Office Action 1: Non-Final Rejection (2023-12-07)
Rejection types: 103 - Obviousness

CLAIMS:
WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1\. A fiber producing system, the system comprising:a housing;
one or more air pumps positioned in the housing;
a convergent-divergent nozzle coupled to the air pumps;
a peristatic pump positioned in the housing;a manifold coupled to the peristatic pump; andSVG {EMBED HERE} 0.0770.163SVG {EMBED HERE} 0.110.103a nosepiece enclosed in the manifold, wherein the nosepiece includes a die with one or more channels acting as individual passages for forming fibers as polymer solution exits the nosepiec The system of claim 1,wherein the housing is a molded housing.

3\. The system of claim 1, wherein the nozzle and the manifold are positioned in the housing.

4\. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a handle.

5\. The system of claim 1. further comprising a hopper coupled to the peristatic pump.

6\. The system of claim 5, wherein the hopper is configured to provide the polymer solution to the peristatic pump.

7\. The system of claim 1,wherein the peristatic pump is configured to move the polymer solution into the manifold.

8\. The system of claim 1,wherein the nozzle increases a velocity of air in the system.

9\. The system of claim 1, wherein the channels are configured to extrude the polymer solution to form fibers during use,

10\. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the channels has a shape and size configured to provide fibers of a desired shape and size.

11.Thesystem of claim1,furthercomprisingadividerinatleast oneof the channelstodividethematerialandformmulti-lumen fibers.

12,Thesystemofclaim1.furthercomprisingaportablepowersourcecoupledtothepumps.

13\. Amethodofmakingfibers, comprising:providingapolymer solution toaperistaticpumppositioned in ahousing;
generating aflowofairinthehousing usingan air pumppositioned in thehousing;
moving, using theperistaticpump,thepolymersolutionintoand through a nosepieceinamnanifold in thehousing, whereinthenosepieceincludesadiehavingoneormorechannels;moving, using theairpump,airintoand through aconvergent-divergentnozzleinthemanifold, whereintheconvergent-divergentnozzleincreasesavelocityoftheair;SVG {EMBED HERE} 0.080.17
andproducing fibers asoutput fromthenosepiecwhereinthefibersareformedfromthepolymer solutionasthepolymersolutionmoves throughthenose pieceand the airwiththe increased velocityfunnels around the polymer solutioninthenosepiece.

14.Themethod of claim13,wherein the produced fibers havea shapeand size determined byashapeand sizeofthechannelsinthenosepiece.

15\. Themethodofclaim13,wvherein theproduced fibers havea length greater than1micron,

16,Themethodofclaim13, further comprising extrudingthepolymer solution throughthechannels to producethe fibers.

17\. Themethodofclaim13,whereinproviding the polymer solutioninclude providing the polymer solution toahoppercoupled to the peristaticpump.

18\. The methodofclaim13,further comprising providing the produced fibers ontoa surface.

19.Themethodof claim1 3, furthercomprisingcontrollingatemperatureofthehousingtocontroloneormorepropertiesofthefibers.

20.Themethodofclaim19,furthercomprisingcontrolling thetemperatureusingaheaterpositionedinthehousing.

