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Extract from the Register of European Patents

EP About this file: EP3778448

EP3778448 - APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATED INCUBATION [Right-click to bookmark this link]
StatusThe patent has been granted
Status updated on  07.11.2025
Database last updated on 28.03.2026
FormerGrant of patent is intended
Status updated on  09.07.2025
FormerExamination is in progress
Status updated on  03.06.2025
FormerGrant of patent is intended
Status updated on  10.02.2025
FormerExamination is in progress
Status updated on  31.03.2023
FormerRequest for examination was made
Status updated on  13.08.2021
FormerThe application has been published
Status updated on  15.01.2021
Most recent event   Tooltip07.11.2025(Expected) grantpublished on 10.12.2025  [2025/50]
Applicant(s)For all designated states
Gen-Probe Incorporated
10210 Genetic Center Drive
San Diego, CA 92121-4362 / US
[2021/07]
Inventor(s)01 / BUSE, David
4002 Kenosha Avenue
San Diego, California 92117 / US
02 / COMBS, David, Howard
4041 Kenosha Avenue
San Diego, California 92117 / US
03 / HAGEN, Norbert, D.
3033 Paseo Estribo
Carlsbad, California 92009 / US
04 / OPALSKY, David
10552 Corte Jardin Del Mar
San Diego, CA California 92130 / US
05 / RICHARDSON, Bruce
14801 Golf Links Drive
Los Gatos, California 95032 / US
06 / PRASAD, Anita
15768 Kavin Lane
Los Gatos, California 95030 / US
07 / MORAVICK, Keith
2579 Dell Avenue
Mountain View, California 94043 / US
08 / MOORE, Tyler
700 Harrison Avenue
Campbell, California 95008 / US
09 / KNIGHT, Byron, J.
4481 Palo Verde Terrace
San Diego, California 92115 / US
 [2021/11]
Former [2021/10]01 / BUSE, David
4002 Kenosha Avenue
San Diego, California 92117 / US
02 / COMBS, David, Howard
4041 Kenosha Avenue
San Diego, California 92117 / US
03 / HAGEN, Norbert, D.
3033 Paseo Estribo
Carlsbad, California 92009 / US
04 / OPALSKY, David
10552 Corte Jardin Del Mar
San Diego, CA California 92130 / US
05 / RICHARDSON, Bruce
103 Cooper Court
Los Gatos, California 95032 / US
06 / PRASAD, Anita
15768 Kavin Lane
Los Gatos, California 95030 / US
07 / MORAVICK, Keith
2579 Dell Avenue
Mountain View, California 94043 / US
08 / MOORE, Tyler
700 Harrison Avenue
Campbell, California 95008 / US
09 / KNIGHT, Byron, J.
4481 Palo Verde Terrace
San Diego, California 92115 / US
Former [2021/09]01 / BUSE, David
4002 Kenosha Avenue
San Diego, California 92117 / US
02 / COMBS, David, Howard
4041 Kenosha Avenue
San Diego, California 92117 / US
03 / HAGEN, Norbert, D.
3033 Paseo Estribo
Carlsbad, California 92009 / US
04 / OPALSKY, David
10552 Corte Jardin Del Mar
San Diego, CA California 92130 / US
05 / RICHARDSON, Bruce
103 Cooper Court
Los Gatos, California 95032 / US
06 / PRASAD, Anita
103 Cooper Court
Los Gatos, California 95032 / US
07 / MORAVICK, Keith
2579 Dell Avenue
Mountain View, California 94043 / US
08 / MOORE, Tyler
700 Harrison Avenue
Campbell, California 95008 / US
09 / KNIGHT, Byron, J.
4481 Palo Verde Terrace
San Diego, California 92115 / US
Former [2021/07]01 / BUSE, David
4002 Kenosha Avenue
San Diego, California 92117 / US
02 / COMBS, David, Howard
4041 Kenosha Avenue
San Diego, California 92117 / US
03 / HAGEN, Norbert, D.
3033 Paseo Estribo
Carlsbad, California 92009 / US
04 / OPALSKY, David
10552 Corte Jardin Del Mar
San Diego, CA California 92130 / US
05 / RICHARDSON, Bruce
103 Cooper Court
Los Gatos, California 95032 / US
06 / PRASAD, Anita
103 Cooper Court
Los Gatos, California 95032 / US
07 / MORAVICK, Keith
2579 Dell Avenue
Mountain View, California 94043 / US
08 / MOORE, Tyler
103 Cooper Court
Los Gatos, California 95032 / US
09 / KNIGHT, Byron, J.
