Prior art

US patent 12174107, titled "Flow cytometer," was filed on September 3, 2024, and published on December 24, 2024. It is currently active and is assigned to Beckman Coulter Inc. The patent claims priority from several provisional applications filed in 2012 and 2013, as well as an international PCT application filed on May 30, 2013.

The patent generally relates to improved flow cytometers and their subassemblies, including diode laser-based optical systems, composite microscope objectives, fluidic systems, pulseless peristaltic pumps, and wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) systems.

Based on available information, the following prior art has been identified as most relevant to US patent 12174107, particularly through litigation and PTAB proceedings concerning related patent families:

1. U.S. Patent No. 6,683,314 (Oostman)

• Full Citation: US 6,683,314 B1
• Publication/Filing Date: The patent itself was granted on January 27, 2004, from an application filed on April 12, 2002.
• Brief Description: This patent describes wavelength division multiplexers (WDM) used in optical communication, which are noted to be almost identical in function and architecture to those described in 12174107. Specifically, Oostman's WDM system is discussed in the context of fluorescence light detection and utilizing dichroic filters.
• Potentially Anticipated Claim(s): This reference was asserted during the prosecution of a grandparent patent to 12174107 (specifically, the '443 patent) as obvious over Oostman and Capewell. It is also asserted by Cytek Biosciences, Inc. (Petitioner) against claims of the '107 patent in PGR2025-00088. While specific claims anticipated are not definitively stated in the provided text, the reference is broadly relevant to the WDM aspects of 12174107, particularly claims concerning the design and operation of dichroic filter arrangements and separation of light into color bands, as exemplified by claims 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 10, 16, 17, 20-22, 26, 27, 28, and 29 which describe a WDM with an array of mirrors and filters and a zig-zag optical path for detecting light, and the use of focusing lenses and APDs.

2. U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0165828 (Capewell)

• Full Citation: US 2004/0165828 A1
• Publication/Filing Date: Published August 26, 2004.
• Brief Description: This patent publication is from the optical communications field and was combined with Oostman by examiners during the prosecution of a grandparent to 12174107.
• Potentially Anticipated Claim(s): Similar to Oostman, Capewell is relevant to the WDM aspects of 12174107. The examiner's reliance on combining optical communications prior art with flow cytometry prior art suggests its relevance to claims related to the WDM system, particularly where the WDM is configured to receive light from an optical fiber and separate it into distinctive color bands for detection by semiconductor detectors.

3. U.S. Patent No. 6,542,306 (Goodman)

• Full Citation: US 6,542,306 B1
• Publication/Filing Date: Granted April 1, 2003, from an application filed May 11, 2000.
• Brief Description: Goodman is another reference that examiners considered during prosecution, and it is asserted by the Petitioner in the PGR against 12174107.
• Potentially Anticipated Claim(s): While the specific claims are not detailed, its mention in the context of the PGR indicates its relevance to the claims of 12174107. The broader scope of Goodman's relevance in comparison to Oostman or Capewell is not explicitly stated.

4. U.S. Patent No. 7,505,131 (Roth-131)

• Full Citation: US 7,505,131 B2
• Publication/Filing Date: Granted March 17, 2009, from an application filed December 29, 2005.
• Brief Description: This patent was also considered by the examiner during prosecution and is associated with Luminex Corporation.
• Potentially Anticipated Claim(s): The specific claims challenged are not stated in the provided text. Its consideration during prosecution suggests relevance to various aspects of flow cytometry described in 12174107.

It's important to note that the provided text often discusses prior art in the context of the related U.S. Patent No. 11,703,443 (the '443 patent), U.S. Patent No. 10,330,582 (the '582 patent), and U.S. Patent No. 12,174,106 (the '106 patent), which are part of the same family and share the same specification and priority claims as 12174107. Therefore, prior art considered against these related patents is highly relevant to 12174107. The PTAB's discretionary denial in PGR2025-00088 was procedural and did not rule on the merits of the prior art arguments.