IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,734,006
Granted Patent B2
US 12,734,006 · App. 18/773,870 · Granted Sep 15, 2026

Connection systems and methods for establishing optical and electrical connections through a drape

Inventors: Chase Thompson (Bountiful, UT); William Robert McLaughlin (Bountiful, UT)
Assignee: Bard Access Systems, Inc.
A61B46/23A61B5/0084A61B5/6852A61B2046/234
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 12,734,006
App. No.
18/773,870
Granted
Sep 15, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Connection systems and methods for establishing optical and electrical connections through a drape are disclosed. A connection system can include a plug and a receptacle, the plug being configured to insert into the receptacle with the drape therebetween. The plug can include an optical terminal extending from a plug housing and an electrical terminal extending from the plug housing. The electrical terminal can be configured as a piercing element for piercing the drape. The receptacle can include an optical receiver within a receptacle housing and an electrical receiver within the receptacle housing. The optical receiver can be configured to form the optical connection with the optical terminal, and the electrical receiver can be configured to form the electrical connection with the electrical terminal when the plug is inserted into the receptacle with the drape therebetween.

Claims (12)

1 . A method for making a connection system for establishing both an optical connection and an electrical connection through a drape, comprising:

producing a plug comprising a plug housing, an optical terminal, and an electrical terminal, each of the optical terminal and the electrical terminal extending from the plug housing, the electrical terminal including a piercing tip configured to pierce the drape; and

constructing a receptacle comprising a receptacle housing, an optical receiver, and an electrical receiver, wherein:

the receptacle housing is configured to receive the plug housing,

the optical receiver is configured to receive the optical terminal to establish the optical connection, and

the electrical receiver is configured to receive the electrical terminal to establish the electrical connection.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical terminal includes a cutout between the plug housing and the piercing tip, wherein the optical terminal terminates in the cutout, and wherein the electrical terminal is configured to deflect away from the optical terminal to establish the electrical connection and the optical connection.

3 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the receptacle further comprises an optical receiver channel and an electrical receiver channel separate from the optical receiver channel.

4 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein the electrical receiver channel includes an angled bottom surface having a length to match a length of a side of the electrical terminal.

5 . The method according to claim 3 , wherein the optical receiver channel has a shape corresponding to a shape of the optical terminal, and wherein the electrical receiver channel has a shape corresponding to a shape of the electrical terminal.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the optical terminal includes a first optical fiber extending into a first ferrule, wherein the optical receiver includes a second optical fiber disposed in a second ferrule, and wherein the first ferrule and the second ferrule are configured to connect to establish the optical connection in a straight sleeve-type butt-joint connection.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the optical terminal includes a first optical fiber extending into a first ferrule, wherein the optical receiver includes a second optical fiber disposed in a second ferrule, and wherein the first ferrule and the second ferrule are configured to connect to establish the optical connection in a tapered sleeve-type butt-joint connection.

