Which of the following procedures focuses exclusively on patents and printed publications?

The process that focuses exclusively on patents and printed publications is ex parte reexamination. This procedure is specifically designed to reassess the validity of an issued patent based on prior art documents, which include patents and publications. During this process, any third party can request reexamination of a patent, but it primarily hinges on whether prior patents or printed publications can challenge the novelty or non-obviousness of the claims in the patent under scrutiny.

Ex parte reexamination allows for an examination of existing patents and printed publications to determine if the claims of the original patent should be maintained, altered, or canceled. This is crucial in the patent system because it enables the correction of erroneous patents and upholds the integrity and reliability of the patent database.

In contrast, the other procedures mentioned, such as post-grant review, reissue process, and supplemental examination, involve broader considerations or different scopes. For example, post-grant review allows for challenges based on a wider range of grounds than just patents and printed publications. Reissue focuses on correcting errors in the original patent, and supplemental examination is aimed at addressing potential issues identified after a patent has been granted, including both non-patent literature and other materials beyond just patents and publications. Thus, ex parte