USPTO Examiner HOBBS MICHAEL L - Art Unit 1799

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
19249140SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRODUCING AMMONIUM NITRATEJune 2025December 2025Allow620NoNo
19075709MONITORING AIR PRESSURE WITHIN A CELL PROCESSING SYSTEMMarch 2025July 2025Allow500NoNo
19060766APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHODS FOR CULTIVATING GREEN MICRO ALGAE (H. PLUVIALIS) AND FOR HARVESTNG ASTAXANTHIN THEREFROMFebruary 2025August 2025Allow510NoNo
19025921SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRODUCING AMMONIUM NITRATEJanuary 2025March 2025Allow200NoNo
19011561APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING AUTOMATED LOADING AND UNLOADING CONSUMABLE KIT TO CELL PROCESSING INSTRUMENTJanuary 2025March 2025Allow200NoNo
18989701NOVEL SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION OF CYCLODEXTRINS FROM CELLULOSEDecember 2024July 2025Allow610NoNo
18888633MINIATURIZED COMPARTMENT SYSTEM FOR IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION (IVF)September 2024December 2024Allow200NoNo
18815181Structure and Function of Modular Microfluidic device for In-Vitro Modeling of Human OrgansAugust 2024December 2024Allow400NoNo
18810386BIOREACTORS AND METHODS OF THEIR USE IN AUTOMATIC CELL PROCESSING SYSTEMSAugust 2024August 2025Allow1220YesNo
18810388SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS FOR FLUID CONTROL IN A CELL PROCESSING SYSTEMAugust 2024October 2024Allow200NoNo
18746891PACKED-BED BIOREACTOR SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF USING THE SAMEJune 2024May 2025Allow1110NoNo
18732410METHODS OF CELL CULTURE FOR ADOPTIVE CELL THERAPYJune 2024June 2025Allow1320NoNo
18709000FERMENTATION SYSTEM, FEED CONTROLLER, AND RELATED METHODSMay 2024November 2024Allow710NoNo
18657225CONJUGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING CONJUGATESMay 2024May 2025Allow1310YesNo
18652012SELECTIVELY VENTED BIOLOGICAL ASSAY DEVICES AND ASSOCIATED METHODSMay 2024July 2025Abandon1510NoNo
18641830Heat Transfer Baffle System and Uses ThereofApril 2024July 2025Allow1410NoNo
18635264PORTABLE, EX VIVO, NORMOTHERMIC LIMB PERFUSION MACHINEApril 2024February 2025Allow1000NoNo
18611632SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS FOR ELECTROPORATION WITHIN A CELL PROCESSING SYSTEMMarch 2024August 2024Allow510YesNo
18606828METHODS AND DEVICES FOR ELECTROPORATIONMarch 2024February 2025Allow1110NoNo
18593868SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR IMMUNE CELLS EXPANSION AND ACTIVATION IN LARGE SCALEMarch 2024February 2025Allow1120NoNo
18593869SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR IMMUNE CELLS EXPANSION AND ACTIVATION IN LARGE SCALEMarch 2024February 2025Allow1220YesNo
18584399CRYOPRESERVATION DEVICE WITH INTEGRATED TRACKING DEVICE CHAMBERFebruary 2024June 2024Allow410NoNo
18582765DENDRITIC CELL GENERATING APPARATUS AND METHODFebruary 2024January 2025Allow1110NoNo
18430569CELL CULTURE INCUBATORS WITH INTEGRATED CELL MANIPULATION SYSTEMSFebruary 2024March 2025Allow1310NoNo
18430191Devices and Methods to Improve and Assess Viability of Human LiversFebruary 2024February 2025Allow1210NoNo
18427144AUTOMATED CELL CULTURE INCUBATORJanuary 2024August 2024Allow600NoNo
18409567METHODS FOR CULTIVATING TISSUE ON POROUS SUBSTRATESJanuary 2024April 2025Allow1500NoNo
18401436CELL CULTUREDecember 2023September 2024Allow920NoNo
18397263METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR RECYCLING TAIL GAS IN SYNGAS FERMENTATION TO ETHANOLDecember 2023November 2024Allow1010NoNo
18395288SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATED PREPARATION OF A REGENERATIVE EPIDERMAL SUSPENSION AND RELATED METHODS OF USEDecember 2023June 2024Allow610YesNo
18391291METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR NUCLEIC ACID ANALYSISDecember 2023May 2025Allow1610NoNo
18542048CELL-BASED MEAT PRODUCTS AND CELL BIOMASSES WITH CELLS CULTIVATED IN A FILTER CAKEDecember 2023May 2025Allow1720YesNo
18537653METHODS FOR MODELING DISEASE TISSUE USING THREE-DIMENSIONAL TISSUE SYSTEMSDecember 2023August 2024Allow800NoNo
18529198MICROFLUIDIC MODEL OF THE BLOOD BRAIN BARRIERDecember 2023April 2025Allow1610NoNo
