Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.
| Application Number | Title | Filing Date | Disposal Date | Disposition | Time (months) | Office Actions | Restrictions | Interview | Appeal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19086842 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATED GROSSING OF TISSUE SAMPLES | March 2025 | October 2025 | Allow | 7 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18276587 | MICROFLUIDIC CHIP | September 2023 | March 2026 | Allow | 31 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18125495 | CONSUMABLE FOR SAMPLE PROCESSING IN AUTOMATED ANALYSER | March 2023 | October 2025 | Allow | 31 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18026865 | Automatic Analyzer | March 2023 | March 2026 | Allow | 36 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18026198 | APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC HANDLING OF A SAMPLE | March 2023 | March 2026 | Allow | 36 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18026216 | AUTOMATIC ANALYZER AND SAMPLE STORAGE DEVICE | March 2023 | February 2026 | Allow | 35 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18119325 | PIPETTING DEVICE | March 2023 | September 2025 | Allow | 31 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18042847 | DIAGNOSTIC ANALYZER HAVING A DUAL-PURPOSE IMAGER | February 2023 | December 2025 | Allow | 34 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18023316 | BARRIERS IN MICROFLUIDIC CHANNELS | February 2023 | November 2025 | Allow | 33 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18156732 | GRAVITATIONAL LIQUID-SPLITTING DEVICE, CELL PASSAGING DEVICE WITH THE SAME, AND CELL PASSAGING METHOD | January 2023 | January 2026 | Allow | 36 | 0 | 1 | No | No |
| 18089570 | CELL CULTURE DEVICE | December 2022 | October 2025 | Allow | 34 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18011956 | AUTOMATIC ANALYZER | December 2022 | September 2025 | Allow | 33 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18082681 | SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATED SAMPLE EXTRACTING OF BIOLOGICAL SPECIMENS | December 2022 | March 2026 | Abandon | 39 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18077626 | REPLACEMENT BOX FOR URINALYSIS DEVICE, REPLACEMENT BOX BOTTOM SUPPORT, AND REPLACEMENT BOX MOUNTING STRUCTURE | December 2022 | March 2026 | Abandon | 39 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18077086 | COMPUTER-IMPLEMENTED METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ASSOCIATING AN ODOR SUBSTANCE OF A GAS UNDER INVESTIGATION WITH AN ELECTRICAL SIGNAL | December 2022 | March 2026 | Abandon | 39 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18061717 | LABORATORY SAMPLE CONTAINER HANDLING APPARATUS, LABORATORY AUTOMATION SYSTEM, AND USE | December 2022 | January 2026 | Allow | 38 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18057722 | MICROFLUIDIC CHIP-EQUIPPED DETECTION CASSETTE | November 2022 | February 2026 | Abandon | 49 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17980069 | NUCLEIC ACID EXTRACTION DEVICE | November 2022 | December 2025 | Allow | 37 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17907111 | ENZYME MUTANTS DIRECTLY ATTACHED TO A NANOGAP DEVICE | September 2022 | March 2026 | Abandon | 41 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17931620 | AUTOMATIC ANALYZER | September 2022 | June 2025 | Allow | 33 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17893252 | TEST DEVICE AND CARTRIDGE | August 2022 | September 2025 | Allow | 36 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17800944 | SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATED SAMPLE EXTRACTING OF BIOLOGICAL SPECIMENS | August 2022 | January 2026 | Abandon | 41 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17800538 | A BODY FLUID ANALYTE DETECTION DEVICE | August 2022 | October 2025 | Allow | 38 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 17904177 | BIOLOGICAL SUBSTANCE DETECTION CHIP, BIOLOGICAL SUBSTANCE DETECTION DEVICE AND BIOLOGICAL SUBSTANCE DETECTION SYSTEM | August 2022 | January 2026 | Abandon | 41 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17904161 | BIOLOGICAL SUBSTANCE DETECTION CHIP, BIOLOGICAL SUBSTANCE DETECTION DEVICE AND BIOLOGICAL SUBSTANCE DETECTION SYSTEM | August 2022 | January 2026 | Abandon | 41 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17887009 | Lateral Flow Test Kits | August 2022 | October 2025 | Allow | 38 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 17881794 | IN-SITU VACUUM REACTION SYSTEM FOR DYNAMICALLY DETECTING DEFECTS | August 2022 | December 2025 | Abandon | 40 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17879564 | DEVICE FOR DETECTING AN ANALYTE IN A SAMPLE | August 2022 | March 2026 | Allow | 43 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 17876642 | REAGENT DELIVERY NETWORKS | July 2022 | March 2026 | Allow | 44 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17876994 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR METERING MINIMUM LIQUID QUANTITIES | July 2022 | March 2026 | Abandon | 43 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 17851416 | METHODS FOR SORTING PARTICLES | June 