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 .
Claims 1-20 are pending.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements filed 9/1/2023 or one of several dated 11/30/2023 fail to comply with 37 CFR 1.98(a)(2), which requires a legible copy of each cited foreign patent document; each non-patent literature publication or that portion which caused it to be listed; and all other information or that portion which caused it to be listed.  It has been placed in the application file, but the information referred to therein has not been considered.  A copy have not been received of many of the NPL documents listed and many of the foreign documents.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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-AIA  35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA  to pre-AIA ) 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 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 background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the 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.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary.  Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim(s) 1-4, 7-12, 13-14, 16, and 18-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ikegaya (US 2020/0173057) in view of Wright (US 11207510) and Fong (US 2019/0292685)
Ikegaya teaches of nozzle head 20 and having solvent storage 11, and gas ejection unit 13, and gas flow passage 26, and raw material flow passage 25, and in Figures 2-27 of various different arrangements of the nozzle head and in Figures 25-26 with plural flow passages, and further in another embodiment, see Figures 28-40, with an extruder device with cylinder 63 and supply pipe 68 for gas, with the nozzle head 70, and with the plural gas passages 76 and the raw material passages 75.
Thereby, Regarding claim 1, Ikegaya teaches of a fiber producing system, the system comprising:
one or more air pumps positioned in the system (inherently taught by the flow of the gas flow passage within the system to the nozzle);
a convergent-divergent nozzle (see nozzle head 20) coupled to the one or more air pumps (inherently due to the gas flow passages 76);
a manifold coupled to the pump; and
a nosepiece enclosed in the manifold, wherein the nosepiece includes a die with one or more channels acting as individual passages for forming fibers as polymer solution exits the nosepiece (see teaching of the nozzle head with the different arrangements for the raw material passages 75, see Figs. 25-26 and 28-40 and wherein, the structure of Ikegaya would encompass the claimed nosepiece structure).
Regarding all the elements being positioned in a housing and of the pump within the manifold/housing, Wright teaches of handheld applicator device 100 with nozzle 60 and cartridge 50 (for solution reservoir), and with pump P that includes piston pump, pneumatics micro pump acting with a solenoid, see Col. 19, lines 16-30. The device having a housing 10, and grip 15 (handle).
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the system of Ikegawa with the arrangement of the features and pump of Wright into a single housing/manifold thereby allowing for a complete handheld system in forming of fibers.  The arrangement being further obvious to one skilled in the art under KSR in combining prior art elements of Ikegaya according to known methods, in this case of Wright, to yield predictable results, of a handheld system.
Regarding the use of a peristaltic pump, Fong teaches of the use of a spinneret and electrospinning system in forming fibers.  Wherein, the solution is provided from the reservoir via a peristaltic pump, see [0096], that further the pump can be either a positive displacement pump or peristaltic pump, [0095].  Further, Wright teaches a variety of pumps used for transporting the raw materials within the system.
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the pumping of the solution of Ikegaya in view of Wright with the use of a peristaltic pump as taught by Fong as a known alternate pump for use in the system, further, under KSR, this is seen as a simple substitution of one known element for another to obtain predictable results.
Regarding claim 2 (upon 1), wherein the housing is a molded housing. see housing of Wright, and further, a molded housing is a known type of forming such particularly when the housing is formed from a plastic material which is a known type of material used in constructing said elements.
Regarding claim 3 (upon 1), wherein the nozzle and the manifold are positioned in the housing, see teaching of Wright of the nozzle and manifold that are within the housing, particularly in the arrangement to be handheld.
Regarding claim 4 (upon 1), wherein the housing includes a handle.  See grip 15 in Wright.
Regarding claim 7 (upon 1), wherein the peristaltic pump is configured to move the polymer solution into the manifold.  See teaching of Fong.
Regarding claim 8 (upon 1), wherein the nozzle increases a velocity of air in the system. See teaching in Wright of the high velocity air flow that includes pump P to nozzle tip of nozzle 60, wherein the nozzle includes shaped surface, see Col. 19, lines 15-30, and Fig. 17 teaching of tip shape for high velocity airflow via venturi, which is a teaching of increasing velocity of air in the system at the nozzle.  This combination with the references would allow one skilled in the art to recognize the teachings of Wright and further modify the nozzle of the combined references with the desired shape to increase the air velocity as desired.
Regarding claim 9 (upon 1), wherein the channels are configured to extrude the polymer solution to form fibers during use.  See teaching of Ikegaya.
Regarding claim 10 (upon 1), wherein at least one of the channels has a shape and size configured to provide fibers of a desired shape and size.  This is a broad interpretation and it would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the channels of Ikegaya in view of Wright and Fong as a change in size and shape for the desired parameters in effecting the fibers formed, in particular see teaching of Wright, Col. 26, lines 19-25, see teaching of varying of nozzle size.
Regarding claim 11 (upon 1), further comprising a divider in at least one of the channels to divide the polymer solution and form multi-lumen fibers.  See teaching in Ikegaya particularly of the plural channels formed for the raw material channels which correspond to the claimed channels.
Regarding claim 12 (upon 1), further comprising a portable power source coupled to the pumps.  See teaching of batteries B in Wright.
Regarding claim 13, see teaching of the above of Ikegaya in view of Wright and Fong teaches the claimed structure of claim 1, wherein, claim 13 is in regards to a method of making fibers and wherein the steps includes the elements that would be encompassed by the teachings of references that have been applied to claim 1.
Regarding claim 14 (upon 13), wherein the produced fibers have a shape and size determined by a shape and size of the one or more channels in the nosepiece.  This teaching would be a result of the channels that are taught in the teaching of the prior art references.
Regarding claim 15 (upon 13), wherein the produced fibers have a length greater than 1 micron. See teaching of Wright that includes forming particles that range from 0.5-20 micron, see Wright, Col. 6, lines 18-19.
Regarding claim 16 (upon 13), further comprising extruding the polymer solution through the one or more channels to produce the fibers.  See the claimed teachings as the polymer solution would form the fibers as it exits from the channels.
Regarding claim 18 (upon 13), further comprising providing the produced fibers onto a surface.  See teaching of the references, particularly in the use of the device in forming fibers, see also Wright regarding site which would be the claimed surface, see Col. 26, lines 22, and of treatment site.
Regarding claim 19 (upon 13), further comprising controlling a temperature of the housing to control one or more properties of the fibers.  See teaching by Ikegaya with temperature control, see [0065], that includes for both raw material temperature control function and for gas temperature control function, see [0133, 0134].
Regarding claim 20 (upon 19), further comprising controlling the temperature using a heater positioned in the housing.  See teaching of heater 64 in Ikegaya, [0106, 0113].
Claim(s) 5, 6, and 17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ikegaya in view of Wright and Fong as applied to claim 1 and 13 above, and further in view of Fournier (US 2019/0390374).
Regarding claim 5 (upon 1), further comprising a hopper coupled to the peristaltic peristatic pump.
Regarding claim 6 (upon 5), wherein the hopper is configured to provide the polymer solution to the peristaltic pump.
Regarding claim 17 (upon 13), wherein providing the polymer solution include providing the polymer solution to a hopper coupled to the peristaltic pump.
The references do not teach of a hopper coupled to the peristaltic pump.
In regards to the hopper, Fournier, see [0292] teaches of feeding hopper that includes peristaltic pump.  Wherein, the concept of the polymer supply being from a hopper and further associated with a pump would have been obvious as a known alternate configuration in supplying the polymer solution further into the system.
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the system of Ikegaya in view of Wright and Fong with the additional hopper and associated peristaltic pump as taught by Fournier as under KSR as a known alternate configuration that can be applied in supplying polymer solution from Fournier within a system of Ikegaya in view of Wright and Fong with an expectation of success.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.  See attached PTO-892 form, and of particular note:
Vollfath (US 2006/0165836) teaches of forming fibers and the use of a peristaltic pump to pump dope to an outlet.
Vollrath (US 2004/0086591) teaches of different pumps that can be used to feed feedstocks, including piero-electric, peristaltic, vibration pumps, and other known pumps, see [0017].  That peristaltic pumps can be used an alternative means of applying pressure to pump dope to the outlet to commence spinning, see [0066].

