USPTO Examiner MERCIER MELISSA S - Art Unit 1615

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
19025220GELS FOR INSULIN DELIVERYJanuary 2025April 2025Allow310NoNo
19004850MUCO-ADHESIVE, CONTROLLED RELEASE FORMULATION OF LEVODOPA AND/OR ESTERS OF LEVODOPA AND USES THEREOFDecember 2024June 2025Allow610NoNo
18975144MUCO-ADHESIVE, CONTROLLED RELEASE FORMULATION OF LEVODOPA AND/OR ESTERS OF LEVODOPA AND USES THEREOFDecember 2024February 2025Allow210NoNo
18911732MUCO-ADHESIVE, CONTROLLED RELEASE FORMULATION OF LEVODOPA AND/OR ESTERS OF LEVODOPA AND USES THEREOFOctober 2024December 2024Allow210NoNo
18897657OPHTHALMIC FORMULATIONS AND METHODS OF USESeptember 2024January 2025Allow410NoNo
18791632MUCO-ADHESIVE, CONTROLLED RELEASE FORMULATION OF LEVODOPA AND/OR ESTERS OF LEVODOPA AND USES THEREOFAugust 2024October 2024Allow210NoNo
18789870MUCO-ADHESIVE, CONTROLLED RELEASE FORMULATION OF LEVODOPA AND/OR ESTERS OF LEVODOPA AND USES THEREOFJuly 2024September 2024Allow210NoNo
18755045MUCO-ADHESIVE, CONTROLLED RELEASE FORMULATIONS OF LEVODOPA AND/OR ESTERS OF LEVODOPA AND USES THEREOFJune 2024August 2024Allow210NoNo
18667581TREATMENT OF POOR METABOLIZERS OF DEXTROMETHORPHAN WITH A COMBINATION OF BUPROPION AND DEXTROMETHORPHANMay 2024April 2025Allow1120NoNo
18664248CANNABIS COMPOSITIONS, ORAL PRODUCTS, AND METHODS OF MAKING SAMEMay 2024December 2024Allow711YesNo
18643422NERATINIB-CYCLODEXTRIN COMPOSITION AND METHOD FOR PREPARING SAMEApril 2024February 2025Allow1011YesNo
18633642PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITION FOR TREATING OR IMPROVING EDEMA AND BLOOD STASIS AFTER OPEN SURGERYApril 2024February 2025Allow1010NoNo
18623901COMPOSITIONS AND FORMULATIONS FOR USE OF A PK INHIBITOR FOR THE PREVENTION, TREATMENT, AND IMPROVEMENT OF SKIN DISEASES, CONDITIONS, AND DISORDERSApril 2024December 2024Allow920YesNo
18588820Hydrocortisone Acetate Suppository Formulation For Treatment Of DiseaseFebruary 2024August 2024Allow620YesNo
18588996Hydrocortisone Acetate Suppository Formulation For Treatment Of DiseaseFebruary 2024September 2024Allow620YesNo
18588938Hydrocortisone Acetate Suppository Formulation For Treatment Of DiseaseFebruary 2024August 2024Allow620YesNo
18588687Hydrocortisone Acetate Suppository Formulation For Treatment Of DiseaseFebruary 2024July 2024Allow510YesNo
18588892Hydrocortisone Acetate Suppository Formulation For Treatment Of DiseaseFebruary 2024August 2024Allow620YesNo
18425208TUNABLE, CONTROLLED-RELEASE, URETHANE-CONTAINING ELASTOMERS AND PROCESSES OF FORMING THE SAMEJanuary 2024February 2025Abandon1301NoNo
18416293Encased Tamper Resistant Controlled Release Dosage FormsJanuary 2024June 2025Allow1620NoNo
18411663DRY POWDER FORMULATIONS OF EPINEPHRINE AND ASSOCIATED METHODSJanuary 2024June 2024Allow510NoNo
18401652FRACTIONATED RADIOTHERAPY AND CHEMOTHERAPY WITH AN OXYGEN THERAPEUTICJanuary 2024March 2025Abandon1510NoNo
18397342POLYLACTIC ACID MICROSPHERE, POLYLACTIC-CO-GLYCOLIC ACID MICROSPHERE AND METHOD OF PREPARING THE SAMEDecember 2023December 2024Allow1210NoNo
18395565COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR MINIMIZING EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL INTOXICATIONDecember 2023August 2024Allow820NoNo
18539830METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR SELF-REGULATED RELEASE OF ACTIVE PHARMACEUTICAL INGREDIENTDecember 2023June 2025Abandon1811NoNo
18529137PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITION OF DILTIAZEM HYDROCHLORIDE, PREPARATION METHOD THEREFOR, AND APPLICATION THEREOFDecember 2023April 2024Allow401NoNo
18519955NEBULIZATION FORMULATIONS FOR DELIVERY TO LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACTNovember 2023March 2025Allow1611NoNo
18488366TREATMENT OF POOR METABOLIZERS OF DEXTROMETHORPHAN WITH A COMBINATION OF BUPROPION AND DEXTROMETHORPHANOctober 2023January 2024Allow310NoNo
18472743METHODS FOR ORAL PAIN RELIEFSeptember 2023April 2024Allow600NoNo
