commands.
`
`However, Brzenchek teaches a locking member configured to prevent removal of a processing
`
`circuit from the cover (lock 120is in locked position so footboard cannot be removed; Paragraph 0076);
`
`wherein the processing circuit is configured to operate the locking member in response to the
`
`commands (circuitry 98 gives commands to operate lock 120; Paragraph 0076).
`
`Brzenchek and Greener in view of Look are both considered to be analogous to the claimed
`
`invention because theyare in the same field of pressure therapy systems. Therefore, it would have been
`
`obvious to someone of ordinaryskill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to
`
`have modified Greener in view of Look to incorporate the teachings of Brzenchek and incorporate lock
`
`member and its operation to the device of Greener in view of Look. This would allow for the system to
`
`lock the device in place during the treatment to prevent removal of device components (Brzencheck;
`
`Paragraph 0076).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/440,008
`Art Unit: 3781
`
`Page 12
`
`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 eventafirst 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
`
`shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory
`
`action is mailed, and any extension fee pursuantto 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 dateof this final action.
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner
`
`should be directed to KATHERINE-PH M PHAM whose telephone numberis (571)272-0468. The
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`examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri, 8AM to 5PM ET.
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`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor,
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`Rebecca Eisenberg can be reached on (571) 270-5879. The fax phone number for the organization where
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`this application or proceedingis assigned is 571-273-8300.
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`Application/Control Number: 17/440,008
`Art Unit: 3781
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`Page 13
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`https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information aboutfiling in DOCX format. For additional
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`questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like
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`assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA)or
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`571-272-1000.
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`/KATHERINE-PH MINH PHAM/
`Examiner, Art Unit 3781
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`/LESLIE A LOPEZ/
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3774
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