18516598GENE SEQUENCING REACTION DEVICE, GENE SEQUENCING SYSTEM, AND GENE SEQUENCING REACTION METHODNovember 2023November 2024Allow1110NoNo
18511208METHODS OF CELL CULTURE FOR ADOPTIVE CELL THERAPYNovember 2023January 2024Allow200NoNo
18496516SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VERTICALLY-ORIENTED COMPOSTINGOctober 2023January 2025Abandon1510NoNo
18382827FIXED BED BIOREACTOR AND METHODS OF USING THE SAMEOctober 2023June 2024Allow700NoNo
18491404SINGLE-MOLECULE PLATFORM FOR DRUG DISCOVERY: METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR DRUG DISCOVERY, INCLUDING DISCOVERY OF ANTICANCER AND ANTIVIRAL AGENTSOctober 2023January 2025Allow1510NoNo
18490598METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A COMPOSITE SENSOROctober 2023October 2024Allow1210NoNo
18490493GLOMERULUS ON A CHIP TO RECAPITULATE GLOMERULAR FILTRATION BARRIEROctober 2023June 2024Allow810NoNo
18381368ELECTROPORATION APPARATUS AND METHODOctober 2023August 2024Allow1010NoNo
18380532MICROFLUIDIC TISSUE BIOPSY AND IMMUNE RESPONSE DRUG EVALUATION DEVICES AND SYSTEMSOctober 2023July 2025Abandon2130NoNo
18279639BIOCHIP FOR CRYOPRESERVATION OR THAWING AND RESUSCITATION OF BIOLOGICAL TISSUEAugust 2023February 2026Allow3000NoNo
18274930PATHOGENIC SUSCEPTIBILITY ASSESSMENT BASED ON AUTOFLUORESENCEJuly 2023February 2026Allow3000NoNo
18222633SYSTEM FOR GAS TREATMENT OF A CELL IMPLANTJuly 2023April 2024Allow900NoNo
18352942SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EXTRACTION AND CRYOPRESERVATION OF BONE MARROWJuly 2023December 2024Allow1710NoNo
18208548Cell Transfection By Precise Mechanical Membrane DisruptionJune 2023December 2024Allow1920NoNo
18266055THERMAL CYCLER AND GENETIC INSPECTION APPARATUSJune 2023January 2026Allow3100NoNo
18206501PACKED-BED BIOREACTOR SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF USING THE SAMEJune 2023March 2024Allow900NoNo
18200942SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR IMMUNE CELLS EXPANSION AND ACTIVATION IN LARGE SCALEMay 2023January 2024Allow810NoNo
18037398HYPERUNIFORM-STRUCTURED PROFILING SYSTEMMay 2023March 2026Allow3410NoNo
18252529MICROFLUIDIC AND MEMS CELL LYSIS SYSTEM AND METHODMay 2023December 2025Allow3100YesNo
18312076ARRAY OF NEEDLE MANIPULATORS FOR BIOLOGICAL CELL INJECTIONMay 2023April 2025Abandon2420NoNo
18143005Bioartificial Ultrafiltration Device and Methods Related TheretoMay 2023April 2024Allow1100NoNo
18310674ORGANIC MATTER PROCESSING APPARATUS FOR PROMOTING NET REDUCTION OF METHANE AND OTHER GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONSMay 2023May 2024Allow1310NoNo
18310832SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EX-VIVO ORGAN CAREMay 2023July 2024Allow1410NoNo
18309743INCUBATION MONITORING APPARATUSApril 2023March 2025Allow2322YesNo
18304957CELL CULTURING SYSTEM AND METHODApril 2023March 2025Allow2310NoNo
18304271Integrated waste removal system for cell culture bioreactorApril 2023March 2026Allow3510NoNo
18303258SYSTEM FOR RAPID COOLING AND WARMING OF CELLS AND OTHER BIOLOGICAL MATERIALApril 2023September 2024Allow1710YesNo
18301235SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VERTICALLY-ORIENTED COMPOSTINGApril 2023September 2023Allow500NoNo
18030665SURFACE-MODIFIED CELL CULTURE SUBSTRATES AND METHODS OF MODIFYING CELL CULTURE SUBSTRATESApril 2023February 2026Allow3510NoNo
18130668PACKED-BED BIOREACTOR SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF USING THE SAMEApril 2023April 2024Allow1210NoNo
18194954SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PREPARING A THROMBIN SERUMApril 2023June 2024Allow1510NoNo
18129212In situ CHROMATIC BIOSENSORMarch 2023February 2026Allow3410NoNo
18126289CLUSTER AIRLIFT BIOREACTORMarch 2023September 2023Allow610YesNo
18188495SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUS FOR COMPOSTING AND WASTE REDUCTION TOKEN CREATION, VALIDATION AND STORAGEMarch 2023November 2025Abandon3210NoNo
18246160METHOD FOR DETECTING COMPOSITION OF FERMENTATION GAS OF GUT FLORA AND INSTRUMENT THEREFORMarch 2023December 2025Allow3310NoNo
18123731INTRACELLULAR DELIVERY USING MICROFLUIDICS-ASSISTED CELL SCREENING (MACS)March 2023March 2025Abandon2420NoNo
