Office Action 2: Notice of Allowance (2024-10-01)

CLAIMS:
LISTING OF THE CLAIMS

This listing of claims is for convenience only; no amendments are being made.

Listing of Claims:

Customer No. 27752

1\. (Original) A process of treating individualized trichomes to remove proteins, whereby the process comprises:a. selecting a trichome containing biomass;
b. individualizing the trichomes from the biomass, wherein the trichomes have a protein content;
c. wetting the trichomes;
d. reacting the trichomes with a reactant comprising at least one of a chlorite, a peroxide, and a peracid at a pH greater than about 8;
e. removing the trichomes from the reaction; and
f. measuring the protein content of the reacted trichomes.
2\. (Original) The process of Claim 1 wherein the peracid is peracetic acid.

3\. (Original) The process of Claim 2 wherein peracetic acid is generated by reacting N,N,N',N'-Tetraacetylethylenediamine with hydrogen peroxide.
4\. (Original) The process of Claim 1 wherein the temperature of the reacting step d is maintained above 20°C.

5\. (Original) The process of Claim 1 wherein the pH of the reacting step d is maintained above 5.0.

6\. (Original) The process of Claim 1 wherein the reaction of the reacting step d is for greater than 1 minute.

Customer No. 27752
7\. (Original) The process of Claim 1 wherein the biomass is from Stachys byzantina.
8\. (Original) A process of treating individualized trichomes to remove proteins,
whereby the process comprises:a. selecting a trichome containing biomass;
b. individualizing the trichomes from the biomass, wherein the trichomes have a protein content;
c. wetting the trichomes;
d. reacting the trichomes with a first reactant;
e. reacting the trichomes with a second reactant;
f. removing the trichomes from the second reaction; and
g. measuring the protein content of the reacted trichomes.
9\. (Original) The process of Claim 8 wherein the trichomes are removed from the first reaction before reacting with the second reactant.

10\. (Original) The process of claim 8 wherein the peracid is peracetic acid.

11\. (Original) The process of Claim 8 wherein the peracetic acid is generated by reacting N,N,N',N'-Tetraacetylethylenediamine with hydrogen peroxide.

12\. (Original) The process of Claim 8 wherein the first reactant, the second reactant, or both reactants comprise sodium chlorite.

13\. (Original) The process of Claim 12 wherein hydrogen peroxide is included in the reaction.

14\. (Original) The process of Claim 12 wherein the temperature is maintained above 20°C.

Customer No. 27752

15\. (Original) The process of Claim 8 wherein the biomass is from Stachys byzantina.

16\. (Original) The process of Claim 8 wherein at least one of the first and second reactants comprise a peracid and a peracid activator.

17\. (Original) The process of Claim 8 wherein the individualized trichomes have a Hunter Color value of L\* greater than 87.

18\. (Original) The process of Claim 17 wherein the individualized trichomes have a Hunter Color value of b\* less than 17.

19\. (Original) The process of Claim 8 wherein protein present in the individualized trichomes is reacted with the first and second reactants so as to break down the protein via oxidation, yielding individualized trichomes.

OFFICE ACTION:
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 .
Terminal Disclaimer
The terminal disclaimer filed on 09/17/2024 disclaiming the terminal portion of any patent granted on this application which would extend beyond the expiration date of USP 11,427,960 and 11,846,068 has been reviewed and is accepted.  The terminal disclaimer has been recorded.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-19 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: The primary reason for allowance is that it has not been shown or reasonably suggested by the prior art to have a method of treating individualized trichomes in order to remove proteins in the claimed manner.  While separating of trichomes from plant matter has been done in the past, the specific methodology of the claims that include a reduction of protein content during the separation process has not been reasonably shown by the prior art as a whole.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee.  Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: REMARKS
Claim Status
Claims 1-19 are pending in the present application.
Double Patenting
Claims 1-19 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over the claims of U.S. Patent No. 11,427,960 (P&G 15300) and 11,846,068 (P&G 15300C).
A Terminal Disclaimer is being submitted herewith to overcome this rejection.
Conclusion