`
`Application N0.: 15/892,181
`Office Action Dated: September 28, 2020
`
`PATENT
`
`This listing of claims will replace all prior versions, and listings, of claims in the application.
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`Listing of Claims:
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`1.
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`(Previously presented) A tamper-evident closure assembly for use with a medical device,
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`the assembly comprising:
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`a connector having a proximal end that defines a connection interface;
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`a tamper element removably affixed to the connector such that the tamper element forms
`
`one integral piece with the connector, the tamper element configured to be separated from the
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`connector upon application of a removal force; and
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`a cap having an interior surface defining a receptacle, the cap being configured to engage
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`with the tamper element, such that at least a portion of the connector is within the receptacle,
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`wherein upon application of the removal force, the tamper element is separated from the
`
`connector and retained within the receptacle of the cap, and the connector being removable from
`
`the receptacle,
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`wherein the interior surface of the cap defines a retention member configured to prevent
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`the tamper element from being removed from the receptacle, the retention member having a
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`distally facing retaining surface, the interior surface of the cap and the retaining surface of the
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`retention member defining a locking portion of the receptacle, and
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`wherein a proximal end of the tamper element defines a proximally facing surface that is
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`configured to abut the retaining surface to prevent the tamper element from moving past the
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`retention member out of the locking portion.
`
`2.
`
`(Original)
`
`The assembly of claim 1, wherein the tamper element is affixed to the
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`connector via a protrusion extending from the tamper element to the connector, such that a gap is
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`defined between the tamper element and the connector.
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`3.
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`(Previously presented) A tamper-evident closure assembly for use with a medical device,
`
`the assembly comprising:
`
`a connector having a proximal end that defines a connection interface;
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`Page 2 of 14
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`DOCKET N0.: 098993.021961
`
`Application N0.: 15/892,181
`Office Action Dated: September 28, 2020
`
`PATENT
`
`a tamper element removably affixed to the connector such that the tamper element forms
`
`one integral piece with the connector, the tamper element configured to be separated from the
`
`connector upon application of a removal force; and
`
`a cap having an interior surface defining a receptacle, the cap being configured to engage
`
`with the tamper element, such that at least a portion of the connector is within the receptacle,
`
`wherein upon application of the removal force, the tamper element is separated from the
`
`connector and retained within the receptacle of the cap, and the connector being removable from
`
`the receptacle,
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`wherein the tamper element is affixed to the connector via a protrusion extending from
`
`the tamper element to the connector, such that a gap is defined between the tamper element and
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`the connector, and
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`wherein the connector further defines a groove configured to receive the protrusion
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`extending from the tamper element to the connector when the protrusion is affixed to the
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`connector.
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`4.
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`(Previously presented) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the retention member has a
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`sloped surface and the retaining surface is adjacent the sloped surface,
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`wherein the sloped surface is configured to allow the tamper element to slidably move
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`past the retention member into the locking portion.
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`5.
`
`(Original)
`
`The assembly of claim 4, wherein the tamper element in the locking
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`portion is disposed closer to one end of the cap than to another end of the cap.
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`6.
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`(Previously presented) The assembly of claim 4, wherein the interior surface of the cap
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`further defines a projection configured to contact the tamper element when the tamper element is
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`within the locking portion of the receptacle.
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`Page 3 of 14
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`DOCKET N0.: 098993.021961
`
`Application N0.: 15/892,181
`Office Action Dated: September 28, 2020
`
`PATENT
`
`7.
`
`(Original)
`
`The assembly of claim 1, wherein when the tamper element is separated
`
`from the connector and retained within the cap, the tamper element is visible inside the
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`receptacle from at least one angle.
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`8.
`
`(Original)
`
`The assembly of claim 1, wherein the connection interface includes a Luer
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`connector.
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`9.
`
`(Original)
`
`The assembly of claim 1, wherein the interior surface of the cap further
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`defines a post configured to contact the connector when the connector and the tamper element
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`are retained in the receptacle of the cap, the post being configured to decrease movement of the
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`connector within the cap after being inserted into the receptacle.
`
`10.
`
`(Previously presented) A tamper-evident closure assembly for use with a medical device,
`
`the assembly comprising:
`
`a connector having a proximal end that defines a connection interface;
`
`a tamper element removably affixed to the connector such that the tamper element forms
`
`one integral piece with the connector, the tamper element configured to be separated from the
`
`connector upon application of a removal force; and
`
`a cap having an interior surface defining a receptacle, the cap being configured to engage
`
`with the tamper element, such that at least a portion of the connector is within the receptacle,
`
`wherein upon application of the removal force, the tamper element is separated from the
`
`connector and retained within the receptacle of the cap, and the connector being removable from
`
`the receptacle,
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`wherein the cap further includes a first ratcheting ramp configured to contact a
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`corresponding second ratcheting ramp on the connector,
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`wherein when the connector is rotated in a screwing direction, the first ratcheting ramp
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`contacts the second ratcheting ramp on the connector, such that the cap is also rotated in the
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`screwing direction,
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`Page 4 of 14
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`DOCKET N0.: 098993.021961
`
`Application N0.: 15/892,181
`Office Action Dated: September 28, 2020
`
`PATENT
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`and when the connector is rotated in an unscrewing direction opposite the screwing
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`direction, the first ratcheting ramp slidably contacts the second ratcheting ramp on the connector,
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`such that the first ratcheting ramp slides along the second ratcheting ramp and the cap is not
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`rotated in the unscrewing direction.