2022 | January 2023 | Allow | 7 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17720801 | MICROFLUIDIC CHIP, KIT, AND SYSTEM FOR DISPLACING INDEPENDENT REACTION VOLUMES OF AN EMULSION | April 2022 | January 2026 | Allow | 45 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17620458 | MAGNETIC PUCK FOR TRANSPORTING SAMPLE CONTAINERS IN A CLINICAL CHEMISTRY ANALYZER SYSTEM | December 2021 | October 2022 | Allow | 10 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17347240 | SAMPLE ANALYSIS DEVICE | June 2021 | March 2024 | Abandon | 33 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17338280 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING A BLOOD ANALYZER FOR MEASURING PLATELETS | June 2021 | March 2024 | Abandon | 33 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17316204 | AUTOMATED SPECIMEN PROCESSING SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF DETECTING SPECIMEN-BEARING MICROSCOPE SLIDES | May 2021 | October 2025 | Allow | 53 | 6 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17301063 | AUTOMATED VOLUMETRIC REAGENT DELIVERY TESTING | March 2021 | July 2023 | Allow | 28 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17201169 | APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR SUSPENDING AND WASHING THE CONTENTS OF A PLURALITY OF CUVETTES | March 2021 | April 2023 | Allow | 25 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17254462 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STORAGE | December 2020 | October 2022 | Allow | 22 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17254459 | STORAGE DEVICE, SYSTEM, AND METHOD | December 2020 | November 2021 | Allow | 11 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16960748 | CARRYING MODULE, NUCLEIC ACID LOADING DEVICE AND USE THEREOF | July 2020 | January 2024 | Allow | 42 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16912897 | AUTOMATIC ANALYSIS DEVICE AND AUTOMATIC ANALYSIS METHOD | June 2020 | December 2023 | Allow | 41 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 15931282 | CONVEYOR ASSEMBLY | May 2020 | August 2023 | Allow | 39 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16759965 | NANOSTRUCTURED TITANIUM MULTILAYER ELECTRODE | April 2020 | November 2022 | Allow | 31 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 16849534 | Systems and Methods for Automated Analysis | April 2020 | March 2023 | Abandon | 35 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16849596 | Biological Sample Processing Systems and Methods | April 2020 | May 2023 | Abandon | 37 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 16650346 | MICROFLUIDIC DEVICES AND METHODS INCORPORATING ORGANIZED THREE-DIMENSIONAL TISSUE CONSTRUCTS | March 2020 | December 2023 | Abandon | 45 | 5 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16646465 | Automated Analyzer | March 2020 | January 2023 | Allow | 35 | 5 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16776837 | AUTOMATED SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADVANCING TAPE TO TRANSPORT CUT TISSUE SECTIONS | January 2020 | September 2022 | Allow | 32 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16742911 | CAPPING SYSTEM USED FOR SAMPLES BEFORE OCCURRENCE OF BIOLOGICAL THERMAL REACTION, AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME | January 2020 | November 2023 | Abandon | 46 | 3 | 0 | No | No |
| 16741864 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETECTION, ANALYSIS, ISOLATION AND/OR HARVESTING OF BIOLOGICAL OBJECTS | January 2020 | October 2022 | Allow | 33 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 16624376 | AUTOMATIC ANALYSIS DEVICE | December 2019 | August 2022 | Allow | 32 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 16622168 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HANDLING SAMPLE CONTAINERS | December 2019 | June 2023 | Abandon | 42 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 16709955 | Cuvette box Conveying Device, Cuvette box Conveying Method, and Sample Analyzer | December 2019 | November 2022 | Allow | 35 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 16701863 | FLOW CELLS AND SEQUENCING KITS | December 2019 | July 2023 | Allow | 43 | 6 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 16618630 | Automatic Analyzer and Analysis Method | December 2019 | October 2023 | Allow | 46 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16680737 | METHOD FOR HANDLING A SAMPLE TUBE AND HANDLING DEVICE | November 2019 | December 2022 | Abandon | 37 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16673361 | FLUIDIC MANIFOLD CARTRIDGE SYSTEM | November 2019 | May 2022 | Allow | 31 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16671385 | METHOD, SYSTEM, AND DEVICE FOR AUTOMATING TRANSFER OF TAPE TO MICROTOME SECTIONS | November 2019 | January 2023 | Allow | 39 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16603175 | REAGENT FLUID CARTRIDGE STORAGE DEVICES | October 2019 | October 2022 | Abandon | 36 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 16500123 | LABORATORY AUTOMATION SYSTEM FOR HANDLING TEST TUBES | October 2019 | July 2022 | Abandon | 33 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16497843 | A SPECIMEN TREATMENT AND MEASUREMENT SYSTEM | September 2019 | February 2022 | Allow | 28 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16577871 | Electric Light Radiant Energy Control Systems | September 2019 | December 2023 | Abandon | 51 | 4 | 0 | No | No |
