Patent Application 17750826 - PROSTHETIC HEART VALVE HAVING NON-LINEAR STRUTS - Rejection
Appearance
Patent Application 17750826 - PROSTHETIC HEART VALVE HAVING NON-LINEAR STRUTS
Title: PROSTHETIC HEART VALVE HAVING NON-LINEAR STRUTS
Application Information
- Invention Title: PROSTHETIC HEART VALVE HAVING NON-LINEAR STRUTS
- Application Number: 17750826
- Submission Date: 2025-04-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Effective Filing Date: 2022-05-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Filing Date: 2022-05-23T00:00:00.000Z
- National Class: 623
- National Sub-Class: 002110
- Examiner Employee Number: 82796
- Art Unit: 3774
- Tech Center: 3700
Rejection Summary
- 102 Rejections: 2
- 103 Rejections: 0
Cited Patents
The following patents were cited in the rejection:
Office Action Text
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. Claims 1-5, 7-9, 12-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by White. (Pub. No.: US 2014/0277563). PNG media_image1.png 572 588 media_image1.png Greyscale White discloses an implantable prosthetic device (abstract), comprising: a frame (e.g., fig. 33) that is radially expandable and compressible between a radially compressed configuration and a radially expanded configuration (e.g., abstract), the frame comprising a plurality of struts, each strut of the plurality of struts comprising a first portion (labeled convex in annotated figure above) and a second portion (labeled concave in annotated figure above) separated by a deflection point (e.g., fig. 1A-C), wherein each strut of the plurality of struts is curved helically with respect to a first, longitudinal axis of the frame (para. 226), wherein the first portion of each strut of the plurality of struts is curved in a first direction with respect to a first line parallel to a second axis that is perpendicular to the first, longitudinal axis of the frame; wherein the second portion of each strut the plurality of struts is curved in a second direction with respect to a second line parallel to the second axis (convex and concave as depicted above) wherein each strut of the plurality of struts comprises a plurality of segments, and wherein each segment of the plurality of segments is curved (e.g., fig. 33). For claim 2, White discloses the implantable prosthetic device of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the strut is convex with respect to an outflow end of the frame (e.g., fig. 33). For claim 3, White discloses the implantable prosthetic device of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the strut is concave with respect to an outflow end of the frame (e.g., fig. 33). For claim 4, White discloses the implantable prosthetic device of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the strut is positioned adjacent an inflow end of the frame and the second portion is positioned adjacent an outflow end of the frame (e.g., fig. 33). For claim 5, White discloses the implantable prosthetic device of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the strut is positioned adjacent an outflow end of the frame and the second portion is positioned adjacent an inflow end of the frame (this configuration is achieved by simply reversing what is considered the inflow and outflow end of the frame). For claim 7, White discloses the implantable prosthetic device of claim 1, wherein the first portion has a first length and the second portion has a second length, and wherein the first length is greater than the second length (e.g., fig. 29, 33). For claim 8, White discloses the implantable prosthetic device of claim 1, wherein the first portion has a first length and the second portion has a second length, and wherein the second length is greater than the first length (e.g., fig. 29, 33). For claim 9, White discloses the implantable prosthetic device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of struts comprises a first set of a plurality of struts extending in a first direction and a second set of a plurality of struts extending in a second direction, and wherein each strut of the first set of struts is connected to at least one strut of the second set of struts to form a plurality of cells (e.g., fig. 33, each enclosed area is considered a cell). For claim 12, White discloses the implantable prosthetic device of claim 1, wherein each strut of the plurality of struts extends from a first end of the frame to an axially opposed second end of the frame (e.g., fig. 33). For claim 13, White discloses the implantable prosthetic device of claim 1, wherein when the frame is in the radially expanded configuration the frame tapers from a first diameter at a first location on the frame to a second diameter at a second location on the frame axially spaced from the first location, the first diameter being greater than the second diameter (e.g., fig. 33, para 225). For claim 14, White discloses the implantable prosthetic device of claim 1, wherein when the frame is in the radially expanded configuration the frame has a first diameter at a first location on the frame and a second diameter at a second location on the frame axially spaced from the first location, the first and second diameters being substantially equal such that the frame has a cylindrical shape (e.g., para. 225). For claim 15, White discloses the implantable prosthetic device of claim 1, further comprising a valve assembly comprising a plurality of leaflets mounted inside the frame (e.g., para. 9). For claim 16, White discloses the implantable prosthetic device of claim 1, wherein each strut of the plurality of struts comprises a plurality of strut segments, wherein the plurality of struts segments comprises a first strut segment, a second strut segment and a third strut segment, the first strut segment having a first length and positioned adjacent to the deflection point, the second strut segment having a second length and positioned adjacent to an inflow end of the frame, and the third strut segment having a third length and positioned adjacent and an outflow end of the frame, wherein the first length is greater than the second length and the third length (struts of figure 33 can be divided in to strut segments as claimed). For claim 17, White discloses the implantable prosthetic device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of struts comprises a plurality of inner struts and a plurality of outer struts pivotably coupled to the inner struts at a plurality of pivot joints (fig. 33). For claim 18, White discloses the implantable prosthetic device of claim 17, wherein each pivot joint of the plurality of pivot joints comprises a fastener extending through a first aperture of a first strut of the plurality of struts and a second aperture of a second strut of the plurality of struts (e.g., fig. 33, para. 82). For claim 19, White discloses the implantable prosthetic device of claim 17, wherein each pivot joint of the plurality of pivot joints comprises a protrusion formed on a first strut of the plurality of struts and a recess formed on a second strut of the plurality of struts, wherein the protrusion and