Office Action 2: Notice of Allowance (2025-04-10)

CLAIMS:
AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS

Please cancel Claim 1 without prejudice or disclaimer of the subject matter presented therein. Please add new Claims 2-29 as follows. This listing of claims replaces all prior versions and listings of claims in this application.

1\. (Canceled)

2\. (New) A medical system comprising:
a data processing device system;
an input-output device system communicatively connected to the data processing device system; and
a memory device system communicatively connected to the data processing device system and storing a program executable by the data processing device system, the data processing device system configured by the program at least to:
cause the input-output device system to display a graphical representation of at least a portion of a transducer-based device, the at least the portion of the transducer-based device positionable within a bodily cavity and including a plurality of transducers configured to ablate tissue within the bodily cavity, and the graphical representation comprising a plurality of graphical elements, each graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements associated with a respective group of transducers of the plurality of transducers, at least some of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers sharing a transducer of the plurality of transducers;
receive, via the input-output device system, a selection of a first graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements, the first graphical element associated with a first group of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers; and
change, in response to the selection of the first graphical element, a selection status of at least one transducer of the first group of transducers associated with the first graphical element, the changed selection status indicating that the at least one transducer of the first group of transducers is selected for tissue ablation.

3\. (New) The medical system of Claim 2, wherein the at least one transducer of the first group of transducers associated with the first graphical element comprises each transducer of the first group of transducers associated with the first graphical element.

4\. (New) The medical system of Claim 2, wherein the data processing device system is configured by the program at least to cause, via the input-output device system and in response to the selection of the first graphical element, a change in a displayed visual characteristic of the first graphical element, the changed displayed visual characteristic of the first graphical element indicating, at least in part, the changed selection status indicating that the at least one transducer of the first group of transducers is selected for tissue ablation.

5\. (New) The medical system of Claim 4, wherein the data processing device system is configured by the program at least to:
cause, via the input-output device system, activation of the first group of transducers to cause tissue ablation, and
cause, via the input-output device system, a change in a particular displayed visual characteristic of the first graphical element to indicate a change from the selection status indicating that the at least one transducer of the first group of transducers is selected for tissue ablation to a particular status that the at least one transducer of the first group of transducers is activated for tissue ablation.

6\. (New) The medical system of Claim 4, wherein the plurality of graphical elements is a first plurality of graphical elements, and the graphical representation comprises a second plurality of graphical elements, each graphical element of the second plurality of graphical elements associated with a respective transducer of the plurality of transducers, and wherein the data processing device system is configured by the program at least to cause, in response to the selection of the first graphical element, a change in a displayed visual characteristic of each graphical element of the second plurality of graphical elements associated with a respective transducer of the at least one transducer of the first group of transducers, the changed displayed visual characteristic of each graphical element of the second plurality of graphical elements associated with a respective transducer of the at least one transducer of the first group of transducers indicating, at least in part, the changed selection status, which indicates that the at least one transducer of the first group of transducers is selected for tissue ablation.
7\. (New) The medical system of Claim 6, wherein the data processing device system is configured by the program at least to allow individual selection of each graphical element of the second plurality of graphical elements to individually select the respective transducer of the plurality of transducers.

8\. (New) The medical system of Claim 2, wherein the plurality of graphical elements is a first plurality of graphical elements, and the graphical representation comprises a second plurality of graphical elements, each graphical element of the second plurality of graphical elements associated with a respective transducer of the plurality of transducers, and wherein each graphical element of the first plurality of graphical elements is located in the graphical representation adjacent to each graphical element of the second plurality of graphical elements associated with each transducer of the respective group of transducers of the plurality of transducers.

9\. (New) The medical system of Claim 8, wherein the transducers of the plurality of transducers are arranged according to a first spatial distribution, and the graphical elements of the second plurality of graphical elements are arranged in the graphical representation according to a second spatial distribution consistent with the first spatial distribution.

10\. (New) The medical system of Claim 2, wherein the first group of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers shares a transducer of the plurality of transducers with a second group of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers.

11\. (New) The medical system of Claim 2, wherein the first group of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers shares multiple transducers with other groups of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers.

12\. (New) The medical system of Claim 2, wherein at least three groups of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers share a particular transducer of the plurality of transducers.
13\. (New) The medical system of Claim 2, wherein at least a first transducer of the first group of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers is adjacent to at least a second transducer of the first group of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers.

14\. (New) The medical system of Claim 2, wherein at least a first transducer of each respective group of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers is adjacent to at least a second transducer of the respective group of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers.

15\. (New) The medical system of Claim 3, wherein the changed selection status indicates that the transducers of the first group of transducers are selected for bipolar tissue ablation.

16\. (New) The medical system of Claim 3, wherein the changed selection status indicates that the transducers of the first group of transducers are selected for concurrent activation for tissue ablation.

