KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.Download PDFPatent Trials and Appeals BoardDec 21, 20212021003528 (P.T.A.B. Dec. 21, 2021) Copy Citation UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE United States Patent and Trademark Office Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS P.O. Box 1450 Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450 www.uspto.gov APPLICATION NO. FILING DATE FIRST NAMED INVENTOR ATTORNEY DOCKET NO. CONFIRMATION NO. 15/314,993 11/30/2016 MARTIN JURNA 2013P01214WOUS 1685 24737 7590 12/21/2021 PHILIPS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY & STANDARDS 1600 Summer Street 5th Floor Stamford, CT 06905 EXAMINER AVIGAN, ADAM JOSEPH ART UNIT PAPER NUMBER 3794 NOTIFICATION DATE DELIVERY MODE 12/21/2021 ELECTRONIC Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding. The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication. Notice of the Office communication was sent electronically on above-indicated "Notification Date" to the following e-mail address(es): katelyn.mulroy@philips.com marianne.fox@philips.com patti.demichele@Philips.com PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07) UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD Ex parte MARTIN JURNA, JONATHAN ALAMBRA PALERO, MARCO BARAGONA, MARGARET RUTH HORTON, and BABU VARGHESE Appeal 2021-003528 Application 15/314,993 Technology Center 3700 Before CHARLES N. GREENHUT, MICHELLE R. OSINSKI, and WILLIAM A. CAPP, Administrative Patent Judges. GREENHUT, Administrative Patent Judge. DECISION ON APPEAL STATEMENT OF THE CASE Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 134(a), Appellant1 appeals from the Examiner’s decision to reject claims 1–11 and 13–21. See Final Act. 1. We have jurisdiction under 35 U.S.C. § 6(b). We AFFIRM and designate a NEW GROUND OF REJECTION. 1 We use the term “Appellant” to refer to “applicant” as defined in 37 C.F.R. § 1.42. Appellant identifies the real party in interest as Koninklijke Philips N.V. Appeal Br. 2. Appeal 2021-003528 Application 15/314,993 2 CLAIMED SUBJECT MATTER The claims are directed to a centrosymmetric radio frequency electrode configuration for skin treatment. Claim 1, reproduced below, with emphasis added, is illustrative of the claimed subject matter: 1. A device for RF skin treatment comprising: an outer electrode arranged on an operational side of the device and having an annular or equilateral polygonal shape; an inner electrode arranged on the operational side of the device at a center of the outer electrode and surrounded by the outer electrode; an RF generator configured to supply an RF treatment voltage between the inner electrode and the outer electrode; and a controller configured to control the RF generator to generate the RF treatment wherein the controller includes an impedance detection system configured to measure skin impedance between the outer and inner electrodes, and the controller is configured to maintain a local skin temperature above 65°C and under 100°C by controlling the RF generator to adjust the RF treatment based on the measured skin impedance. REFERENCES The prior art relied upon by the Examiner is: Name Reference Date Mehta US 2010/0010480 A1 Jan. 14, 2010 Flyash US 2012/0185029 A1 July 19, 2012 Adanny US 2013/0079766 A1 Mar. 28, 2013 Eckhouse WO 2012/023129 Al Feb. 23, 2012 REJECTIONS Claims 1, 2, 4–9, 13, 14, 17–19, and 21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as obvious over Eckhouse and Mehta. Final Act. 2. Appeal 2021-003528 Application 15/314,993 3 Claims 3, 15, 16, and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as obvious over Eckhouse and Mehta, or in the alternative, as being obvious over Eckhouse, Mehta, and Flyash. Final Act. 9. Claims 10 and 11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as being obvious over Eckhouse, Mehta, and Adanny. Final Act. 14. OPINION Initially Appellant is reminded that in the rules of practice before the Board 37 C.F.R. § 41.37(c)(1)(iv) states: “Each ground of rejection contested by appellant must be argued under a separate heading . . . . Under each heading identifying the ground of rejection being contested, any claim(s) argued separately or as a subgroup shall be argued under a separate subheading that identifies the claim(s) by number.” Despite this defect in Appellant’s briefing, we will proceed to render a decision on the merits according to our best understanding of what Appellant intended to argue. See MPEP § 1205.03. We understand the same issues to be raised regarding independent claims 1 and 17. Appeal Br. 10–15. We understand Appellant to raise these same issues with regard to independent claim 15 in addition to the issue of the recited