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: REMARKS
Applicant is in receipt of the Office Action mailed December 7, 2023.
Claims 1-20 were pending. Claim 8 has been cancelled. Claims 1 and 13 have been amended. Support for the amendments is found throughout the application including, but not limited to, FIGS. 2 and 3 along with the accompanying description. No new matter has been added.
Reconsideration of the present case is respectfully requested in view of the following remarks.
Section 103 Re
j
ections:
The Office Action rejects claims 1-4, 7-12, 13-14, 16, and 18-20 under 35 U.S.C. 103 as allegedly being unpatentable over lkegaya (US 2020/0173057) in view of Wright (US 11207510) and Fong (US 2019/0292685). The Office Action rejects claims 5, 6, and 17 under 35 U.S.C. 103 as allegedly being unpatentable over lkegaya in view of Wright and Fong as applied to claim 1 and 13 above, and further in view of Fournier (US 2019/0390374). Applicant respectfully disagrees with these rejections.
In order to reject a claim as obvious, the Examiner has the burden of establishing a prima facie case of obviousness. In re Warner et al., 379 F.2d 1011, 154 USPQ 173, 177-178 (C.C.P.A. 1967). To establish prima facie obviousness of a claimed invention,
all the claim limitations
must be taught or suggested by the prior art. In re Royka, 490 F.2d 981, 180 U.S.P.Q. 580 (C.C.P.A. 1974), MPEP §2143.03.
Claim 1 recites, in part:
a nozzle positioned in the manifold, the nozzle being coupled to an outlet of
the one or more air pumps, wherein the nozzle includes a convergent-shaped portion followed by a divergent-shaped portion to increase a velocity of air exiting
an outlet of the nozzle; and
a nosepiece positioned in the manifold and coupled to the outlet of the
nozzle, wherein the nosepiece includes a die with one or more channels acting as individual passages, and wherein the channels are arranged in a flow of the air from the outlet of the nozzle inside the nosepiece such that the air is funneled around the polymer solution exiting the channels to form fibers as the polymer solution exits
the nosepiece.
Claim 13 recites, in part:
moving, using the air pump, air into and through a nozzle in the manifold,
wherein the nozzle includes a convergent-shaped portion followed by a divergent- shaped portion that increases a velocity of the air exiting the nozzle; and
providing the air from the nozzle and through the nosepiece such that the
air with the increased velocity funnels around the polymer solution exiting the channels in the nosepiece and fibers are formed as the polymer solution exits the
nosepiece.
The cited art does not appear to teach or suggest at least the above-quoted features of the claims, in combination with the other features of the claims. Specifically, the cited art, whether alone or in combination, does not appear to teach or suggest at least the features of "a nozzle" that has "a convergent-shaped portion followed by a divergent-shaped portion" that operates to increase a velocity of air exiting the nozzle and entering a nosepiece coupled to the outlet of the nozzle where the nosepiece "funnels" the air around polymer solution exiting "channels" in the nosepiece to form fibers, as recited above and in combination with the other features of the claims. Ikegaya teaches "gas passages 76", which as depicted throughout the figures, are straight-walled passages without any converging or diverging portions. While Wright describes "tip 372" as having a "venturi", nowhere within Wright, either by description or depiction in the figures, does the tip have "a convergent-shaped portion followed by a divergent-shaped portion", as recited in Applicant's claims. For instance, as shown in FIG. 17 of Wright, "tip 372" appears to merely be a converging section downstream of "needle 370". Similarly, Fong appears to merely show a converging section in "nozzle 14", as shown in FIG. lA. Accordingly, the cited art, whether alone or in combination, fails to teach or suggest the above-quoted combinations of features in the claims.
As described in Applicant's Specification, the implementation of the claimed nozzle with "a convergent-shaped portion followed by a divergent-shaped portion" in combination with "a nosepiece" having "channels" where air from the nozzle is funneled around polymer solution exiting the channels allows implementation of a fiber producing system that is handheld and can operate without any compressed air or pressurized gas. For instance, Applicant's Specification states: "The present inventors have recognized that a system that is hand held but does not require
an air compressor, pressurized gas, or C02 cartridges may be advantageous and overcome the above-described issues. In embodiments disclosed herein, the present inventors have designed a system that includes a combination of nozzles to ensure proper functionality of converting high pressure to fast air velocity along with exit nozzles to further decrease the size of the fiber. The nozzle design may provide optimal pressure ratios (outlet/inlet pressure) while minimizing loss of pressure due to friction with the nozzle walls." (Paragraph [0016])(Emphasis added).
For at least the above reasons, Applicant submits that the cited does not teach or suggest at least the above-quoted combinations of features in the claims. Accordingly, Applicant submits that claims 1, 13, and the claims dependent thereon are patentable over the cited art.
CONCLUSION