Continuity (4)
Continuation 18235334 · Aug 17, 2023
Continuation 16923912 · Jul 8, 2020
Provisional Application 62879966 · Jul 29, 2019
Related Publication 20240366330A1 · Nov 7, 2024
References Cited (372)
US 2831174A · Hilmo · 1958 [cited by applicant]
US 2959766A · Jacobsen · 1960 [cited by applicant]
US 3329928A · Broske · 1967 [cited by applicant]
US 3532095A · Miller et al. · 1970 [cited by applicant]
US 3597582A · Goode et al. · 1971 [cited by applicant]
US 3605743A · Olvera · 1971 [cited by applicant]
US 3649952A · Harmon · 1972 [cited by applicant]
US 3665372A · Goode et al. · 1972 [cited by applicant]
US 3673548A · Mattingly, Jr. et al. · 1972 [cited by applicant]
US 3746814A · Lackey et al. · 1973 [cited by applicant]
US 3824556A · Berkovits et al. · 1974 [cited by applicant]
US 3842394A · Bolduc · 1974 [cited by applicant]
US 4200348A · Stupay · 1980 [cited by applicant]
US 4220387A · Biche et al. · 1980 [cited by applicant]
US 4254764A · Neward · 1981 [cited by applicant]
US 4303293A · Grunwald · 1981 [cited by applicant]
US 4369794A · Furler · 1983 [cited by applicant]
US 4490003A · Robinson · 1984 [cited by applicant]
US 4614395A · Peers-Trevarton · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4632121A · Johnson et al. · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4700997A · Strand · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4702256A · Robinson et al. · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4761143A · Owens et al. · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4858810A · Intlekofer et al. · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4860742A · Park et al. · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4973329A · Park et al. · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 5159861A · Anderson · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5178159A · Christian · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5217435A · Kring · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5325746A · Anderson · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5325868A · Kimmelstiel · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5334045A · Cappa et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5354326A · Comben et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5407368A · Strand et al. · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5423877A · Mackey · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5437277A · Dumoulin et al. · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5454739A · Strand · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5482038A · Ruff · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5489225A · Julian · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5501675A · Erskine · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5538444A · Strand et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5560358A · Arnold et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5574815A · Kneeland · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5591119A · Adair · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5624281A · Christensson · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5685855A · Erskine · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5752915A · Neubauer et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5766042A · Ries et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5769786A · Wiegel · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5792045A · Adair · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5797880A · Erskine · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5840024A · Taniguchi et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5968082A · Heil · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5975082A · Dowdy · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5984918A · Garito et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 6050976A · Thorne et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6090052A · Akerfeldt et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6102044A · Naidyhorski · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6132368A · Cooper · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6140722A · Ballard et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6162101A · Fischer et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6319015B1 · Faunce · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6324416B1 · Seibert · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6330480B1 · Van der Linden et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6350160B1 · Feuersanger et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6415168B1 · Putz · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6428336B1 · Akerfeldt · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6546270B1 · Goldin et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6620136B1 · Pressly, Sr. et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6663570B2 · Mott et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6673078B1 · Muncie · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6714809B2 · Lee et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6780065B2 · Schwarz · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6799991B2 · Williams et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6913478B2 · Lamirey · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 7130699B2 · Huff et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7144378B2 · Arnott · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7255609B1 · Epstein · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7274956B2 · Mott et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 7402083B2 · Kast et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7452360B2 · Trudeau et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7553193B2 · Kast et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7585118B1 · Lumpkin · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7633023B1 · Cappa et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 7666191B2 · Orban, III et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7753696B2 · Hoecke et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7771394B2 · Shue et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7819844B2 · Spenser et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7972282B2 · Clark et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8105338B2 · Anderson et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8147275B1 · Drake et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8206175B2 · Boyd et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8267873B2 · Yanuma · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8388541B2 · Messerly et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8480427B2 · Marshalok · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8548601B2 · Chinn et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8597042B2 · King · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8603011B2 · Landowski · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8620412B2 · Griffiths et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8639340B2 · Sommer et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8666510B2 · Chinn et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8781555B2 · Burnside et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8849382B2 · Cox et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8869887B2 · Deere et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8932258B2 · Blanchard et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 8958878B2 · Cejnar · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9059548B2 · Stump