IP Library Granted Patent US 12,420,015
Granted Patent B2
US 12,420,015 · App. 17/564,354 · Granted Sep 23, 2025

Medicament container carrier and adapter

Inventors: Derek Fenlon (Wexford, IE); Pascal Launois (Dublin, IE); Julian McDonnell (County Wicklow, IE); Martina Moyne (County Donegal, IE); Conor Mulcahy (County Dublin, IE)
Assignee: Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GMBH
A61M5/19A61J1/2096A61M5/3129A61J1/201
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,420,015
App. No.
17/564,354
Granted
Sep 23, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Described is a medicament container carrier adapted to hold a first medicament container having a first predetermined size and capable of containing more than a first volume of a medicament. The container carrier comprises a body, and an adapter coupled to the body. The adapter is adapted to hold a second medicament container having a second predetermined size different from the first predetermined size and capable of containing no more than the first volume of the medicament.

Claims (31)

1. An arrangement, comprising:

a container holder having at least one lateral opening comprising at least two sections with constant but different angular dimensions, and a first section of the at least two sections with a first angular dimension is arranged distally with respect to a second section of the at least two sections with a second angular dimension that is greater than the first angular dimension; and

a medicament container received in the container holder, the medicament container comprising a needle at a distal end of the medicament container and comprising a flange at a proximal end of the medicament container,

wherein a distal stop at a distal end of the container holder abuts the medicament container.

2. The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the container holder has a plurality of flexible arms, each flexible arm of the plurality of flexible arms having a protrusion configured to engage an element or aperture in a container carrier.

3. The arrangement of claim 2 , wherein the protrusions are arranged distally relative to the proximal end of the medicament container.

4. The arrangement of claim 2 , wherein the protrusions are outwardly oriented.

5. The arrangement of claim 2 , wherein the flexible arms are disposed in a proximal portion of the container holder and are oriented in a proximal direction.

6. The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the container holder has a plurality of flexible arms and each of the flexible arms has a proximal free end and a protrusion at the proximal free end.

7. The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the distal stop prevents movement of the medicament container distally beyond the distal stop.

8. The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the at least one lateral opening is a plurality of lateral openings.

9. The arrangement of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of lateral openings allow visual inspection of the medicament container in the container holder.

10. The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the medicament container contains less than 2 mL of a medicament.

11. The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the arrangement has a plurality of flexible arms, each flexible arm having a U-shape and comprising a protrusion which abuts the proximal end of the medicament container.

12. The arrangement of claim 11 , wherein the respective protrusion of each flexible arm abuts the flange of the medicament container.

13. The arrangement of claim 12 , wherein each flexible arm has a curved distal end.

14. The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the needle protrudes distally from the distal end of the container holder.

15. The arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the container holder is slidably receivable in a container carrier to secure the container holder to the container carrier.

16. An assembly comprising:

a container carrier;

a container holder having a plurality of flexible arms and at least one lateral opening, each flexible arm of the plurality of flexible arms having a protrusion configured to engage an element or aperture in the container carrier in order to axially secure the container holder to the container carrier, the at least one lateral opening having at least two sections with constant but different angular dimensions, and a first section of the at least two sections with a first angular dimension being arranged distally with respect to a second section of the at least two sections with a second angular dimension that is greater than the first angular dimension; and

a medicament container received in the container holder, the medicament container comprising a needle at a distal end of the medicament container and a flange at a proximal end of the medicament container,

wherein a distal stop at a distal end of the container holder abuts the medicament container.

17. The assembly of claim 16 , wherein an outer geometry of the container holder corresponds to an inner geometry of the container carrier and an inner geometry of the container holder corresponds to a size or shape of the medicament container.

18. A method for assembling a container and a container holder with a container carrier, the method comprising:

inserting the container holder into the container carrier to arrange the container holder in the container carrier, the container holder having at least one lateral opening comprising at least two sections with constant but different angular dimensions, and a first section of the at least two sections with a first angular dimension is arranged distally with respect to a second section of the at least two sections with a second angular dimension that is greater than the first angular dimension; and

inserting the container into the container holder when the container holder is arranged within the container carrier, the container comprising a needle at a distal end of the container and comprising a flange at a proximal end of the container,

wherein a distal stop at a distal end of the container holder abuts the container.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein inserting the container holder into the container carrier comprises securing the container holder to the container carrier.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the at least one lateral opening is a plurality of lateral openings.