NEXT 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 .
Claims 1 and 13 have been amended by applicants.
Claim 8 has been canceled by applicants.
Claims 1-7 and 9-20 are pending.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 4/8/2024 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.  The applicants have amended the independent claims 1 and 13 with additional features.  The changes include the new limitation that the nozzle having a convergent shaped followed by a divergent shaped portion, and this particular design as argued by the applicants would differentiate from the teachings of the prior art references.  However, after further reconsideration, it is noted that the convergent-divergent nozzle designs are known for producing a venturi effect.  Furthermore, see in the Abramov (US 2019/0280561) reference teaching regarding this phenomena, see [0013, 0037, 0065, 0068, 0241], thus, it is known in the art regarding the venturi effect being formed by the nozzle designs in Wright, that the particular design utilizing the claimed features are seen in the Abramov teaching as known in the art.  The rejection of the claims are thus shown below reflecting this limitation and how it is known and applicable to one of ordinary skill in the art.
Thereby, the claims remain rejected based upon the prior art references despite the additional features presented by the applicants in the latest amendment.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claim(s) 1-4, 7, 9-14, 16, and 18-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ikegaya (US 2020/0173057) in view of Wright (US 11207510) and Fong (US 2019/0292685) and Abramov (US 2019/00280561).
Ikegaya teaches of nozzle head 20 and having solvent storage 11, and gas ejection unit 13, and gas flow passage 26, and raw material flow passage 25, and in Figures 2-27 of various different arrangements of the nozzle head and in Figures 25-26 with plural flow passages, and further in another embodiment, see Figures 28-40, with an extruder device with cylinder 63 and supply pipe 68 for gas, with the nozzle head 70, and with the plural gas passages 76 and the raw material passages 75.
Thereby, Regarding claim 1, Ikegaya teaches of a fiber producing system, the system comprising:
one or more air pumps positioned in the system (inherently taught by the flow of the gas flow passage within the system to the nozzle in Ikegaya as a source of the air flow through the system);
a nozzle (see nozzle head 20) coupled to the one or more air pumps (inherently due to the gas flow passages 76);
a manifold coupled to the pump; and
a nosepiece enclosed in the manifold, wherein the nosepiece includes a die with one or more channels acting as individual passages for forming fibers as polymer solution exits the nosepiece (see teaching of the nozzle head with the different arrangements for the raw material passages 75, see Figs. 25-26 and 28-40 and wherein, the structure of Ikegaya would encompass the claimed nosepiece structure);
and of channel for air/gas flow 26/76, while raw material flow 25, 75 flow into said gas flow in formation of the fibers (see Figures), wherein, the feature would encompass the claimed “a die with one or more channels acting as individual passages, and wherein the channels are arranged in a flow of the air from the outlet of the nozzle inside the nosepiece such that the air is funneled around the polymer solution exiting the channels to form fibers as the polymer solution exits the nosepiece”.
Ikegaya does not specifically teach of the particularly claimed convergent, divergent nozzle design, of the particular positioning all the elements within a housing.
Regarding all the elements being positioned in a housing and of the pump within the manifold/housing, Wright teaches of handheld applicator device 100 with nozzle 60 and cartridge 50 (for solution reservoir), and with pump P that includes piston pump, pneumatics micro pump acting with a solenoid, see Col. 19, lines 16-30. The device having a housing 10, and grip 15 (handle) and further the teaching of inlet and outlet stems from the source of the material as inlet and outlet from the nozzle.
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the system of Ikegawa with the arrangement of the features, pump, and venturi nozzle design of Wright into a single housing/manifold thereby allowing for a complete handheld system in forming of fibers.  The arrangement being further obvious to one skilled in the art under KSR in combining prior art elements of Ikegaya according to known methods, in this case of Wright, to yield predictable results, of a handheld system.
Regarding the use of a peristaltic pump, Fong teaches of the use of a spinneret and electrospinning system in forming fibers.  Wherein, the solution is provided from the reservoir via a peristaltic pump, see [0096], that further the pump can be either a positive displacement pump or peristaltic pump, [0095].  Further, Wright teaches a variety of pumps used for transporting the raw materials within the system.
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the pumping of the solution of Ikegaya in view of Wright with the use of a peristaltic pump as taught by Fong as a known alternate pump for use in the system, further, under KSR, this is seen as a simple substitution of one known element for another to obtain predictable results.
Regarding the convergent and then divergent portions of the nozzle, the Wright reference teaches of the nozzle forming a venturi effect.  Wherein, the formation of a venturi effect via nozzle includes the concept design as seen in Abramov, wherein, there is a convergent-divergent nozzle in forming a jet-effect, also known as venturi effect as it allows for increased velocity to occur, see [0013, 0037, 0065, 0068, 0241].