| 16576702 | SHIFT DETECTION METHOD AND ANALYZER PIPELINE | September 2019 | September 2021 | Allow | 24 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16567587 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ANALYZING BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS | September 2019 | March 2022 | Allow | 30 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16560129 | SAMPLE CONTAINER SUCTIONING AND HOLDING DEVICE | September 2019 | November 2023 | Abandon | 50 | 4 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16553905 | SAMPLE ANALYZER AND SAMPLE ANALYZING METHOD | August 2019 | February 2023 | Allow | 41 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 16488232 | SAMPLE ADDING SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY ADDING SPUTUM DIGESTION LIQUID | August 2019 | July 2023 | Abandon | 47 | 4 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16423867 | APPARATUS FOR MAINTENANCE OF HARVESTED HEARTS FOR TRANSPLANTING | May 2019 | January 2023 | Abandon | 44 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16410816 | METHOD AND SAMPLE ANALYZER FOR DETECTING THAT A TIP END OF A PIPETTE CONTACTS A SURFACE OF A LIQUID | May 2019 | January 2022 | Allow | 32 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16407463 | Tube Carrier | May 2019 | September 2022 | Abandon | 41 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 16396275 | APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR SAMPLE-SPECIFIC SELF-CONFIGURATION | April 2019 | February 2022 | Allow | 34 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 16378483 | POINT-OF-CARE DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEMS AND CONTAINERS FOR SAME | April 2019 | February 2022 | Allow | 34 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16372143 | CONCURRENT PROCESSING OF SAMPLES ON DIFFERENT SAMPLE CARRIERS | April 2019 | June 2022 | Abandon | 39 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 16371310 | SAMPLE RACK MOVING MECHANISM, SAMPLE RACK CONVEYING DEVICE AND SAMPLE ANALYZING EQUIPMENT | April 2019 | October 2021 | Allow | 30 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16292087 | IMMOBILIZED BUFFER PARTICLES AND USES THEREOF | March 2019 | January 2022 | Allow | 34 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16329648 | AUTOMATED SLIDE DROPPING SYSTEM | February 2019 | September 2020 | Abandon | 19 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16240579 | Methods and Systems for Slide Processing | January 2019 | April 2022 | Allow | 39 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 16150330 | Analyzer cartridge with capillary wiper | October 2018 | February 2022 | Allow | 41 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16129094 | DIAGNOSTIC CARTRIDGES HAVING FLEXIBLE SEALS | September 2018 | June 2021 | Allow | 33 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16083584 | Automatic Analysis Apparatus | September 2018 | August 2022 | Allow | 47 | 4 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16081317 | AUTOMATIC ANALYZING SYSTEM FOR IN VITRO DIAGNOSTICS | August 2018 | June 2021 | Allow | 33 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16039969 | APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR SAMPLE-SPECIFIC SELF-CONFIGURATION | July 2018 | April 2019 | Allow | 9 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 16031446 | LABORATORY DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM | July 2018 | June 2021 | Allow | 35 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16028538 | AUTOMATIC ANALYZER AND SAMPLE-PROCESSING SYSTEM | July 2018 | March 2022 | Allow | 44 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16008408 | TEST STRIP EJECTOR FOR MEDICAL DEVICE | June 2018 | January 2020 | Allow | 19 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 15986076 | SPECIMEN PROCESSING APPARATUS AND SPECIMEN PROCESSING METHOD | May 2018 | December 2021 | Allow | 42 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 15984992 | SAMPLE ANALYZER | May 2018 | February 2022 | Abandon | 45 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 15982861 | MODULAR ROBOTIC SYSTEM FOR LABORATORY DIAGNOSTICS | May 2018 | June 2019 | Abandon | 13 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 15980903 | SAMPLE ANALYZER | May 2018 | February 2024 | Abandon | 60 | 5 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 15969267 | DEVICES AND SYSTEMS WITH FLUIDIC NANOFUNNELS FOR PROCESSING SINGLE MOLECULES | May 2018 | February 2021 | Allow | 34 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 15964161 | ENHANCED FREEDOM TRANSPORTING APPARATUS IN A SAMPLE ANALYSIS SYSTEM | April 2018 | November 2023 | Abandon | 60 | 5 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 15950620 | REAGENT VESSEL FOR STORING A LIQUID REAGENT | April 2018 | March 2023 | Allow | 59 | 4 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 15766478 | Specimen Rack Transfer Device and Automatic Analysis System | April 2018 | May 