18460763Compositions for Enhancing Bioavailability of Pharmaceuticals, Supplements and Ingested SubstancesSeptember 2023June 2025Abandon2140NoNo
18241523TOPICAL SKIN CREAMSeptember 2023December 2023Allow410NoNo
18241540TOPICAL SKIN CREAMSeptember 2023November 2023Allow210NoNo
18456759BORTEZOMIB COMPOSITIONSAugust 2023April 2024Allow810NoNo
18226572THERAPEUTIC COMPOSITION INCLUDING PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS DERIVED FROM OPUNTIA LITTORALISJuly 2023March 2024Allow821NoNo
18356901HYDROGEL PRODRUG FOR TREATMENTJuly 2023August 2024Abandon1310NoNo
18355964SOLID PREPARATION, METHOD FOR PRODUCING SOLID PREPARATION, AND METHOD FOR GENERATING HYDROGENJuly 2023May 2024Abandon1010NoNo
18222331BLEACH COMPOSITIONSJuly 2023May 2024Allow1010NoNo
18212471ANTIMICROBIAL SUPERABSORBENT COMPOSITIONSJune 2023October 2024Allow1610NoNo
18327658HYDROGEL PRODRUG FOR TREATMENTJune 2023May 2024Allow1110NoNo
18200958ANTIBODY BIOPHARMACEUTICAL FORMULATIONS INCLUDING POLYMER EXCIPIENTSMay 2023February 2024Allow811NoNo
18197787TOPICAL SKIN CREAMMay 2023November 2023Allow621NoNo
18317786PROSTAMIDE-CONTAINING INTRAOCULAR IMPLANTMay 2023November 2024Abandon1801NoNo
18310549EXTENDED RELEASE PLASTIC FORMULATIONMay 2023December 2023Allow810NoNo
18136012PARTICLES COMPRISING A THERAPEUTIC OR DIAGNOSTIC AGENT AND SUSPENSIONS AND METHODS OF USE THEREOFApril 2023October 2024Allow1810NoNo
18131715MUCO-ADHESIVE, CONTROLLED RELEASE FORMULATIONS OF LEVODOPA AND/OR ESTERS OF LEVODOPA AND USES THEREOFApril 2023April 2024Allow1310NoNo
181929555HT AGONISTS FOR TREATING DISORDERSMarch 2023June 2025Allow2711NoNo
18128705DRY POWDER FORMULATIONS OF EPINEPHRINE AND ASSOCIATED METHODSMarch 2023September 2023Allow610NoNo
18125106THERAPEUTIC COMPOSITION INCLUDING PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS DERIVED FROM OPUNTIA LITTORALISMarch 2023September 2023Allow511NoNo
18188384BORTEZOMIB COMPOSITIONSMarch 2023July 2023Allow410NoNo
18122416ZWITTERIONICALLY MODIFIED POLYMERS AND HYDROGELSMarch 2023April 2025Allow2501NoNo
18175020Compositions for Enhancing Bioavailability of Pharmaceuticals, Supplements and Ingested SubstancesFebruary 2023September 2024Allow1821NoNo
18175442MUCOADHESIVE COMPOSITIONS FOR DIRECTIONAL DELIVERY OF ACTIVE AGENTSFebruary 2023August 2024Abandon1820NoNo
18169571TREATMENT OF POOR METABOLIZERS OF DEXTROMETHORPHAN WITH A COMBINATION OF BUPROPION AND DEXTROMETHORPHANFebruary 2023September 2023Allow720YesNo
18109421FULVESTRANT FORMULATIONS AND METHODS OF THEIR USEFebruary 2023November 2024Allow2120NoNo
18166416LYOPROTECTANT COMPOSITIONS AND USES THEREOFFebruary 2023July 2023Allow620YesNo
18007003PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITIONS FOR THE NASAL ADMINISTRATION OF A COBALAMIN COMPOUNDJanuary 2023September 2023Allow810NoNo
18096686Encased Tamper Resistant Controlled Release Dosage FormsJanuary 2023October 2023Allow910NoNo
18153528Topical Pharmaceutical Compositions Comprising 2-[3-[4-Amino-3-(2-Fluoro-4-Phenoxy-Phenyl)-1H-Pyrazolo[3,4-D]Pyrimidin-1-YL]Piperidine-1-Carbonyl]-4,4-Dimethylpent-2-EnenitrileJanuary 2023January 2025Abandon2410NoNo
18150292Compositions Containing MicrocapsulesJanuary 2023March 2025Allow2630NoNo
18150152COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR TREATING EOSINOPHILIC DISORDERSJanuary 2023December 2024Allow2301NoNo
18146022BIOABSORBABLE POLYMERIC COMPOSITION FOR A MEDICAL DEVICEDecember 2022July 2024Abandon1810NoNo
18145463PULLULAN CAPSULESDecember 2022October 2023Allow910NoNo
17994166FRACTIONATED RADIOTHERAPY AND CHEMOTHERAPY WITH AN OXYGEN THERAPEUTICNovember 2022September 2023Allow1010NoNo
17985220FORMULATIONS OF ENZALUTAMIDENovember 2022January 2025Allow2730YesYes
17979822DEODORANT COMPOSITIONSNovember 2022June 2023Allow810NoNo
17965483TOPICAL SKIN COMPOSITIONS FOR TREATING WRINKLESOctober 2022October 2023Allow1210NoNo
18046221PUTRESCINE TOPICAL FORMULATIONSOctober 2022February 2024Abandon1611NoNo
17959681MUCO-ADHESIVE, CONTROLLED RELEASE FORMULATIONS OF LEVODOPA AND/OR ESTERS OF LEVODOPA AND USES THEREOFOctober 2022March 2023Allow610NoNo