et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9095680B2 · Steegers et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9101775B2 · Barker · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9107594B2 · Selvitelli et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9108027B2 · Eubanks et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9131956B2 · Shaughnessy et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9144395B2 · Sela et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9425537B2 · Barker · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9456766B2 · Cox et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9492097B2 · Wilkes et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9521961B2 · Silverstein et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9526440B2 · Burnside et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9549685B2 · Cox et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9554716B2 · Burnside et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9636031B2 · Cox · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9649048B2 · Cox et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9656093B2 · Villarta et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9662506B2 · Govea · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9675784B2 · Belson · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9681823B2 · Messerly et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9808647B2 · Rhodes et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9872971B2 · Blanchard · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 9919145B2 · Bondhus et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 9950139B2 · Blanchard et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 9999371B2 · Messerly et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10105121B2 · Burnside et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10130806B2 · Leven et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10165962B2 · Messerly et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10201713B2 · Leven · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10231753B2 · Burnside et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10238418B2 · Cox et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10238880B2 · Thom et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10307602B2 · Leven · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10322253B2 · Einav et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10342575B2 · Cox et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10449330B2 · Newman et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10524691B2 · Newman et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10602958B2 · Silverstein et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10751509B2 · Misener · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10772696B2 · Thompson et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10849695B2 · Cox et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 10992078B2 · Thompson et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US D921884S · Tran et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11246674B1 · Galbierz et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11474310B2 · Sowards et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 11936132B2 · Thompson et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
US 12287520B2 · Sowards · 2025 [cited by examiner]
US 20020197905A1 · Kaufmann et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 20030199827A1 · Thorne · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 20030216723A1 · Shinmura · 2003 [cited by examiner]
US 20040039372A1 · Carmody · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20040146252A1 · Healy et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 20050177199A1 · Hansen et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20050283216A1 · Pyles · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 20060025677A1 · Verard et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060030864A1 · Kennedy, et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060161138A1 · Orban et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20060173407A1 · Shaughnessy et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20070062544A1 · Rauk Bergstrom et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070118079A1 · Moberg et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070160327A1 · Lewallen et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070161969A1 · Andersen · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070293719A1 · Scopton et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20080009720A1 · Schefelker et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080046062A1 · Camps et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080177361A1 · Anderson · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080236598A1 · Gobel · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080287876A1 · Shue et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20080304793A1 · Benaron et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20090156926A1 · Messerly et al. · 2009 [cited by applicant]
US 20090234328A1 · Cox · 2009 [cited by examiner]
US 20100036227A1 · Cox et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100049126A1 · Bronfeld et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100139669A1 · Piferi et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100204569A1 · Burnside et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100300459A1 · Lair · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20110015533A1 · Cox et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110160824A1 · Ware et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110166528A1 · Millerd et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110250775A1 · Bies et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110257503A1 · Mehdizadeh et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110282188A1 · Burnside et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20110295108A1 · Cox et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 20120071752A1 · Sewell et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120143029A1 · Silverstein et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120220854A1 · Messerly et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120253320A1 · Steegers et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20130006102A1 · Wilkes et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130023729A1 · Vazales et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130060116A1 · Messerly et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130095689A1 · Hayman et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130104884A1 · Vazales et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130109980A1 · Teo · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130211225A1 · Zhang · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130245434A1 · Messerly et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130245640A1 · Whitmore, III · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130247921A1 · Dye et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130269713A1 · Bui et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130289417A1 · Grunwald et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130308137A1 · Manzke et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130317356A1 · Ramachandran et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130331688A1 · Heigl et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130337674A1 · Stump et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20140031674A1 · Newman