17\. (New) The medical system of Claim 2, wherein a second graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements is associated with a second group of transducers of the plurality of transducers, the second group of transducers sharing a particular transducer with the first group of transducers, and
wherein the data processing device system is configured by the program at least to change, in response to the selection of the first graphical element, a selection status of at least the particular transducer shared by the first group of transducers and the second group of transducers, the changed selection status of the at least the particular transducer indicating that the at least the particular transducer is selected for tissue ablation.

18\. (New) A medical system comprising:
a data processing device system;
an input-output device system communicatively connected to the data processing device system; and
a memory device system communicatively connected to the data processing device system and storing a program executable by the data processing device system, the data processing device system configured by the program at least to: cause the input-output device system to display a graphical representation of at least a portion of a transducer-based device, the at least the portion of the transducer-based device positionable within a bodily cavity and including a plurality of transducers configured to ablate tissue within the bodily cavity, and the graphical representation comprising a plurality of graphical elements, each graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements associated with a respective group of transducers of the plurality of transducers, at least some of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers sharing a transducer of the plurality of transducers;
receive, via the input-output device system, a selection of a first graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements, the first graphical element associated with a first group of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers; and
cause the input-output device system to activate the first group of transducers to cause tissue ablation at least in response to the selection.

19\. (New) The medical system of Claim 18, wherein the plurality of graphical elements is a first plurality of graphical elements, and the graphical representation comprises a second plurality of graphical elements, each graphical element of the second plurality of graphical elements associated with a respective transducer of the plurality of transducers, and wherein the data processing device system is configured by the program at least to allow individual selection of each graphical element of the second plurality of graphical elements to individually select the respective transducer of the plurality of transducers.

20\. (New) The medical system of Claim 18, wherein the plurality of graphical elements is a first plurality of graphical elements, and the graphical representation comprises a second plurality of graphical elements, each graphical element of the second plurality of graphical elements associated with a respective transducer of the plurality of transducers, and wherein each graphical element of the first plurality of graphical elements is located in the graphical representation adjacent to each graphical element of the second plurality of graphical elements associated with each transducer of the respective group of transducers of the plurality of transducers.
21\. (New) The medical system of Claim 20, wherein the transducers of the plurality of transducers are arranged according to a first spatial distribution, and the graphical elements of the second plurality of graphical elements are arranged in the graphical representation according to a second spatial distribution consistent with the first spatial distribution.

22\. (New) The medical system of Claim 18, wherein the first group of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers shares a transducer of the plurality of transducers with a second group of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers.

23\. (New) The medical system of Claim 18, wherein the first group of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers shares multiple transducers with other groups of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers.

24\. (New) The medical system of Claim 18, wherein at least three groups of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers share a particular transducer of the plurality of transducers.

25\. (New) The medical system of Claim 18, wherein at least a first transducer of the first group of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers is adjacent to at least a second transducer of the first group of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers.

26\. (New) The medical system of Claim 18, wherein at least a first transducer of each respective group of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers is adjacent to at least a second transducer of the respective group of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers.

27\. (New) The medical system of Claim 18, wherein the data processing device system is configured by the program at least to cause the input-output device system to activate the first group of transducers to cause bipolar tissue ablation at least in response to the selection.
28\. (New) The medical system of Claim 18, wherein the data processing device system is configured by the program at least to cause the input-output device system to concurrently activate the first group of transducers to cause tissue ablation at least in response to the selection.

29\. (New) The medical system of Claim 18, wherein the data processing device system is configured by the program at least to:
receive, via the input-output device system, a selection of a second graphical element of the plurality of graphical elements, the second graphical element associated with a second group of transducers of the respective groups of transducers of the plurality of transducers; and
cause, after receiving the selection of the second graphical element, the input-output device system to alter a visual characteristic of the second graphical element to indicate that the second group of transducers is unacceptable for activation for tissue ablation.

OFFICE ACTION:
DETAILED ACTION
Response to Amendment
This action is in response to the amendment after non-final filed 23 December 2024.  Claims 2-29 are pending.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2-29 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: the terminal disclaimer filed 23 December 2024 has been approved and overcomes the requirements of the double patenting rejection set forth in the non-final rejection.
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
This application has been reviewed in light of the Non-Final Office Action dated
September 26, 2024. The only outstanding rejection is the obviousness-type double patenting rejection, which alleges that all claims of the present application are obvious over Claims 1-17 of U.S. Patent No. 10,470,826, issued on the great-grandparent of the present application, in view of Claims 1-7 of U.S. Patent No. 10,918,446, issued on the grandparent of the present application. While Applicant does not concede the propriety of this rejection, Applicant submits herewith a Terminal Disclaimer with respect to the '826 great-grandparent Patent, which is submitted to obviate the obviousness-type double patenting rejection. Accordingly, all claims are believed to be allowable.
In view of the foregoing remarks and the Terminal Disclaimer submitted herewith, Applicant respectfully requests the allowance of the present application.
Should the Examiner have any issues concerning this reply or any other outstanding issues remaining in this application, the favor of a telephone call to Applicant's undersigned attorney is respectfully requested in order to expedite prosecution.
Respectfully submitted,