voltage range which is also relevant to dependent claims 3 and 20. Appeal Br. 15–20. Finally, we understand Appellant to argue a distinction with regard to claim 8. Appeal Br. 20. We understand the remaining claims to stand or fall based on dependency. Appeal 2021-003528 Application 15/314,993 4 Maintaining temperature by controlling the RF generator to adjust treatment based skin impedance. A version of the limitation emphasized in claim 1 reproduced above is present in each of the independent claims before us, claims 1, 15, and 17. Appellant and the Examiner agree that the subject matter described by this limitation was not taught by Eckhouse, which, insofar as the relationship between impendence and voltage is concerned, only teaches discontinuing the application of voltage when impedance rises above a certain threshold indicative of poor skin contact. Final Act. 2–3, 9–10; Appeal Br. 11; Eckhouse paras. 43–44. The Examiner relied on Mehta to account for this deficiency (Final Act. 4–5, 10–11) and Appellant argues the Examiner’s finding in this regard is not correct because, according to Appellant, Mehta teaches “treatment is based on tissue temperature or impedance” (Appeal Br 11; Reply Br 3–6). Appellant does not take issue with any other aspect of the Examiner’s rejection of claims 1 and 17. In the Final Action, the Examiner cites paragraphs 121, 126, 130, 182, and 195 of Mehta in support of the Examiner’s determination that Mehta discloses the subject matter at issue. Final Act. 4–5; 10–11. Paragraph 121 of Mehta indicates, among other things, that Mehta, like Eckhouse, will “stop the treatment when a maximum allowable impedance value [of the tissue] is reached.” Paragraph 126 of Mehta discusses maintaining a treatment temperature without specifying precisely how this is achieved. Paragraph 130 of Mehta discusses measuring tissue impedance and adjusting an amount or rate of energy based upon that measured value. Paragraphs 182 and 195 provide some specific examples of the desirable temperature ranges and it is undisputed that Mehta’s exemplary ranges between 60o and 100o C Appeal 2021-003528 Application 15/314,993 5 are sufficiently similar to teach or render obvious the 65o and 100o C range recited. The relevant paragraphs of Mehta cited by the Examiner, paragraphs 121, 126, and 130 are rather generic and do not describe specific examples of the relationships between the temperature Mehta’s controller is “configured to maintain,” the measured temperature, and “the measured skin impedance.” Reading these paragraphs it is not unreasonable for Appellant to assert Mehta’s controller controls either desired temperature based on measured temperature or desired impedance based on measured impedance as opposed to desired temperature based on measured impedance as Appellant’s independent claims require. Appeal Br. 11–12. However, a more careful reading of Mehta, with particular attention to the portions of Mehta cited by the Examiner in the Advisory Action and the Examiner’s Answer2 clearly reveals Appellant’s interpretation of Mehta’s operation is incorrect. Appellant acknowledges that Mehta measures tissue (“skin”)3 impedance and bases the selection of respective values for the proportional, integral, and differential coefficients, kp, ki, kd, which are used in the context of a PID control system. Appeal Br. 12 (discussing Mehta para. 162 cited at Adv. Act. 3). Appellant asserts that even if temperature control and impedance control are not mutually exclusive, Mehta does not disclose a controller configured to maintain local skin temperature because “[m]erely controlling RF energy by a controller does not disclose or suggest that such a 2 See MPEP § 1207 and 37 C.F.R. §§ 41.39(a)(1) and (b) regarding modifications to the grounds of rejection in an advisory action or answer. 3 “As noted herein, temperature, impedance, or other sensing may be measured beneath the epidermis in the dermis region.” Mehta para. 123. Appeal 2021-003528 Application 15/314,993 6 controller is configured to maintain the local skin temperature.” Appeal Br. 12. The Examiner correctly responds that the equation Mehta provides at paragraph 159 conclusively resolves this issue. Ans. 5–7. In Mehta’s equation, the output voltage of the RF generator (V) is calculated and set “to maintain a local skin temperature” Tset. That voltage, undisputedly a form of “RF treatment,” is also calculated and set “based on the measured skin impedance” because, as discussed above, the coefficients, kp, ki, kd are determined “based on” Mehta’s measured impedance. Mehta para. 162 (associating impedance bands with k values). It is of no moment that Mehta additionally relies on the measured skin