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art to have further modify the nozzle design of Ikegaya in view of Wright and Fong with the convergent-divergent nozzle as taught by Abramov as a known nozzle design in the formation of the venturi effect in the flow.  This is also seen under KSR regarding combining prior art elements (in this case of the Abramov nozzle design for venturi effect) according to known methods (see the modified Ikegaya with the teaching of venturi effect via nozzle design of Wright) to yield predictable results.
Re: claim 2 (upon 1), wherein the housing is a molded housing. See housing of Wright, and further, a molded housing is a known type of forming such particularly when the housing is formed from a plastic material which is a known type of material used in constructing said elements.
Re: claim 3 (upon 1), wherein the nozzle and the manifold are positioned in the housing, see teaching of Wright of the nozzle and manifold that are within the housing, particularly in the arrangement to be handheld.
Re: claim 4 (upon 1), wherein the housing includes a handle.  See grip 15 in Wright.
Re: claim 7 (upon 1), wherein the peristaltic pump is configured to move the polymer solution into the manifold.  See teaching of Fong.
Re: claim 9 (upon 1), wherein the channels are configured to extrude the polymer solution to form fibers during use.  See teaching of Ikegaya.
Re: claim 10 (upon 1), wherein at least one of the channels has a shape and size configured to provide fibers of a desired shape and size.  This is a broad interpretation and it would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the channels of Ikegaya in view of Wright, Fong and Abramov as a change in size and shape for the desired parameters in effecting the fibers formed, in particular see teaching of Wright, Col. 26, lines 19-25, see teaching of varying of nozzle size.
Re: claim 11 (upon 1), further comprising a divider in at least one of the channels to divide the polymer solution and form multi-lumen fibers.  See teaching in Ikegaya particularly of the plural channels formed for the raw material channels which correspond to the claimed channels.
Re: claim 12 (upon 1), further comprising a portable power source coupled to the pumps.  See teaching of batteries B in Wright.
Re: claim 13, see teaching of the above of Ikegaya in view of Wright Fong, and Abramov teaches the claimed structure of claim 1, wherein, claim 13 is in regards to a method of making fibers and wherein the steps include the elements that would be encompassed by the teachings of references that have been applied to claim 1.
Re: claim 14 (upon 13), wherein the produced fibers have a shape and size determined by a shape and size of the one or more channels in the nosepiece.  This teaching would be a result of the channels that are taught in the teaching of the prior art references.
Re: claim 15 (upon 13), wherein the produced fibers have a length greater than 1 micron. See teaching of Wright that includes forming particles that range from 0.5-20 micron, see Wright, Col. 6, lines 18-19.
Re: claim 16 (upon 13), further comprising extruding the polymer solution through the one or more channels to produce the fibers.  See the claimed teachings as the polymer solution would form the fibers as it exits from the channels.
Re: claim 18 (upon 13), further comprising providing the produced fibers onto a surface.  See teaching of the references, particularly in the use of the device in forming fibers, see also Wright regarding site which would be the claimed surface, see Col. 26, lines 22, and of treatment site.
Re: claim 19 (upon 13), further comprising controlling a temperature of the housing to control one or more properties of the fibers.  See teaching by Ikegaya with temperature control, see [0065], that includes for both raw material temperature control function and for gas temperature control function, see [0133, 0134].
Re: claim 20 (upon 19), further comprising controlling the temperature using a heater positioned in the housing.  See teaching of heater 64 in Ikegaya, [0106, 0113].
Claim(s) 5, 6, and 17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ikegaya in view of Wright, Fong, and Abramov as applied to claim 1 and 13 above, and further in view of Fournier (US 2019/0390374).
Re: claim 5 (upon 1), further comprising a hopper coupled to the peristaltic peristatic pump.
Re: claim 6 (upon 5), wherein the hopper is configured to provide the polymer solution to the peristaltic pump.
Re: claim 17 (upon 13), wherein providing the polymer solution include providing the polymer solution to a hopper coupled to the peristaltic pump.
The references do not teach of a hopper coupled to the peristaltic pump.
In regards to the hopper, Fournier, see [0292] teaches of feeding hopper that includes peristaltic pump.  Wherein, the concept of the polymer supply being from a hopper and further associated with a pump would have been obvious as a known alternate configuration in supplying the polymer solution further into the system.
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the system of Ikegaya in view of Wright, Fong, and Abramov with the additional hopper and associated peristaltic pump as taught by Fournier as under KSR as a known alternate configuration that can be applied in supplying polymer solution from Fournier within a system of Ikegaya in view of Wright, Fong, and Abramov with an expectation of success.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.  See attached PTO-892 form, and of particular note with teachings by the references concerning the converging and diverging sections of the nozzle:
Yoneda (US 4285318, see abstract, and Figs. 1 and 3.
Mosseri (US 4282637), see abstract and Figs. 1 and 2.
Yelveington (US 10654009), see Figs. 1-3, and Col. 3, lines 33-47.
Davison (US 10492387), see Figs. 4 and 8 and Col. 9, lines 45-60.
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 event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the 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 pursuant to 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 date of this final action.

CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref US11207510B2: [content unavailable]
Ref US20140159263A1: Claims:
A hand held/portable device for the production of microfibers and/or nanofibers comprising: one or more motors, a fan coupled to at least one of the one or more motors; a spinneret comprising a body and one or more openings, the spinneret being coupled to at least one of the one or more motors, wherein the fan and spinneret are, during use, rotated substantially simultaneously; wherein, during use, rotation of the spinneret causes material placed in the body of the spinneret to be ejected through one or more of the openings to produce fibers, and wherein the fan is positioned with respect to the spinneret such that the fibers produced by the spinneret are blow away from the spinneret by the gas flow produced by the rotating fan.
one or more motors,
a fan coupled to at least one of the one or more motors;
a spinneret comprising a body and one or more openings, the spinneret being coupled to at least one of the one or more motors, wherein the fan and spinneret are, during use, rotated substantially simultaneously;
wherein, during use, rotation of the spinneret causes material placed in the body of the spinneret to be ejected through one or more of the openings to produce fibers, and
wherein the fan is positioned with respect to the spinneret such that the fibers produced by the spinneret are blow away from the spinneret by the gas flow produced by the rotating fan.
The device of claim 0 , further comprising a material reservoir coupled to the body of the spinneret, wherein material disposed in the material reservoir is transferred to the spinneret body during use.
The device of claim 0 , wherein the motor, fan and spinneret are placed in a molded housing.
The device of claim 0 , wherein the molded housing comprises a handle.
The device of claim 0 , wherein the molded housing comprises a tapered outlet, wherein fibers produced by the spinneret are blow away from the spinneret into the tapered outlet.
The device of claim 0 , wherein the fan, the motor, and the spinneret are aligned along an axial axis of the molded housing.
The device of claim 1 , wherein the fan and spinneret are positioned on opposing sides of the one or more motors.
The device of claim 0 , comprising a first motor coupled to the fan and a second motor coupled to the spinneret.
The device of claim 0 , wherein the first motor rotates the fan at a different speed than the second motor rotates the spinneret during use.
The device of claim 0 , wherein the spinneret comprises a plurality of outlet elements coupled to the body, wherein one or more openings are formed in the outlet elements, extending through the outlet elements to the , wherein during use, material in the body passes through the openings formed in the outlet elements.
The device of claim 0 , wherein the spinneret further comprises one or more pellets positioned in the one or more openings, wherein the pellets inhibit the ejection of material from the one or more outlet elements unless the spinneret is rotating.
The device of claim 0 , further comprising a filter positioned downstream from the fan.
The device of claim 0 , wherein at least one motor is capable of rotating the spinneret at speeds of greater than about 1000 rpm.
The device of claim 0 , wherein the spinneret is removably coupled to at least one motor through a coupling member.
The device of claim 1 , wherein the fibers produced by the spinneret comprise microfibers.
The device of claim 1 , wherein the fibers produced by the spinneret comprise nanofibers.
The device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one battery coupled to the one or more motors.
The device of claim 1 , further comprising a channeling chamber coupled to the housing, wherein the channeling chamber directs the fibers exiting the fiber producing device during use.
The device of claim 0 , wherein the channeling chamber is coupled to the housing by a hinge, wherein the hinge is configured to allow the channeling chamber to be moved away from the housing during use.
A method of producing microfibers and/or nanofibers, comprising: placing material in a a spinneret of a hand held/portable device, wherein the device comprises: one or more motors, a fan coupled to at least one of the one or more motors; a spinneret comprising a body and one or more openings, the spinneret being coupled to at least one of the one or more motors, wherein the fan and spinneret are, during use, rotated substantially simultaneously; wherein, during use, rotation of the spinneret causes material placed in the body of the spinneret to be ejected through one or more of the openings to produce fibers, and wherein the fan is positioned with respect to the spinneret such that the fibers produced by the spinneret are blow away from the spinneret by the gas flow produced by the rotating fan. rotating the spinneret at a speed of at least about 1000 rpm, and, substantially simultaneously rotating the fan, wherein rotation of the spinneret causes material in the body to be ejected through one or more openings to produce fibers; and wherein the fibers produced by the spinneret are blow away from the spinneret by the gas flow produced by the rotating fan.
placing material in a a spinneret of a hand held/portable device, wherein the device comprises: one or more motors, a fan coupled to at least one of the one or more motors; a spinneret comprising a body and one or more openings, the spinneret being coupled to at least one of the one or more motors, wherein the fan and spinneret are, during use, rotated substantially simultaneously; wherein, during use, rotation of the spinneret causes material placed in the body of the spinneret to be ejected through one or more of the openings to produce fibers, and wherein the fan is positioned with respect to the spinneret such that the fibers produced by the spinneret are blow away from the spinneret by the gas flow produced by the rotating fan.
rotating the spinneret at a speed of at least about 1000 rpm, and, substantially simultaneously rotating the fan, wherein rotation of the spinneret causes material in the body to be ejected through one or more openings to produce fibers; and wherein the fibers produced by the spinneret are blow away from the spinneret by the gas flow produced by the rotating fan.
- 29 . (canceled)
Ref US20200030222A1: Claims:
