How should I amend the brief description of drawings when canceling a figure?

This page is an FAQ based on guidance from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only: it is not legal advice.

When canceling a figure in a patent application, it’s important to also amend the brief description of the drawings to reflect this change. Here’s how to do it:

• Remove any reference to the canceled figure from the brief description.
• Renumber the remaining figures if necessary.
• Update any cross-references to the figures throughout the specification.

MPEP 608.02(t) mentions this requirement: “The brief description of the drawings should also be amended to reflect this change.” This ensures consistency between the drawings and their description in the specification, which is crucial for a clear and accurate patent application.