temperature Tmeasured to set the voltage because Appellant’s claims are open-ended and do not include language precluding the use of additional parameters besides impedance to calculate or “adjust the RF treatment.” Appellant contends the “coefficient variation based on impedance is not to maintain any desired temperature, but is rather to change [the] voltage increase rate.” Reply Br. 5–6. This argument is not commensurate in scope with the claim language. It is not “coefficient variation” that must be “configured to maintain a local skin temperature” according to the independent claims. Rather, it is “the controller,” the output of which in Mehta is represented not by the coefficients, kp, ki, kd, but by Mehta’s control voltage V. Mehta’s control voltage V is for the express purpose of maintaining a desired temperature, or in other words, minimizing the difference between the set and measured temperature. Ans. 5–7. The Appeal 2021-003528 Application 15/314,993 7 variability of coefficient values based on measured impedance (discussed above with respect to Mehta paragraph 162) is what makes Mehta’s voltage calculation “based on the measured skin impedance.” Although, as Appellant points out, the coefficients in Mehta’s voltage equation influence the rate of voltage changes (Mehta para. 159), that rate is determined not just based on the coefficients, but based on the difference between the desired temperature Tset and the measured temperature Tmeasured. As Tmeasured approaches Tset the PID components resulting from the coefficients all approach zero—the value when Tmeasured = Tset. Thus, Mehta’s “controller is configured to maintain a local skin temperature above 65°C and under 100°C by controlling the RF generator to adjust the RF treatment based on the measured skin impedance” (emphasis added). It is of no moment that “coefficient variation” changes the rate of voltage changes, and in turn, the rate of temperature changes and does not in and of itself serve (or only indirectly serves) to “maintain any desired temperature” as Appellant argues because that is not what is claimed. For the foregoing reasons, we sustain the Examiner’s rejection of claims 1 and 17. Treatment voltage less than 50 V Claims 3, 15, and 20 require the treatment voltage to be less than 50V. The Examiner takes three different positions to address this limitation. We agree with all three of the Examiner’s positions and address each in turn. First, the Examiner considers Eckhouse’s device as meeting this limitation because paragraph 48 indicates Eckhouse’s controller is “configured to supply an RF treatment voltage,” wherein the voltage “does not exceed 50 volt.” Final Act. 10. Appellant argues that paragraph 48 in Appeal 2021-003528 Application 15/314,993 8 Eckhouse describes a “test” voltage as opposed to a “treatment” voltage. Appeal Br. 16; Reply Br 7–9. Appellant attempts to analogize this situation to two identical processors being differently “configured,” by virtue of different software, to perform different functions. Reply Br. 7. Although we do not disagree with Appellant’s logic insofar as the processors are concerned, Appellant fails to relate that analogy to the case here. For example, Appellant does explain why Appellant’s “RF generator,” due to the term “treatment” should be regarded as having some different software or other structure as compared to the “RF generator” in Eckhouse. It is clear from paragraph 48 that Eckhouse’s RF generator is “configured to” deliver voltages not exceeding 50 volts. Appellant’s controller is defined not by specific structure, but instead by what it is configured to do: “supply an RF treatment voltage . . . wherein the RF treatment voltage is . . . less than 50 V.” Thus, the question becomes what structural difference the word “treatment” makes in terms of distinguishing between Eckhouse’s RF generator and that recited in Appellant’s claims. See K-2 Corp. v. Salomon S.A., 191 F.3d 1356, 1363 (Fed. Cir. 1999). This issue is not very well developed in the record presently before us. Certainly, if Appellant can direct our attention to at least some structure, be it in the form of software or otherwise, that is necessary for an RF generator to deliver “treatment voltage” as opposed to just a “test RF voltage” we might be inclined to agree with Appellant that such structure is absent from Eckhouse. However, if the difference between the RF voltage generated by Eckhouse and that generated by Appellant amounts to no more than a difference in the descriptive name associated with it, or the intended use to which the voltage will be put, “test[ing]” versus “treatment,” we would likely be inclined to agree with the Examiner that the RF