21. The method of claim 20 , comprising viewing the container in the container holder through the plurality of lateral openings.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 30, 2021
From: FENLON, DEREK; LAUNOIS, PASCAL; MCDONNELL, JULIAN; MOYNE, MARTINA; MULCAHY, CONOR
To: SANOFI-AVENTIS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
Reel/Frame 058505/0374 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 13159253 · Mar 14, 2013 · regional
Continuity (2)
Continuation 14775316
Related Publication 20220118183A1 · Apr 21, 2022
References Cited (298)
US 3026873A · Miskel et al. · 1962 [cited by applicant]
US 3076455A · McConnaughey et al. · 1963 [cited by applicant]
US 3144178A · Sarnoff · 1964 [cited by applicant]
US 3880163A · Ritterskamp · 1975 [cited by applicant]
US 4563175A · Lafond · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4643724A · Jobe · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4655751A · Harbaugh · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4664653A · Sagstetter et al. · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4735311A · Lowe et al. · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4838857A · Strowe et al. · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4871355A · Kikkawa · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4909791A · Norelli · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4931040A · Haber et al. · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4946447A · Hardcastle et al. · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4964866A · Szwarc · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4973318A · Holm et al. · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4990142A · Hoffman et al. · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 4997422A · Chow et al. · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5000744A · Hoffman et al. · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5078698A · Stiehl et al. · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5085641A · Sarnoff et al. · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5163918A · Righi et al. · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5169392A · Ranford et al. · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5281198A · Haber et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5282793A · Larson · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5290255A · Vallelunga et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5320609A · Haber et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5322511A · Armbruster et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5344407A · Ryan · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5350367A · Stiehl et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5356395A · Chen · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5368578A · Covington et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5383858A · Reilly et al. · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5383863A · Mardones · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5439450A · Haedt · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5451214A · Hajishoreh · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5480387A · Gabriel et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5520653A · Reilly et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5599309A · Marshall et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5637101A · Shillington · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5709662A · Olive et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5779675A · Uber et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5865805A · Ziemba · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5913844A · Fago et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5925032A · Clements · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5928205A · Marshall · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5928698A · Soyad · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 6059756A · Yeh · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6090082A · King et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6203530B1 · Stewart · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6210369B1 · Wilmot et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6371939B2 · Bergens et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6409701B1 · Cohn et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6454743B1 · Weber · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6544234B1 · Gabriel · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6613022B1 · Doyle · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6656163B1 · Marshall et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6726657B1 · Dedig et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6743205B2 · Nolan, Jr. et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 7118552B2 · Shaw et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7288078B2 · Fitzgerald · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7449012B2 · Young et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7597685B2 · Olson · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7717877B2 · Lavi et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7918824B2 · Bishop et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 7955303B2 · Burren et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8409138B2 · James et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8647299B2 · Stamp · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8734394B2 · Admas et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8845594B2 · Jennings · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8876785B2 · Holmqvist · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8900197B2 · Crow · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8992746B2 · Miyaji et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9044553B2 · James et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9072833B2 · Jennings et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9180259B2 · Lesch, Jr. · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 9216256B2 · Olson et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9233213B2 · Olson et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9242053B2 · Wozencroft · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9289554B2 · Hourmand et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9402957B2 · Adams et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9408970B2 · Hourmand et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9408976B2 · Olson et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9713678B2 · Hourmand et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9757520B2 · Corrigan · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9867940B2 · Holmqvist et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 9872961B2 · Fourt et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10118001B2 · Fourt et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10314981B2 · Sampson et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10350362B2 · Dennis, Jr. et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10363377B2 · Atterbury et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10420898B2 · Daniel · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10434258B2 · Hourmand et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10441719B2 · Hourman et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10569019B2 · Hirschel et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10646656B2 · Hourmand et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10799647B2 · Hosteettler et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10881799B2 · Hirschel et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 10918803B2 · Kemp et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11103649B2 · Kemp et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11298462B2 · Atterburg et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11383044B2 · Tschirren et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11400221B2 · Hourmand et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11400222B2 · Hourmand et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11400223B2 · Hourmand et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11406763B2 · Hourmand et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11406764B2 · Hourmand et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11452821B2 · Lafever et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11511043B2 · Hourmand et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20010005781A1 · Bergens et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 20010011163A1 · Nolan, Jr. et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 20020045866A1 · Sadowski et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20020083564A1 · James · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20030105430A1 · Lavi et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20040039336A1 · Amark et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040108339A1 · Hansen et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20050020979A1 · Westbye et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050027255A1 · Lavi et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050075602A1 · Cherif-Cheikh et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050075608A1 · Holdgate et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050101919A1 · Brunnberg · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050115507A1 · Halachmi et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050165353A1 · Pessin · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050277896A1 · Messerli et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20060036216A1 · Rimlinger et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060151049A1 · Nemoto · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060161114A1 · Perot et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060167412A1 · Marshall · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060184133A1 · Pessin · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20070173770A1 · Stamp · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070260348A1 · Gordils · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20080147003A1 · Menzi et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080228143A1 · Stamp · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080262427A1 · Hommann · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080269692A1 · James et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20090012471A1 · Harrison · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090105663A1 · Brand