et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140046261A1 · Newman et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140107475A1 · Cox et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140150782A1 · Vazales et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140188133A1 · Misener · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140303492A1 · Burnside et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150012072A1 · Johnson et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150018701A1 · Cox et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150031987A1 · Pameijer et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150105654A1 · Meyer · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150144514A1 · Brennan et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150148615A1 · Brennan et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150164583A1 · Zarins et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150177467A1 · Gniadek et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150190615A1 · Shaltis · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150223897A1 · Kostrzewski et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150297114A1 · Cox et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150305816A1 · Hadzic · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20160018602A1 · Govari et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160158499A1 · Helm · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160213432A1 · Flexman et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20170014194A1 · Duindam et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170020561A1 · Cox et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170079548A1 · Silverstein et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170079615A1 · Burnside et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170079681A1 · Burnside et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170181646A1 · Hayes et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170231700A1 · Cox et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170261699A1 · Compton et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170281029A1 · Messerly et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170296284A1 · Turturro et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20170333136A1 · Hladio et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 20180071509A1 · Tran et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180110951A2 · Beard · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180116551A1 · Newman et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180140170A1 · Van Putten et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180289927A1 · Messerly · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180296122A1 · Messerly et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190069877A1 · Burnside et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190099108A1 · Messerly et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190180647A1 · Fujiki · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190231172A1 · Barron et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190237902A1 · Thompson et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190350621A1 · Zitnick et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190350663A1 · Thompson et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20200054858A1 · Newman et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200138332A1 · Newman et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200221934A1 · Van Der Mark et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200237255A1 · Silverstein et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200330173A1 · Kapadia et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200345441A1 · Thompson et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20210030504A1 · Thompson et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210038322A1 · Thompson et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210298680A1 · Sowards · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20210307856A1 · Aguirre · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20220110707A1 · Sowards et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220110708A1 · Misener et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220128770A1 · Sowards et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220241044A1 · Thompson et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20230248459A1 · Thompson et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20230390015A1 · Thompson et al. · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20240170887A1 · Thompson et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
US 20240350206A1 · Thompson et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
US 20250192473A1 · Thompson et al. · 2025 [cited by applicant]
EP 1318576A1 · 2003 [cited by applicant]
EP 3270817A1 · 2018 [cited by applicant]
EP 3673801A1 · 2020 [cited by applicant]
WO 9413201A1 · 1994 [cited by applicant]
WO 9619017A1 · 1996 [cited by applicant]
WO 9822180A1 · 1998 [cited by applicant]
WO 2004101068A1 · 2004 [cited by applicant]
WO 2005016451A1 · 2005 [cited by applicant]
WO 2005044332A2 · 2005 [cited by applicant]
WO 2005072807A1 · 2005 [cited by applicant]
WO 2005077453A2 · 2005 [cited by applicant]
WO 2007058816A2 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
WO 2007109285A2 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
WO 2007149618A2 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
WO 2009050599A2 · 2009 [cited by applicant]
WO 2010123701A1 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO 2011033107A1 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
WO 2011082160A2 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
WO 2012102745A2 · 2012 [cited by applicant]
WO 2015075002A1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
WO 2016146993A1 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
WO 2019148201A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO 2019165011A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO 2019221926A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO 2021021408A1 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
WO 2021026502A1 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
WO 2022081583A1 · 2022 [cited by applicant]
WO 2022081591A1 · 2022 [cited by applicant]
WO 2022093991A1 · 2022 [cited by applicant]
“Sampling Accessories” Spectrometers Accessories Catalogue, pp. 71-102, XP055014465, retrieved from the Internet URL: http//www.mikropack.de/d/specto/pdfy-downoads/sampling accessories. pdf, Jan. 1, 2004 (Jan. 1, 2004). [cited by applicant]
EP 20849119.1 filed Mar. 4, 2022 Extended European Search Report dated Jun. 26, 2023. [cited by applicant]
PCT/US19/30470 filed May 2, 2019 International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Jul. 19, 2019. [cited by applicant]
PCT/US2019/015710 filed Jan. 29, 2019 International Preliminary Report on Patentability dated Apr. 29, 2019. [cited by applicant]
PCT/US2019/015710 filed Jan. 29, 2019 International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Apr. 29, 2019. [cited by applicant]
PCT/US2019/018851 filed Feb. 20, 2019 Internation Search Report and Written Opinion dated May 7, 2019. [cited by applicant]
PCT/US2019/018851 filed Feb. 20, 2019 International Preliminary Report on Patentability dated May 7, 2019. [cited by applicant]
PCT/US2020/41267 filed Jul. 8, 2020 Internation Search Report and Written Opinion dated Oct. 1, 2020. [cited by applicant]
PCT/US2020/45498 filed Aug. 7, 2020 International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Oct. 4, 2020. [cited by applicant]