generator in Eckhouse satisfies the Appeal 2021-003528 Application 15/314,993 9 claim language because neither the precise nomenclature chosen nor the intended use is necessarily controlling in an analysis of apparatus claims: what matters is the structure. As is often said, there is nothing wrong with choosing to define an element functionally, i.e., by what it does, as opposed to what it is. In re Swinehart, 439 F.2d 210, 212 (CCPA 1971). However, doing so carries with it a risk. In re Schreiber, 128 F.3d 1473, 1478 (Fed. Cir. 1997). As stated in Swinehart, 439 F.2d at 213: [W]here the Patent Office has reason to believe that a functional limitation asserted to be critical for establishing novelty in the claimed subject matter may, in fact, be an inherent characteristic of the prior art, it possesses the authority to require the applicant to prove that the subject matter shown to be in the prior art does not possess the characteristic relied on. Thus, we think under the burden-shifting framework discussed above and further described in MPEP § 2112(V) the onus is on Appellant to come forward with evidence or technical explanation to demonstrate precisely what structural distinction is implicit by Appellant’s use of the term “treatment” with respect to claims 3, 15, and 20. Because this has not been done, we are inclined to agree with the Examiner on this point on the record presently before us. The Examiner takes a second position with regard to the recited “less than 50V” range. According to the Examiner, if Eckhouse cannot be reasonably regarded as disclosing an RF generator configured to supply a treatment voltage within the range recited for the reasons discussed above, it still would have been obvious to do so. Final Act. 11–12. The Examiner bases this conclusion on the fact that Eckhouse discloses a range of voltages from 50 volts to 400 volts specifically intended for treatment, and this range abuts the recited range. Id (citing Eckhouse para. 49). The Examiner asserts Appeal 2021-003528 Application 15/314,993 10 that according to MPEP § 2144.05 this demonstrates a prima facie case of obviousness, particularly where, as here, there is no dispute that treatment voltage is recognized in the art as a result effective variable. Id. The Examiner also takes a third position with regard to the recited “less than 50V” range, additionally citing Flyash which discloses a treatment range of 10–1000V. Final Act. 12 (citing Flyash para. 44). The Examiner’s reasoning regarding Flyash is similar to the reasoning advanced in the Examiner’s second position with the only significant difference being that Flyash’s range overlaps instead of merely abuts the recited range like Eckhouse. Appellant addresses the Examiner’s second and third position together, arguing that the claimed RF treatment voltage: is not obvious in view of the 50-400V range disclosed in paragraph [049] of Eckhouse, or the 10-1000V range disclosed in paragraph [0044] of Flyash, since these prior art ranges are so broad and have large upper limits of 400V and 1000V that they do not render obvious the narrow range with a much lower upper limit of less than 50V or 40V, as recited in claims 3, 15 and 20. Appeal Br. 17. Appellant proceeds to analogize this situation to that described briefly in MPEP § 2144.05(I) and in more detail in MPEP § 2144.08 where the prior art discloses a genus having sufficient breadth that it cannot reasonably be said to disclose, teach, or render obvious every species falling within that genus. Appeal Br. 17–20; Reply Br. 8–9. We think this situation is more similar to those in the cases discussed in MPEP § 2144.054 involving close or overlapping ranges than it is to those 4 In re Wertheim, 541 F.2d 257 (CCPA 1976); In re Woodruff, 919 F.2d 1575 (Fed. Cir. 1990); Titanium Metals Corp. of America v. Banner, 778 F.2d 775, 783 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Aller, 220 F.2d 454, 456 (CCPA 1955). Appeal 2021-003528 Application 15/314,993 11 in the cases discussed at MPEP § 2144.085 with respect to the obviousness of species when the prior art teaches a genus. Ans. 8–10. In the latter situation, the standard often employed is whether the skilled artisan could immediately “envisage each member” of the genus so as to be able to consider the species falling within that genus known or obvious. In re Petering, 301 F.2d 676, 681 (CCPA 1962) (cited at MPEP § 2144.08). There is nothing difficult to envisage here where the recitation in question involves a simple numerical range for voltage—an undisputedly result effective variable. We think the cautionary reference to MPEP § 2144.08 in MPEP § 2144.05 is intended more for situations where there exists some difference