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`11.
`
`(Original)
`
`The assembly of claim 1, wherein the cap further defines a fitment
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`configured to engage with a housing.
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`12.
`
`(Original)
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`The assembly of claim 1, wherein the tamper element is a ring.
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`13.
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`(Previously presented) A kit for a tamper-evident closure assembly, the kit comprising:
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`a connector having a proximal end that defines a connection interface;
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`a cap having an interior surface defining a receptacle;
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`a tamper element affixed to the connector such that the tamper element forms one integral
`
`piece with the connector, the tamper element configured to engage with the cap within the
`
`receptacle; and
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`a housing configured to receive the cap, the cap being removably secured to the housing,
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`wherein the interior surface of the cap defines a retention member configured to prevent
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`the tamper element from being removed from the receptacle, the retention member having a
`
`distally facing retaining surface, the interior surface of the cap and the retaining surface of the
`
`retention member defining a locking portion of the receptacle, and
`
`wherein a proximal end of the tamper element defines a proximally facing surface that is
`
`configured to abut the retaining surface to prevent the tamper element from moving past the
`
`retention member out of the locking portion.
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`14.
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`(Original)
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`The kit of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of caps, and where the
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`housing is configured to receive any one of the plurality of caps.
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`Page 5 of 14
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`DOCKET N0.: 098993.021961
`
`Application N0.: 15/892,181
`Office Action Dated: September 28, 2020
`
`PATENT
`
`15.
`
`(Original)
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`The kit of claim 13, wherein the tamper element is configured to attach to
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`a medical device.
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`16.
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`(Previously presented) The kit of claim 13, wherein the tamper element is affixed to the
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`connector, the connector being configured to attach to a medical device.
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`17.
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`(Original)
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`The kit of claim 16, wherein the tamper element is configured to separate
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`from the connector when a removal force is applied to the tamper element or to the connector.
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`18.
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`(Previously presented) The kit of claim 17, wherein the tamper element is configured to
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`remain within the receptacle when the tamper element is separated from the connector.
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`19.
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`(Original)
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`The kit of claim 13, wherein the cap defines a fitment and the housing
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`defines a fixture, wherein the fitment is configured to engage with the fixture, such that the cap is
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`retained in the housing.
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`20.
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`(Original)
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`The kit of claim 19, wherein the fitment includes a plurality of teeth and
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`the fixture includes a plurality of teeth, wherein the plurality of teeth on the fitment of the cap are
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`configured to releasably engage with the plurality of teeth on the fixture of the housing.
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`21.
`
`(Previously presented) A tamper-evident closure assembly for use with a medical device,
`
`the assembly comprising:
`
`a connector having a proximal end that defines a connection interface;
`
`a tamper element removably affixed to the connector such that the tamper element forms
`
`one integral piece with the connector, the tamper element configured to be separated from the
`
`connector upon application of a removal force; and
`
`a cap having an interior surface defining a receptacle, the cap being configured to engage
`
`with the tamper element, such that at least a portion of the connector is within the receptacle,
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`Page 6 of 14
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`
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`DOCKET N0.: 098993.021961
`
`Application N0.: 15/892,181
`Office Action Dated: September 28, 2020
`
`PATENT
`
`wherein upon application of the removal force, the tamper element is separated from the
`
`connector and retained within the receptacle of the cap, and the connector being removable from
`
`the receptacle,
`
`wherein the interior surface of the cap defines a retention member configured to prevent
`
`the tamper element from being removed from the receptacle,
`
`wherein the tamper element is affixed to the connector via a protrusion extending from
`
`the tamper element to the connector, and
`
`wherein the protrusion is disposed distally of the retention member.
`
`22.
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`(Previously presented) The assembly of claim 21, wherein the entire protrusion is
`
`disposed distally of the retention member.
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`23.
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`(Previously presented) The assembly of claim 3, wherein the protrusion is affixed to a
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`radially outwardly facing surface, of the connector, that defines the groove.
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`24.
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`(Previously presented) The assembly of claim 10, wherein the first ratcheting ramp
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`defines a sloped proximally facing surface that is configured to contact a sloped distally facing
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`surface defined by the corresponding second ratcheting ramp.
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`25.
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`(New) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the entire tamper element is distally spaced
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`from the connection interface of the connector.
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`26.
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`(New) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the entire proximally facing surface is flat, and
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`the tamper element has an axial length less than an axial length of the connector.
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`Page 7 of 14
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