et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090254027A1 · Moeller · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20100152655A1 · Stamp · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100179507A1 · Hess et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100185178A1 · Sharp et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20110125100A1 · Schwirtz et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110190693A1 · Takatsuka et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20120053528A1 · Bollenbach et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120130321A1 · Woehr · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120186075A1 · Edginton · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120203186A1 · Vogt et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120209092A1 · Alexandersson · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120209192A1 · Alexandersson · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20130220869A1 · Klintenstedt et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20140243753A1 · Bostrom · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140249479A1 · Pfrang · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140323985A1 · Hourmand et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140330203A1 · McLoughlin et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140330213A1 · Hourmand · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140336590A1 · Hourmand et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140336592A1 · Hourmand et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20180064875A1 · Holmqvist · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180140781A1 · Kemp et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180140782A1 · Kemp et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180256822A1 · Hourmand et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190201628A1 · Hourmand et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190201629A1 · Hourmand et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190374717A1 · Swanson et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20200405960A1 · Hourmand et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200405961A1 · Hourmand et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20210077743A1 · Kemp et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210346604A1 · Hourmand et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20220016358A1 · Kemp et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220054755A1 · Hourmand et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220054756A1 · Hourmand et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220054757A1 · Hourmand et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220054758A1 · Hourmand et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
CA 2212489 · 1998 [cited by applicant]
CN 2745588 · 2005 [cited by applicant]
CN 1911467 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
CN 1977986 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
CN 2925504 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
CN 101022841 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
CN 101400393 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
CN 101420995 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
CN 201213944 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
CN 101479004 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
CN 102014993 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
CN 102112168 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
CN 103945879 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
DE 202009009119 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
EA 012008 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
EA 013934 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
EP 0518416 · 1992 [cited by applicant]
EP 0692272 · 1996 [cited by applicant]
EP 1124601 · 2001 [cited by applicant]
EP 1685865 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
EP 1702643 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
EP 1958654 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
EP 2279771 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
EP 2438952 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
EP 2727617 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
EP 2601992 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
EP 2777684 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
EP 2788052 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
EP 3153197 · 2017 [cited by applicant]
FR 2764195 · 1998 [cited by applicant]
FR 2799654 · 2001 [cited by applicant]
GB 407109 · 1934 [cited by applicant]
GB 829724 · 1960 [cited by applicant]
GB 1122592 · 1968 [cited by applicant]
GB 2388033 · 2003 [cited by applicant]
GB 2396298 · 2004 [cited by applicant]
GB 2397767 · 2004 [cited by applicant]
GB 2447339 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
GB 2461084 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
GB 2434317 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
GB 2471473 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
JP H0810324 · 1996 [cited by applicant]
JP 2002503127 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
JP 2002528182 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
JP 2003511159 · 2003 [cited by applicant]
JP 2005021247 · 2005 [cited by applicant]
JP 2005523121 · 2005 [cited by applicant]
JP 2005536300 · 2005 [cited by applicant]
JP 2006507903 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
JP 2006516901 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
JP 2007511299 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
JP 2008500854 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
JP 2009077943 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
JP 2009518080 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
JP 2009523587 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
JP 2009529395 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
JP 2011156005 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
JP 2011524763 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
JP 2014500086 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
JP 2014500089 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
RU 2068708 · 1996 [cited by applicant]
RU 2172638 · 2001 [cited by applicant]
RU 2311203 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
RU 2363500 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
RU 2012137269 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
WO WO1998035714 · 1998 [cited by applicant]
WO WO1998056442 · 1998 [cited by applicant]
WO WO1999010030 · 1999 [cited by applicant]
WO WO1999022792 · 1999 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2000024441 · 2000 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2001008727 · 2001 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2001060435 · 2001 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2001093926 · 2001 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2002047746 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2003013632 · 2003 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2003068297 · 2003 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2003090822 · 2003 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2003099358 · 2003 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2004007006 · 2004 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2004020026 · 2004 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2004050150 · 2004 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2005001161 · 2005 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2005070481 · 2005 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2005083614 · 2005 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2005115506 · 2005 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2005115507 · 2005 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2006047810 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2006085176 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2006106291 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2006106295 · 2006 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2007056792 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2007083115 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2005002650 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2007104636 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2007129106 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2008000827 · 2008 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2009019437 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2009022132 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2009153541 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2010072644 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2010097116 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2010115822 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2010136076 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2010136077A1 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2010136078 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2010147553 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2010147553A1 · 2010 [cited by examiner]
WO WO2011000570 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2011001161 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2011101378 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2011109205A2 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2012073032 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2012089445 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2012164403 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2013072182 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2013083613 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2013083614 · 2013 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2014140152 · 2014 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2019074788A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2020190529A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
WO WO2021008839 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
EP Extended European Search Report in European Application No. 13159253.7, dated Sep. 19, 2013, 7 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Preliminary Report on Patentability in International Appln. No. PCT/EP2014/054922, issued Sep. 15, 2015, 6 pages. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion in International Appln. No. PCT/EP2014/054922, mailed Apr. 1, 2014, 10 pages. [cited by applicant]
JP Office Action in Japanese Application No. 2015-562142, dated Dec. 5, 2017, 4 pages. [cited by applicant]