in kind rather than some difference in degree. See, e.g., MPEP § 2144.05(A). As it pertains to ranges, this might include, merely for example, selecting a sequence of values within a range when the prior art only mentions selecting a value within the range or selecting a particular combination of parameter values from a significant number of parameter ranges. These examples seem more analogous to the situations in cases discussed at MPEP § 2144.08, most of which are chemical in nature. The present case does not present such a situation. Appellant asserts the voltage limit is selected based on safety and efficacy and the results of setting the voltage limit that low are unexpected. Reply Br. 8. Appellant does not offer any evidence or technical explanation to demonstrate specifically what was unexpected when selecting the recited range. Clearly safety and efficacy would predictably be affected by the set voltage. Furthermore, the language at issue in claims 3, 15, and 20 is not 5 E.g., In re Baird, 16 F.3d 380, 382 (Fed. Cir. 1994); In re Jones, 958 F.2d 347, 350 (Fed. Cir. 1992). Appeal 2021-003528 Application 15/314,993 12 actually directed to setting an upper limit for the voltage that can be generated by the RF generator. Rather, according to the language of these claims, the claims are met merely by configuring the RF generator to supply a treatment voltage below 50V at any point in time.6 To the extent that setting an upper limit is involved, the skilled artisan would reasonably expect that setting the upper limit of the applied voltage predictably involves balancing safety and efficacy.7 Appellant does not provide evidence or reasoning to the contrary. For the foregoing reasons we sustain the Examiner’s rejection of claims 3, 15, and 20. Claim 8 Claim 8, in relevant part, recites: “wherein a skin contact surface of the inner electrode is annular.” Appellant presents a very brief argument concerning claim 8 in the Appeal Brief: “as clearly shown in FIG 6 of Eckhouse the inner electrode 612 is disc-shaped and not annular.” Appeal Br. 20. The Examiner responds by stating: The examiner disagrees and maintains that the circular inner electrodes shown [in] fig. 6b of Eckhouse can be considered ‘annular’ or ring-shaped according to the broadest reasonable 6 This would seem to clearly take place when implementing Mehta’s control as discussed above because the applied voltage approaches zero based when the difference between the set and measured temperature approaches zero. 7 It is perhaps worth noting that, although it does not appear to be relied upon by the Examiner with regard to claims 3, 15, and 20, paragraph 162 of Mehta, discussed at length above, also discloses limiting the maximum voltage to a value of 100V in certain conditions and this upper limit appears to be the closest upper limit in the cited prior art presently before us. Appeal 2021-003528 Application 15/314,993 13 interpretation of the term. Further, this interpretation is consistent with the drawings which show[] all the inner electrodes to have a circular shape. Ans. 11. In the Reply Brief Appellant presents a more detailed argument: Clearly, a circular electrode is different from, and does not disclose or suggest, any annular electrode. A circular electrode is a solid electrode in the form of a circular, while an annular electrode is a ring that forms a circle or surrounds a hollow circle, which is consistent with the dictionary definition of annular, namely, “having the form of a ring” as available at dictionary.com; or “relating to, or forming a ring” as available at merriam-webster.com. Reply Br. 10. Appellant’s extrinsic definition is consistent with Appellant’s usage of the term “annular” in the Specification: “The circular inner electrode may be annular (i.e. ring shaped) or disc shaped (i.e. having the shape of a filled circle).” Spec. 3:5–6. Further, although drawings are often helpful in understanding the proper meaning that should be given to claim terminology, the fact that Appellant may not have complied with 37 C.F.R. § 1.83(a), which requires drawings in a nonprovisional application to show every feature of the invention specified in the claims, does not necessarily permit the Examiner to apply an overly broad interpretation of “annular.” The main problem here is that Appellant’s argument is not commensurate in scope with claim 8. As noted above, the Specification does disclose that “the circular inner electrode may be annular (i.e. ring shaped).” Spec. 3:5–6. However, the annular element according to claim 8 is not the Appeal 2021-003528 Application 15/314,993 14 electrode itself. Rather, it is “a skin contact surface of the inner electrode.” Neither Appellant