A method for forming a coating of fibers on a target object by electrostatic spraying using an electrostatic spraying device holdable by a human hand, the method comprising electrostatically spraying a composition comprising the following components (a), (b), (c) and (d): (a) 5 mass % or more and 45 mass % or less of a water-insoluble polymer having a film-forming ability, the polymer being soluble in component (b); (b) 45 mass % to 94 mass % of one or more volatile substances selected from the group consisting of an alcohol and a ketone; (c) a conductivity controlling agent to control the conductivity of the composition to 8 Î¼S/cm or more and 300 Î¼S/cm or less, the conductivity controlling agent being selected from the group consisting of a cationic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, an acyl amino acid ester, an anionic polymer, a cationic polymer and a betaine compound; and (d) 0.2 mass % or more and 25 mass % or less of water.
(a) 5 mass % or more and 45 mass % or less of a water-insoluble polymer having a film-forming ability, the polymer being soluble in component (b);
(b) 45 mass % to 94 mass % of one or more volatile substances selected from the group consisting of an alcohol and a ketone;
(c) a conductivity controlling agent to control the conductivity of the composition to 8 Î¼S/cm or more and 300 Î¼S/cm or less, the conductivity controlling agent being selected from the group consisting of a cationic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, an acyl amino acid ester, an anionic polymer, a cationic polymer and a betaine compound; and
(d) 0.2 mass % or more and 25 mass % or less of water.
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the composition has a viscosity of from 2 to 3,000 mPaÂ·s at 25Â° C.
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the content of component (c) is 0.01 mass % or more and 10 mass % or less.
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the target object is skin.
- 7 . (canceled)
The method according to claim 1 , wherein component (b) is a volatile substance comprising at least ethanol, and the content of the ethanol in the volatile substance is 50 mass % or more and 100 mass % or less.
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the content of component (a) in the composition is 8 mass % or more and 45 mass % or less, and the content of component (b) in the composition is 50 mass % or more and 92 mass % or less.
the content of component (b) in the composition is 50 mass % or more and 92 mass % or less.
The method according to claim 1 , wherein component (a) is one or more selected from the group consisting of a fully-saponified or partially-saponified polyvinyl alcohol, a polyvinyl butyral resin, a polyurethane resin, an oxazoline-modified silicone, a water-soluble polyester, and Zein.
The method according to claim 1 , wherein component (a) is one or more selected from the group consisting of a polyvinyl butyral resin and a polyurethane resin.
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the content ratio of component (b) to component (a), ((b)/(a)), is 1 or more and 15 or less.
An electrostatic spraying device holdable by a human hand, the device comprising a container containing a composition for forming a coating, a nozzle for discharging the composition, a supply device for supplying the composition contained in the container to the nozzle, and a power supply for applying a voltage to the nozzle, the electrostatic spraying device being an electrospinning device, and the composition comprising the following components (a), (b), (c) and (d): (a) 5 mass % or more and 45 mass % or less of a water-insoluble polymer having a film-forming ability, the polymer being soluble in component (b), (b) 45 mass % to 94 mass % of one or more volatile substances selected from an alcohol and a ketone; (c) a conductivity controlling agent with the conductivity of the composition being 8 Î¼S/cm or more and 300 Î¼S/cm or less, the conductivity controlling agent being selected from the group consisting of a cationic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, an acyl amino acid ester, an anionic polymer, a cationic polymer and a betaine compound; and (d) 0.2 mass % or more and 25 mass % or less of water.
(a) 5 mass % or more and 45 mass % or less of a water-insoluble polymer having a film-forming ability, the polymer being soluble in component (b),
(b) 45 mass % to 94 mass % of one or more volatile substances selected from an alcohol and a ketone;
(c) a conductivity controlling agent with the conductivity of the composition being 8 Î¼S/cm or more and 300 Î¼S/cm or less, the conductivity controlling agent being selected from the group consisting of a cationic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, an acyl amino acid ester, an anionic polymer, a cationic polymer and a betaine compound; and
- 18 . (canceled)
The electrostatic spraying device according to claim 14 , wherein component (b) is a volatile substance comprising at least ethanol, and the content of the ethanol in the volatile substance is 50 mass % or more and 100 mass % or less.
The electrostatic spraying device according to claim 14 , wherein the content of component (a) is 8 mass % or more and 45 mass % or less in the composition, and the content of component (b) is 50 mass % or more and 92 mass % or less in the composition.
The electrostatic spraying device according to claim 14 , wherein component (a) is one or more selected from a completely saponified or partially saponified polyvinyl alcohol, a polyvinyl butyral resin, a polyurethane resin, an oxazoline-modified silicone, a water-soluble polyester, and Zein.
The electrostatic spraying device according to claim 14 , wherein component (a) is one or more selected from a polyvinyl butyral resin and a polyurethane resin.
The electrostatic spraying device according to claim 14 , wherein the content ratio of component (b) to component (a), ((b)/(a)), is 1 or more and 15 or less.
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the mass ratio of component (c) to component (d), ((c)/(d)), is 0.01 or more and 150 or less.
The method according to claim 1 , wherein a content of powder is 1 mass % or less.
The electrostatic spraying device according to claim 14 , wherein the mass ratio of component (c) to component (d), ((c)/(d)), is 0.01 or more and 150 or less.
The electrostatic spraying device according to claim 14 , wherein a content of powder is 1 mass % or less.
Ref US10952517B2: Claims:
A film forming device for forming a film on the skin by electrostatic spraying, wherein said film is formed by drawing a polymer into fibers that form a porous film made up of an aggregation of deposited fibers on the skin, said device comprising: a distance measurement unit for measuring the distance between the skin on which the film is to be formed and the film forming device, a distance decision unit for deciding whether the distance measured by the distance measurement unit is proper for electrostatic spraying, and a distance notification unit for notifying a user of the decision made by the distance decision unit, the film forming device being configured to apply a spraying composition in the form of fiber to the skin by electrostatic spraying, and the film forming device being of hand-held type small enough, and configured, to be held by the user's hand.
a distance measurement unit for measuring the distance between the skin on which the film is to be formed and the film forming device,
a distance decision unit for deciding whether the distance measured by the distance measurement unit is proper for electrostatic spraying, and
a distance notification unit for notifying a user of the decision made by the distance decision unit,
the film forming device being configured to apply a spraying composition in the form of fiber to the skin by electrostatic spraying, and
the film forming device being of hand-held type small enough, and configured, to be held by the user's hand.
A film forming device for forming a film on the skin by electrostatic spraying, wherein said film is formed by drawing a polymer into fibers that form a porous film made up of an aggregation of deposited fibers on the skin, said device comprising: a distance measurement unit for measuring the distance between the skin on which the film is to be formed and the film forming device, a high-voltage supply for carrying out electrostatic spraying, and a voltage control unit for adjusting the output voltage of the high-voltage supply in accordance with the distance measured by the distance measurement unit, the film forming device being configured to apply a spraying composition in the form of fiber to the skin by electrostatic spraying, and the film forming device being of hand-held type small enough, and configured, to be held by the user's hand.
a high-voltage supply for carrying out electrostatic spraying, and
a voltage control unit for adjusting the output voltage of the high-voltage supply in accordance with the distance measured by the distance measurement unit,
The film forming device according to claim 1 , further comprising an angle measurement unit for measuring the angle between the electrostatic spray direction and the skin on which the film is to be formed.
The film forming device according to claim 1 , having a stop function for stopping the electrostatic spraying in the event of a deviation of the distance between the skin on which a film is being formed and the film forming device from a set range during electrostatic spraying.
The film forming device according to claim 1 , further comprising a color detection unit for detecting the color of a film being formed by electrostatic spraying, a color decision unit for deciding whether the color measured by the color detection unit is within a set range, and a color notification unit for notifying the user of the decision made by the color decision unit.
a color decision unit for deciding whether the color measured by the color detection unit is within a set range, and
a color notification unit for notifying the user of the decision made by the color decision unit.
The film forming device according to claim 1 , further comprising a smoothness detection unit for detecting the smoothness of the film being formed by electrostatic spraying, a smoothness decision unit for deciding whether the smoothness of the film being formed detected by the smoothness detection unit is within a set range, and a smoothness notification unit for notifying the user of the decision made by the smoothness decision unit.
a smoothness decision unit for deciding whether the smoothness of the film being formed detected by the smoothness detection unit is within a set range, and
a smoothness notification unit for notifying the user of the decision made by the smoothness decision unit.
The film forming device according to claim 1 , comprising a main body, a housing separate from the main body, and a reservoir separate from the main body and configured to contain a spraying composition for electrostatic spraying, the reservoir being contained in the housing and connected to the main body via a flexible tube.
the reservoir being contained in the housing and connected to the main body via a flexible tube.
The film forming device according to claim 7 , further comprising a feeder for delivering the spraying composition to the main body, the feeder being contained in the housing and connected to the main body via an electric wire.
the feeder being contained in the housing and connected to the main body via an electric wire.
The film forming device according to claim 7 , further comprising a high-voltage supply for generating a high voltage for conducting electrostatic spraying, the high-voltage supply being contained in the housing and connected to the main body via an electric wire.
the high-voltage supply being contained in the housing and connected to the main body via an electric wire.
Ref US20230287601A1: Claims:
A portable, hand-held device for electrospinning or electrospraying toward a deposit surface a predetermined solution formulated for the device, the device comprising: a durable portion; and a consumable portion coupled to the durable portion, wherein the consumable portion includes: a hollow nozzle configured to output the solution from a nozzle tip thereof, an inner peripheral surface of the hollow nozzle having a hollow electrode defining a first portion of a flow path of the solution to outside the device, and the nozzle tip defining a second portion of the flow path, and a housing including a solution container configured to contain a predetermined maximum volume of the solution, and output the solution to the hollow nozzle, wherein the durable portion includes: a drive mechanism configured to cause the solution from the housing to be output to the hollow nozzle, and a user control interface including a switch configured to receive manual input from a user in the form of a pressing operation to control the drive mechanism and application of a high voltage to the hollow electrode to create an electric field for application to the solution to electrospin or electrospray the solution from the hollow nozzle toward the deposit surface, and wherein circuitry is configured to provide the high voltage to the hollow electrode.
a durable portion; and
a consumable portion coupled to the durable portion,
wherein the consumable portion includes: a hollow nozzle configured to output the solution from a nozzle tip thereof, an inner peripheral surface of the hollow nozzle having a ho
[Truncated to input limit]