MPEP § 608.01(g) — Detailed Description of Invention
Ninth Edition, Revision 01.2024 · last revised R-10.2019
A detailed description of the invention and drawings follows the general statement of invention and brief description of the drawings. This detailed description, required by 37 CFR 1.71, MPEP §§ 608.01, 2161, and 2162, must be in such particularity as to enable any person skilled in the pertinent art or science to make and use the invention without involving extensive experimentation and must clearly convey enough information about the invention to show that applicant invented the subject matter that is claimed. An applicant is ordinarily permitted to use his or her own terminology, as long as it can be understood. Necessary grammatical corrections, however, should be required by the examiner, but it must be remembered that an examination is not made for the purpose of securing grammatical perfection.
The reference characters must be properly applied, no single reference character being used for two different parts or for a given part and a modification of such part. See 37 CFR 1.84(p). Every feature specified in the claims must be illustrated, but there should be no superfluous illustrations.
The description is a dictionary for the claims and should provide clear support or antecedent basis for all terms used in the claims. See 37 CFR 1.75, MPEP § 608.01(i), § 608.01(o), and § 1302.01, and § 2111.01.
For completeness of the specification, see MPEP § 608.01(p).
Cited authority
- 37 CFR 1.71 Detailed description and specification of the invention
- 608.01 Specification
- 2161 Three Separate Requirements for Specification Under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, First Paragraph
- 2162 Policy Underlying 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or Pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, First Paragraph
- 37 CFR 1.84 Standards for drawings
- 37 CFR 1.75 Claim(s)
- 608.01(i) Claims
- 608.01(o) Basis for Claim Terminology in Description
- 1302.01 General Review of Disclosure
- 2111.01 Plain Meaning
- 608.01(p) Completeness of Specification