17934901BORTEZOMIB COMPOSITIONSSeptember 2022December 2022Allow310NoNo
17890796METAL (HYDR)OXIDE COMPOSITE COMPRISING POORLY SOLUBLE DRUG, METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SAME, AND PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITION COMPRISING SAMEAugust 2022August 2023Allow1211NoNo
17864909ST-246 (tecovirimat monohydrate) SUSPENSION FORMULATIONSJuly 2022June 2023Allow1110NoNo
17862491RIFAXIMIN COMPLEXESJuly 2022September 2023Abandon1520NoNo
17857985COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR TREATING HYPERTENSIONJuly 2022February 2023Allow810YesNo
17789530EXTENDED RELEASE PLASTIC FORMULATIONJune 2022February 2023Allow700NoNo
17808342DISSOLVABLE POLYMERIC EYE INSERTS WITH A BIODEGRADABLE POLYMER AND METHOD OF USING THE SAMEJune 2022May 2023Allow1110NoNo
17845074Additive Compositions for Pigmented Disinfection and Methods ThereofJune 2022November 2022Allow510NoNo
17839089PHYTOTHERAPEUTIC PRODUCT FOR CORRECTION OF SYMPTOM-COMPLEX OF FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES OF MAMMARY GLANDJune 2022September 2022Allow310NoNo
17836588DRY POWDER FORMULATIONS OF EPINEPHRINE AND ASSOCIATED METHODSJune 2022February 2023Allow820YesNo
17831946Hydrocortisone Acetate Suppository Formulation For Treatment Of DiseaseJune 2022July 2024Allow2540YesNo
17745190COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR PREVENTING AND REVERSING ASPECTS OF AGINGMay 2022February 2024Allow2120NoNo
17740790NEBULIZATION FORMULATIONS FOR DELIVERY TO LOWER RESPIRATORY TRACTMay 2022July 2023Allow1410NoNo
17662462TUNABLE, CONTROLLED-RELEASE, URETHANE-CONTAINING ELASTOMERS AND PROCESSES OF FORMING THE SAMEMay 2022September 2023Allow1610NoNo
17726936METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MAKING PERSONALIZED NUTRITIONAL AND PHARMACEUTICAL FORMULATIONS USING ADDITIVE MANUFACTURINGApril 2022November 2024Abandon3110NoNo
17726944HYDROGEL PRODRUG FOR TREATMENTApril 2022April 2023Allow1210NoNo
17725606Implantable Device for Sustained Release of a Macromolecular Drug CompoundApril 2022June 2025Allow3820NoNo
17659507BOTANICAL PAIN RELIEF OINTMENTApril 2022April 2024Allow2420NoNo
17719078Ophthalmic CompositionApril 2022October 2023Abandon1810NoNo
17711280MICELLE FOR SOLUBILIZING A SPARINGLY WATER-SOLUBLE INGREDIENT AND SOLUTION COMPRISING THE SAMEApril 2022March 2025Allow3511NoNo
17695230PACLITAXEL-ALBUMIN-BINDING AGENT COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR USING AND MAKING THE SAMEMarch 2022April 2025Abandon3730NoNo
17654021COMPOSITIONS AND USES OF LOCALLY-APPLIED ANTIMICROBIAL SYNTHETIC CATIONIC POLYPEPTIDE(S) WITH ENHANCED PERFORMANCE AND SAFETYMarch 2022December 2024Allow3320NoNo
17652552FIBROUS CONSTRUCTS WITH THERAPEUTIC MATERIAL PARTICLESFebruary 2022February 2025Allow3641YesNo
17679973SOLID PREPARATION, METHOD FOR PRODUCING SOLID PREPARATION, AND METHOD FOR GENERATING HYDROGENFebruary 2022April 2023Allow1410YesNo
17672341POLYMER EXCIPIENTS FOR DRUG DELIVERY APPLICATIONSFebruary 2022October 2023Allow2010NoNo
17650664COMPOSITION COMPRISING LIDOCAINE, L-CARNOSINE AND DEXPANTHENOLFebruary 2022July 2023Allow1720YesNo
17667010NON-AQUEOUS PATCHFebruary 2022June 2023Allow1610NoNo
17591806COMPOSITIONS AND DEVICES INCORPORATING WATER-INSOLUBLE THERAPEUTIC AGENTS AND METHODS OF THE USE THEREOFFebruary 2022March 2023Allow1310NoNo
17591182HYDROGEL PRODRUG FOR TREATMENTFebruary 2022March 2023Allow1310NoNo
17579682TEAR TRANSPLANTATION AND MULTI-PART CONTACT LENS WITH ABSORBENT PORTIONJanuary 2022May 2023Abandon1610NoNo
17572258Cardiovascular ProsthesesJanuary 2022March 2024Abandon2610NoNo
17572199Cardiovascular ProsthesesJanuary 2022June 2024Abandon2901NoNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner MERCIER, MELISSA S.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
18
Examiner Affirmed
8
(44.4%)
Examiner Reversed
10
(55.6%)
Reversal Percentile
80.9%
Higher than average

