What is the purpose of a Notice of Omitted Items in a patent application?

The purpose of a Notice of Omitted Items in a patent application is to indicate drawings or pages that have been omitted from the filing. This notice serves as a communication from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to the applicant, pinpointing specific parts of the application that are missing. When an application is submitted, it must include all required components, including claims, drawings, an abstract, and a specification. If anything is missing or incomplete, this notice ensures that the applicant is aware of what needs to be submitted in order to proceed with the patent examination process. This helps prevent unnecessary delays and facilitates the proper handling of the application by clearly identifying any deficiencies.