PCT/US2021/054593 filed Oct. 12, 2021 International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Jan. 24, 2022. [cited by applicant]
PCT/US2021/054607 filed Oct. 12, 2021 International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Jan. 21, 2022. [cited by applicant]
PCT/US2021/056896 filed Oct. 27, 2021 International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Mar. 22, 2022. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 12/426,175, filed Apr. 17, 2009 Advisory Action dated Nov. 26, 2013. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 12/426,175, filed Apr. 17, 2009 Decision on Appeal dated Nov. 7, 2016. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 12/426,175, filed Apr. 17, 2009 Examiner's Answer dated Oct. 7, 2014. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 12/426,175, filed Apr. 17, 2009 Final Office Action dated Aug. 2, 2013. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 12/426,175, filed Apr. 17, 2009 Final Office Action dated Jan. 31, 2014. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 12/426,175, filed Apr. 17, 2009 Non-Final Office Action dated Dec. 3, 2012. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 12/426,175, filed Apr. 17, 2009 Notice of Allowance dated Dec. 13, 2016. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 12/715,556, filed Mar. 2, 2010 Final Office Action dated Oct. 2, 2013. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 12/715,556, filed Mar. 2, 2010 Non-Final Office Action dated Sep. 13, 2012. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 15/585,051, filed May 2, 2017 Examiner's Answer dated May 2, 2019. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 15/585,051, filed May 2, 2017 Final Office Action dated Feb. 28, 2018. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 15/585,051, filed May 2, 2017 Final Office Action dated Mar. 15, 2018. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 15/585,051, filed May 2, 2017 Non-Final Office Action dated Jul. 14, 2017. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 16/261,368, filed Jan. 29, 2019 Advisory Action dated Jul. 21, 2020. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 16/261,368, filed Jan. 29, 2019 Non-Final Office Action dated Jan. 23, 2020. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 16/261,368, filed Jan. 29, 2019 Notice of Allowance dated Jan. 15, 2021. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 16/281,079, filed Feb. 20, 2019 Board Decision dated Jun. 6, 2023. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 16/281,079, filed Feb. 20, 2019 Examiner's Answer dated Feb. 25, 2022. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 16/281,079, filed Feb. 20, 2019 Final Office Action dated Aug. 25, 2020. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 16/281,079, filed Feb. 20, 2019 Non-Final Office Action dated Apr. 1, 2020. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 16/281,079, filed Feb. 20, 2019 Non-Final Office Action dated Apr. 20, 2021. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 16/402,074, filed May 2, 2019 Non-Final Office Action dated Apr. 16, 2020. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 16/923,912, filed Jul. 8, 2020 Notice of Allowance dated Mar. 27, 2023. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 16/932,425, filed Jul. 17, 2020 Non-Final Office Action dated Jun. 18, 2021. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 16/932,425, filed Jul. 17, 2020 Notice of Allowance dated Jan. 10, 2022. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 16/988,452, filed Aug. 7, 2020 Advisory Action dated Oct. 2, 2023. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 16/988,452, filed Aug. 7, 2020 Final Office Action dated Mar. 16, 2023. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 16/988,452, filed Aug. 7, 2020 Non-Final Office Action dated Mar. 16, 2023. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 16/988,452, filed Aug. 7, 2020 Non-Final Office Action dated Nov. 9, 2023. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 16/988,452, filed Aug. 7, 2020 Notice of Allowance dated Feb. 29, 2024. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 17/240,826, filed Apr. 26, 2021 Notice of Allowance dated Nov. 9, 2023. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 17/240,826, filed Apr. 26, 2021, Non-Final Office Action dated Jul. 19, 2023. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 17/499,635, filed Oct. 12, 2021 Restriction Requirement dated Jun. 12, 2024. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 17/512,501, filed Oct. 27, 2021 Examiner's Answer dated Jun. 18, 2024. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 17/512,501, filed Oct. 27, 2021 Final Office Action dated Aug. 31, 2023. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 17/512,501, filed Oct. 27, 2021 Non-Final Office Action dated Feb. 17, 2023. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 17/512,501, filed Oct. 27, 2021 Restriction Requirement dated Sep. 30, 2022. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 17/723,246, filed Apr. 18, 2022, Non-Final Office Action dated Sep. 27, 2022. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 17/499,635, filed Oct. 12, 2021 Non-Final Office Action dated Dec. 4, 2024. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 18/135,330, filed Apr. 17, 2023, Notice of Allowance dated Dec. 18, 2024. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 18/539,518, filed Dec. 14, 2023, Notice of Allowance dated Nov. 7, 2024. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 17/723,246, filed Apr. 18, 2022, Notice of Allowance dated Jan. 27, 2023. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 18/135,330, filed Apr. 17, 2023, Non-Final Office Action dated Dec. 18, 2023. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 18/135,330, filed Apr. 17, 2023, Non-Final Office Action dated Jul. 15, 2024. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 18/235,334, filed Aug. 17, 2023, Notice of Allowance dated Apr. 4, 2024. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 18/539,518, filed Dec. 14, 2023, Non-Final Office Action dated Jun. 21, 2024. [cited by applicant]
Design U.S. Appl. No. 29/658,136 Specification and Drawings, filed Jul. 27, 2018. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 17/499,635, filed Oct. 12, 2021 Advisory Action dated Aug. 8, 2025. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 17/499,635, filed Oct. 12, 2021 Final Office Action dated Dec. 5, 2025. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 17/499,635, filed Oct. 12, 2021 Non-Final Office Action dated Aug. 21, 2025. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 17/512,501, filed Oct. 27, 2021 Notice of Allowance dated Dec. 2, 2025. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 18/761,182, filed Jul. 1, 2024 Notice of Allowance dated Oct. 23, 2025. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 17/499,635, filed Oct. 12, 2021 Final Office Action dated May 19, 2025. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 17/499,688, filed Oct. 12, 2021 Non-Final Office Action dated Jul. 30, 2025. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 17/499,688, filed Oct. 12, 2021 Restriction Requirement dated Feb. 13, 2025. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 17/512,501, filed Oct. 27, 2021 Board Decision dated Jul. 25, 2025. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 18/761,182, filed Jul. 1, 2024 Non-Final Office Action dated Jun. 20, 2025. [cited by applicant]
U.S. Appl. No. 17/499,688, filed Oct. 12, 2021 Notice of Allowance dated Mar. 25, 2026. [cited by applicant]