the recess form a ball-and-socket type pivot joint (e.g., para. 83). For claim 20, White discloses an implantable prosthetic device, comprising: a frame that is radially expandable and compressible between a radially compressed configuration and a radially expanded configuration (e.g., abstract), the frame comprising a plurality of struts, each strut of the plurality of struts comprising a first portion and a second portion and is curved helically with respect to a first, longitudinal axis of the frame (fig. 33), wherein the first portion of each strut of the plurality of struts is curved in a first direction with respect to a second axis that is perpendicular to the first, longitudinal axis of the frame, and the second portion of each strut the plurality of struts is curved in a second direction with respect to the second axis (see annotation above). Claims 1-6, 9-12, 14-16, 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Agrawal et al. (Pub. No.: US 2016/0045306). PNG media_image2.png 468 468 media_image2.png Greyscale Agrawal et al. (hereinafter, Agrawal) discloses an implantable prosthetic device (abstract, fig. 1A-C), comprising: a frame that is radially expandable and compressible between a radially compressed configuration and a radially expanded configuration (e.g., abstract), the frame comprising a plurality of struts 16, each strut of the plurality of struts comprising a first portion (18a and 18b, highlighted above) and a second portion (second highlighted segment) separated by a deflection point (fig. 1A-C), wherein each strut of the plurality of struts is curved helically with respect to a first, longitudinal axis of the frame (fig. 1A-C); wherein the first portion of each strut of the plurality of struts is curved in a first direction with respect to a first line parallel to a second axis that is perpendicular to the first, longitudinal axis of the frame (fig. 1A-C); wherein the second portion of each strut the plurality of struts is curved in a second direction with respect to a second line parallel to the second axis (fig. 1A-C); wherein each strut of the plurality of struts comprises a plurality of segments, and wherein each segment of the plurality of segments is curved (fig. 1A-C). For claim 2, Agrawal discloses the implantable prosthetic device of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the strut is convex with respect to an outflow end of the frame (e.g., fig. 1A-C). For claim 3, Agrawal discloses the implantable prosthetic device of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the strut is concave with respect to an outflow end of the frame (e.g., fig. 1A-C). For claim 4, Agrawal discloses the implantable prosthetic device of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the strut is positioned adjacent an inflow end of the frame and the second portion is positioned adjacent an outflow end of the frame (e.g., fig. 1C). For claim 5, Agrawal discloses the implantable prosthetic device of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the strut is positioned adjacent an outflow end of the frame and the second portion is positioned adjacent an inflow end of the frame (e.g., fig. 1C). For claim 6, Agrawal discloses the implantable prosthetic device of claim 1, wherein the first and second portions have equal lengths (e.g., fig. 1A-C). For claim 9, Agrawal discloses the implantable prosthetic device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of struts comprises a first set of a plurality of struts extending in a first direction and a second set of a plurality of struts extending in a second direction, and wherein each strut of the first set of struts is connected to at least one strut of the second set of struts to form a plurality of cells (e.g., fig. 1A-C). For claim 10, Agrawal discloses the implantable prosthetic device of claim 9, wherein the plurality of cells comprises a first row of cells adjacent a first end of the frame, and a second row of cells disposed between the first end and a second end of the frame, the first row of cells being smaller than the second row of cells (cells 14 at one end of the frame are smaller than the cells in the middle of the frame). For claim 11, Agrawal discloses the implantable prosthetic device of claim 10, further comprising a third row of cells adjacent the second end of the frame, the third row of cells being smaller than the second row of cells (e.g., fig. 1C). For claim 12, Agrawal disclose the implantable prosthetic device of claim 1, wherein each strut of the plurality of struts extends from a first end of the frame to an axially opposed second end of the frame (e.g., fig. 1C). For claim 14, Agrawal discloses the implantable prosthetic device of claim 1, wherein when the frame is in the radially expanded configuration the frame has a first diameter at a first location on the frame and a second diameter at a second location on the frame axially spaced from the first location, the first and second diameters being substantially equal such that the frame has a cylindrical shape (e.g., fig. 1A-1C). For claim 15, Agrawal discloses the implantable prosthetic device of claim 1, further comprising a valve assembly comprising a plurality of leaflets mounted inside the frame (e.g., fig. 6). For claim 16, Agrawal discloses the implantable prosthetic device of claim 1, wherein each strut of the plurality of struts comprises a plurality of strut segments, wherein the plurality of struts segments comprises a first strut segment, a second strut segment and a third strut segment, the first strut segment having a first length and positioned adjacent to the deflection point, the second strut segment having a second length and positioned adjacent to an inflow end of the frame, and the third strut segment having a third length and positioned adjacent and an outflow end of the frame, wherein the first length is greater than the second length and the third length (the strut of Agrawal may be divided into segments of varying lengths as claimed). For claim 20, Agrawal discloses an implantable prosthetic device (abstract), comprising: a frame that is radially expandable and compressible between a radially compressed configuration and a radially expanded configuration (abstract), the frame comprising a plurality of struts (fig. 1A-C), each strut of the plurality of struts comprising a first portion and a second portion and is curved helically with respect to a first, longitudinal axis of the frame (see annotation above), wherein the first portion of each strut of the plurality of struts is curved in a first direction with respect to a second axis that is perpendicular to the first, longitudinal axis of the frame, and the second portion of each strut the plurality of struts is curved in a second direction with respect to the second axis (see annotation above). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SUBA GANESAN whose telephone number is (571)272-3243. 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Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /SUBA GANESAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3774