nor the Examiner addresses this issue. Because Appellant focuses on the language of the Specification as opposed to that of claim 8, we not are apprised of anything in the claim that requires “a skin contact surface” to refer to the entire surface of the inner electrode. Thus, we are not apprised of any reason a disc shaped electrode is not reasonably regarded as at least including an annular or ring-shaped skin contact surface. That there may be an additional surface or surfaces contacting the skin within a ring-shaped contact surface would not seem to be something that is precluded by the language of claim 8. Our reviewing court has “cautioned against reading limitations into a claim from the preferred embodiment described in the specification, even if it is the only embodiment described, absent clear disclaimer in the specification.” In re Am. Acad. of Sci. Tech Ctr., 367 F.3d 1359, 1369 (Fed. Cir. 2004) (citations omitted). During prosecution Appellant is free to choose claim language limiting the claim scope to embodiments depicted in the Specification or Figures. Where Appellant chooses not to do so, it is our duty in reading the claim in view of Appellant’s disclosure not to import limitations Appellant chose to omit. It is well-settled that patent disclosures need only describe the best mode, not all modes, of the invention. 35 U.S.C. § 112(a). Accordingly, it is the claims that define the scope of protection sought. The omission from the claims of certain aspects of the preferred modes or embodiments in the disclosure can be just as informative to the skilled artisan with regard to that scope as their inclusion. Were we to construe “a skin contact surface of the inner electrode is annular” to simply mean, as Appellant argues, “an annular electrode” we would not be giving effect to Appellant’s choice to modify the language of the Specification and Appeal 2021-003528 Application 15/314,993 15 omit that requirement. Such a construction would not be consistent with Specification. For the foregoing reasons we sustain the Examiner’s rejection of claim 8. Because we have modified and/or supplemented the Examiner’s grounds for said rejection we designate our affirmance as including “new grounds” under 37 C.F.R. § 41.50(b) so as to afford Appellant the procedural options associated therewith. CONCLUSION The Examiner’s rejections are AFFIRMED. The affirmance as to claim 8 is designated as a new ground of rejection. DECISION SUMMARY Claim(s) Rejected 35 U.S.C. § Reference(s)/Basis Affirmed Reversed New Ground 1, 2, 4–9, 13, 14, 17–19, 21 103 Eckhouse, Mehta, 1, 2, 4–9, 13, 14, 17–19, 21 8 3, 15, 16, 20 103 Eckhouse, Mehta 3, 15, 16, 20 3, 15, 16, 20 103 Eckhouse, Mehta, Flyash 3, 15, 16, 20 10, 11 103 Eckhouse, Mehta, Adanny 10, 11 Overall Outcome 1–11, 13– 21 8 RESPONSE This decision contains a new ground of rejection pursuant to 37 C.F.R. § 41.50(b). Section 41.50(b) provides “[a] new ground of rejection Appeal 2021-003528 Application 15/314,993 16 pursuant to this paragraph shall not be considered final for judicial review.” Section 41.50(b) also provides: When the Board enters such a non-final decision, the appellant, within two months from the date of the decision, must exercise one of the following two options with respect to the new ground of rejection to avoid termination of the appeal as to the rejected claims: (1) Reopen prosecution. Submit an appropriate amendment of the claims so rejected or new Evidence relating to the claims so rejected, or both, and have the matter reconsidered by the examiner, in which event the prosecution will be remanded to the examiner. The new ground of rejection is binding upon the examiner unless an amendment or new Evidence not previously of Record is made which, in the opinion of the examiner, overcomes the new ground of rejection designated in the decision. Should the examiner reject the claims, appellant may again appeal to the Board pursuant to this subpart. (2) Request rehearing. Request that the proceeding be reheard under § 41.52 by the Board upon the same Record. The request for rehearing must address any new ground of rejection and state with particularity the points believed to have been misapprehended or overlooked in entering the new ground of rejection and also state all other grounds upon which rehearing is sought. Further guidance on responding to a new ground of rejection can be found in the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure § 1214.01. No time period for taking any subsequent action in connection with this appeal may be extended under 37 C.F.R. § 1.136(a). See 37 C.F.R. § 1.136(a)(1)(iv). AFFIRMED; 37 C.F.R. § 41.50(b) Copy with citationCopy as parenthetical citation