What This Means

With a 55.6% reversal rate, the PTAB has reversed the examiner's rejections more often than affirming them. This reversal rate is in the top 25% across the USPTO, indicating that appeals are more successful here than in most other areas.

Strategic Value of Filing an Appeal

Total Appeal Filings
111
Allowed After Appeal Filing
32
(28.8%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
79
(71.2%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
40.3%
Lower than average

Understanding Appeal Filing Strategy

Filing a Notice of Appeal can sometimes lead to allowance even before the appeal is fully briefed or decided by the PTAB. This occurs when the examiner or their supervisor reconsiders the rejection during the mandatory appeal conference (MPEP § 1207.01) after the appeal is filed.

In this dataset, 28.8% of applications that filed an appeal were subsequently allowed. This appeal filing benefit rate is below the USPTO average, suggesting that filing an appeal has limited effectiveness in prompting favorable reconsideration.

Strategic Recommendations

Appeals to PTAB show good success rates. If you have a strong case on the merits, consider fully prosecuting the appeal to a Board decision.

Filing a Notice of Appeal shows limited benefit. Consider other strategies like interviews or amendments before appealing.

Examiner MERCIER, MELISSA S - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner MERCIER, MELISSA S works in Art Unit 1615 and has examined 1,215 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 70.4%, this examiner allows applications at a lower rate than most examiners at the USPTO. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 25 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner MERCIER, MELISSA S's allowance rate of 70.4% places them in the 25% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner is less likely to allow applications than most examiners at the USPTO.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by MERCIER, MELISSA S receive 2.05 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 68% percentile for office actions issued. This examiner issues a slightly above-average number of office actions.

