What does it mean to “make requirement complete” in patent examination?

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.

Making a requirement complete in patent examination refers to the examiner’s responsibility to thoroughly and accurately define the restriction requirement. According to MPEP 815, “When making a restriction requirement, every effort should be made to have the requirement be complete.” This means the examiner should carefully consider all claimed inventions and provide a comprehensive explanation of why they are considered distinct and how they should be separated.