4481 Palo Verde Terrace
San Diego, California 92115 / US
Representative(s)Script Intellectual Property LLP
Suite J, Anchor House
School Close
Chandlers Ford
Eastleigh, Hampshire SO53 4DY / GB
[2025/50]
Former [2021/07]Script IP Limited
Turnpike House
18 Bridge Street
Frome Somerset BA11 1BB / GB
Application number, filing date20197378.131.07.2013
[2021/07]
Priority number, dateUS201261677976P31.07.2012         Original published format: US 201261677976 P
US201361783952P14.03.2013         Original published format: US 201361783952 P
[2021/07]
Filing languageEN
Procedural languageEN
PublicationType: A1 Application with search report 
No.:EP3778448
Date:17.02.2021
Language:EN
[2021/07]
Type: B1 Patent specification 
No.:EP3778448
Date:10.12.2025
Language:EN
[2025/50]
Search report(s)(Supplementary) European search report - dispatched on:EP11.12.2020
ClassificationIPC:B65H1/00, C12Q1/68, B01L3/00, B01L7/00
[2021/07]
CPC:
B01L7/52 (EP,CN,US); C12Q1/686 (CN,US); B01L9/06 (CN,US);
G01N21/6452 (EP,CN,US); B01L2200/141 (EP,CN,US); B01L2200/142 (EP,CN,US);
B01L2300/042 (EP,CN,US); B01L2300/043 (EP); B01L2300/0654 (EP,CN,US);
B01L2300/0829 (EP,CN,US); B01L2300/0851 (EP,CN,US); B01L2300/1822 (EP,CN,US);
G01N2021/6482 (EP,CN,US); G01N2021/6484 (EP,CN,US) (-)
Designated contracting statesAL,   AT,   BE,   BG,   CH,   CY,   CZ,   DE,   DK,   EE,   ES,   FI,   FR,   GB,   GR,   HR,   HU,   IE,   IS,   IT,   LI,   LT,   LU,   LV,   MC,   MK,   MT,   NL,   NO,   PL,   PT,   RO,   RS,   SE,   SI,   SK,   SM,   TR [2021/37]  
Former [2021/07]AL,  AT,  BE,  BG,  CH,  CY,  CZ,  DE,  DK,  EE,  ES,  FI,  FR,  GB,  GR,  HR,  HU,  IE,  IS,  IT,  LI,  LT,  LU,  LV,  MC,  MK,  MT,  NL,  NO,  PL,  PT,  RO,  RS,  SE,  SI,  SK,  SM,  TR 
TitleGerman:VORRICHTUNG ZUR AUTOMATISIERTEN INKUBATION[2021/07]
English:APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATED INCUBATION[2021/07]
French:APPAREIL POUR INCUBATION AUTOMATISÉE[2021/07]
Examination procedure06.08.2021Amendment by applicant (claims and/or description)
06.08.2021Examination requested  [2021/37]
06.08.2021Date on which the examining division has become responsible
04.04.2023Despatch of a communication from the examining division (Time limit: M04)
07.08.2023Reply to a communication from the examining division
14.03.2024Despatch of a communication from the examining division (Time limit: M02)
09.05.2024Reply to a communication from the examining division
11.02.2025Communication of intention to grant the patent
03.06.2025Disapproval of the communication of intention to grant the patent by the applicant or resumption of examination proceedings by the EPO
09.07.2025Communication of intention to grant the patent
31.10.2025Fee for grant paid
31.10.2025Fee for publishing/printing paid
31.10.2025Receipt of the translation of the claim(s)
Parent application(s)   TooltipEP13826240.7  / EP2879981
EP19161987.3  / EP3564166
Fees paidRenewal fee
22.09.2020Renewal fee patent year 03
22.09.2020Renewal fee patent year 04
22.09.2020Renewal fee patent year 05
22.09.2020Renewal fee patent year 06
22.09.2020Renewal fee patent year 07
22.09.2020Renewal fee patent year 08
27.07.2021Renewal fee patent year 09
27.07.2022Renewal fee patent year 10
27.07.2023Renewal fee patent year 11
29.07.2024Renewal fee patent year 12
28.07.2025Renewal fee patent year 13
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Responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or quality of the data displayed under the link provided lies entirely with the Unified Patent Court.
Documents cited:Search[Y] US2011312102  (JO SUNG-HO et al.)
 [Y] US2007077646  (OKAMOTO HIDEAKI et al.)
 [A] US2010136632  (LIPSCOMB JAMES H et al.)
by applicantWO9532305
 US5378825
 US6949367
 WO9313121
 US5585481
 US6130038
 US5539082
 US6083482
 US6268490
 US6670461
 US5641658
 US7582470
 US4683195
 US5455166
 US7282328
 US6410278
 US5399491
 US7374885
 US5130238
 US5849478
 US2010179687
 US2005244303
 US6869571
 US6824024
 US6431015
   VESTER ET AL., BIOCHEMISTRY, vol. 43, no. 42, 2004, pages 13233 - 41
   LIZARDI ET AL., BIOTECHNOLOGY, vol. 6, 1988, pages 1197
   HOROWITZHILL: "The Art of Electronics", 1994, CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS
The EPO accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of data originating from other authorities; in particular, it does not guarantee that it is complete, up to date or fit for specific purposes.