Prosecution Timeline

The median time to disposition (half-life) for applications examined by MERCIER, MELISSA S is 25 months. This places the examiner in the 64% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly faster than average with this examiner.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a -2.1% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by MERCIER, MELISSA S. This interview benefit is in the 6% percentile among all examiners. Note: Interviews show limited statistical benefit with this examiner compared to others, though they may still be valuable for clarifying issues.

Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Effectiveness

When applicants file an RCE with this examiner, 24.7% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 27% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Insight: RCEs show below-average effectiveness with this examiner. Carefully evaluate whether an RCE or continuation is the better strategy.

After-Final Amendment Practice

This examiner enters after-final amendments leading to allowance in 53.2% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 74% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: This examiner shows above-average receptiveness to after-final amendments. If your amendments clearly overcome the rejections and do not raise new issues, consider filing after-final amendments before resorting to an RCE.

Pre-Appeal Conference Effectiveness

When applicants request a pre-appeal conference (PAC) with this examiner, 100.0% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 68% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: Pre-appeal conferences show above-average effectiveness with this examiner. If you have strong arguments, a PAC request may result in favorable reconsideration.

Appeal Withdrawal and Reconsideration

This examiner withdraws rejections or reopens prosecution in 75.3% of appeals filed. This is in the 63% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 58.2% occur early in the appeal process (after Notice of Appeal but before Appeal Brief). Strategic Insight: This examiner shows above-average willingness to reconsider rejections during appeals. The mandatory appeal conference (MPEP § 1207.01) provides an opportunity for reconsideration.

Petition Practice

When applicants file petitions regarding this examiner's actions, 44.7% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 49% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Note: Petitions show below-average success regarding this examiner's actions. Ensure you have a strong procedural basis before filing.

Examiner Cooperation and Flexibility

Examiner's Amendments: This examiner makes examiner's amendments in 1.8% of allowed cases (in the 76% percentile). Per MPEP § 1302.04, examiner's amendments are used to place applications in condition for allowance when only minor changes are needed. This examiner frequently uses this tool compared to other examiners, indicating a cooperative approach to getting applications allowed. Strategic Insight: If you are close to allowance but minor claim amendments are needed, this examiner may be willing to make an examiner's amendment rather than requiring another round of prosecution.

Quayle Actions: This examiner issues Ex Parte Quayle actions in 2.1% of allowed cases (in the 66% percentile). This examiner issues Quayle actions more often than average when claims are allowable but formal matters remain (MPEP § 714.14).

Prosecution Strategy Recommendations

Based on the statistical analysis of this examiner's prosecution patterns, here are tailored strategic recommendations:

  • Prepare for rigorous examination: With a below-average allowance rate, ensure your application has strong written description and enablement support. Consider filing a continuation if you need to add new matter.
  • Examiner cooperation: This examiner frequently makes examiner's amendments to place applications in condition for allowance. If you are close to allowance, the examiner may help finalize the claims.

Relevant MPEP Sections for Prosecution Strategy

  • MPEP § 713.10: Examiner interviews - available before Notice of Allowance or transfer to PTAB
  • MPEP § 714.12: After-final amendments - may be entered "under justifiable circumstances"
  • MPEP § 1002.02(c): Petitionable matters to Technology Center Director
  • MPEP § 1004: Actions requiring primary examiner signature (allowances, final rejections, examiner's answers)
  • MPEP § 1207.01: Appeal conferences - mandatory for all appeals
  • MPEP § 1214.07: Reopening prosecution after appeal

Important Disclaimer

Not Legal Advice: The information provided in this report is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should consult with a qualified patent attorney or agent for advice specific to your situation.

No Guarantees: We do not provide any guarantees as to the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the statistics presented above. Patent prosecution statistics are derived from publicly available USPTO data and are subject to data quality limitations, processing errors, and changes in USPTO practices over time.

Limitation of Liability: Under no circumstances will IronCrow AI be liable for any outcome, decision, or action resulting from your reliance on the statistics, analysis, or recommendations presented in this report. Past prosecution patterns do not guarantee future results.

Use at Your Own Risk: While we strive to provide accurate and useful prosecution statistics, you should independently verify any information that is material to your prosecution strategy and use your professional judgment in all patent prosecution matters.