2021 | Abandon | 37 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 15941596 | POINT-OF-CARE DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEMS AND CONTAINERS FOR SAME | March 2018 | August 2022 | Allow | 53 | 3 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 15940001 | SYSTEMS, ARTICLES, AND METHODS FOR FLOWING PARTICLES | March 2018 | July 2021 | Allow | 39 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 15934339 | Systems And Methods For Capacitive Fluid Level Detection, And Handling Containers | March 2018 | January 2022 | Allow | 46 | 3 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 15754892 | Automated Analyzer | February 2018 | February 2019 | Allow | 12 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 15883458 | TUBE RACK TRANSFER DEVICE AND DIAGNOSTIC INSTRUMENT | January 2018 | November 2020 | Allow | 34 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 15883375 | AUTOMATIC ANALYZER AND METHOD FOR WASHING SAMPLE-PIPETTING PROBE | January 2018 | June 2022 | Allow | 53 | 4 | 0 | Yes | No |
This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner WHATLEY, BENJAMIN R.
With a 33.3% reversal rate, the PTAB reverses the examiner's rejections in a meaningful percentage of cases. This reversal rate is above the USPTO average, indicating that appeals have better success here than typical.
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, 11.1% of applications that filed an appeal were subsequently allowed. This appeal filing benefit rate is in the bottom 25% across the USPTO, indicating that filing appeals is less effective here than in most other areas.
✓ 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 WHATLEY, BENJAMIN R works in Art Unit 1798 and has examined 348 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 69.8%, this examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 36 months.
Examiner WHATLEY, BENJAMIN R's allowance rate of 69.8% places them in the 32% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications.
On average, applications examined by WHATLEY, BENJAMIN R receive 2.52 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 74% percentile for office actions issued. This examiner issues a slightly above-average number of office actions.
The median time to disposition (half-life) for applications examined by WHATLEY, BENJAMIN R is 36 months. This places the examiner in the 35% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly slower than average with this examiner.
Conducting an examiner interview provides a +65.8% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by WHATLEY, BENJAMIN R. This interview benefit is in the 98% percentile among all examiners. Recommendation: Interviews are highly effective with this examiner and should be strongly considered as a prosecution strategy. Per MPEP § 713.10, interviews are available at any time before the Notice of Allowance is mailed or jurisdiction transfers to the PTAB.
When applicants file an RCE with this examiner, 25.1% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 39% 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.
This examiner enters after-final amendments leading to allowance in 9.5% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 9% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: This examiner rarely enters after-final amendments compared to other examiners. You should generally plan to file an RCE or appeal rather than relying on after-final amendment entry. Per MPEP § 714.12, primary examiners have discretion in entering after-final amendments, and this examiner exercises that discretion conservatively.
When applicants request a pre-appeal conference (PAC) with this examiner, 66.7% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 53% 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.
This examiner withdraws rejections or reopens prosecution in 62.5% of appeals filed. This is in the 40% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 60.0% occur early in the appeal process (after Notice of Appeal but before Appeal Brief). Strategic Insight: This examiner shows below-average willingness to reconsider rejections during appeals. Be prepared to fully prosecute appeals if filed.
When applicants file petitions regarding this examiner's actions, 61.2% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 65% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Note: Petitions show above-average success regarding this examiner's actions. Petitionable matters include restriction requirements (MPEP § 1002.02(c)(2)) and various procedural issues.
Examiner's Amendments: This examiner makes examiner's amendments in 0.3% of allowed cases (in the 55% percentile). This examiner makes examiner's amendments more often than average to place applications in condition for allowance (MPEP § 1302.04).
Quayle Actions: This examiner issues Ex Parte Quayle actions in 0.8% of allowed cases (in the 59% percentile). This examiner issues Quayle actions more often than average when claims are allowable but formal matters remain (MPEP § 714.14).
Based on the statistical analysis of this examiner's prosecution patterns, here are tailored strategic recommendations:
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.