18186827SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CELL DISSOCIATIONMarch 2023July 2024Allow1510YesNo
18026125CALCULATION DEVICE, CONTROL DEVICE, CULTURE SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR DESIGNING CULTURE SYSTEMMarch 2023October 2023Allow700NoNo
18044859FLUID COUPLING NETWORK FOR SAMPLING A BIOREACTORMarch 2023February 2026Allow3510NoNo
18179477TISSUE MATURATION BIOREACTOR SYSTEMS WITH UNIFORM CELL DISTRIBUTIONMarch 2023November 2025Allow3200NoNo
181165504D-PERFUSED TUMOROID-ON-A-CHIP PLATFORM FOR PERSONALIZED CANCER TREATMENT APPLICATIONSMarch 2023November 2023Allow900NoNo
18115985WELL PLATE AND 3D CULTURE PLATE COMPRISING THE SAMEMarch 2023February 2026Allow3620YesNo
18021949AUTOMATED FOAM DETECTIONFebruary 2023February 2026Allow3510YesNo
18168084PROCESS AND SYSTEM FOR PROPAGATING CELL CULTURES WHILE PREVENTING LACTATE ACCUMULATIONFebruary 2023January 2024Allow1110NoNo
18041363CULTURED TISSUE AND BIOREACTOR SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRODUCTION THEREOFFebruary 2023March 2026Allow3710NoNo
18000696CELL CULTURE DEVICEFebruary 2023January 2026Allow3710NoNo
18166448Plate Guided Arrayer for Construction of Tissue Array BlocksFebruary 2023December 2024Allow2211NoNo
18163341SUBSTRATE OF CELL CULTURE CONTAINER, AND CELL CULTURE CONTAINERFebruary 2023December 2025Allow3410NoNo
18103960CELL CULTURE CONTROL DEVICE, CELL CULTURE DEVICE PROVIDED WITH SAME, CELL CULTURE CONTROL METHOD, AND CELL CULTURE CONTROL PROGRAMJanuary 2023October 2025Allow3200NoNo
18159311ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING THE SAMEJanuary 2023January 2026Allow3610NoNo
18014897Support and System for Engineered TissueJanuary 2023March 2026Allow3811NoNo
18004567DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CELL CULTIVATIONJanuary 2023January 2026Allow3710NoNo
18150632CONJUGATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING CONJUGATESJanuary 2023February 2024Allow1310NoNo
18014025CELL RECOVERY DEVICEDecember 2022March 2026Abandon3810NoNo
18012613DEFORMABILITY OF A CELL RESPONSIVE TO A PRESSURE WAVEDecember 2022January 2026Allow3711NoNo
18084588MICRO-ORGAN SPECIFICITY MAINTENANCE SYSTEMDecember 2022March 2026Abandon3910NoNo
18083569BIOLOGICAL TISSUE FORMING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FORMING BIOLOGICAL TISSUEDecember 2022December 2025Allow3610NoNo
18063653PERFUSION SYSTEMS AND CELL CULTIVATION PERFUSION SYSTEMSDecember 2022December 2025Allow3710NoNo
18076203BIOREACTOR WITH SCAFFOLDSDecember 2022November 2023Allow1100NoNo
18061732Dendritic Cell GeneratorDecember 2022March 2024Allow1500NoNo
18061290PLATELET-RICH PLASMA ACTIVATION SYSTEM AND METHODDecember 2022July 2025Allow3200NoNo
18007628A RANDOM ACCESS REAL-TIME QUANTITATIVE POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION (qPCR) REACTOR SYSTEMDecember 2022September 2025Allow3300YesNo
17928197A CELL CULTURE CHAMBER DEVICE FOR CELL AND TISSUE GROWTHNovember 2022January 2026Allow3811YesNo
17999860SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND CELL POTENTIAL MEASURING DEVICENovember 2022November 2025Allow3510NoNo
17987978CONTACTLESS SELECTION DEVICE, LIGHT SENSING STRUCTURE THEREOF, AND BIOLOGICAL PARTICLE SELECTION APPARATUSNovember 2022July 2025Allow3200NoNo
17985675SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CARDIOMYOCYTE PACINGNovember 2022July 2024Abandon2010NoNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner HOBBS, MICHAEL L.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
14
Examiner Affirmed
9
(64.3%)
Examiner Reversed
5
(35.7%)
Reversal Percentile
56.9%
Higher than average

What This Means

With a 35.7% 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.

Strategic Value of Filing an Appeal

Total Appeal Filings
41
Allowed After Appeal Filing
6
(14.6%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
35
(85.4%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
17.6%
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, 14.6% 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.

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 HOBBS, MICHAEL L - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner HOBBS, MICHAEL L works in Art Unit 1799 and has examined 717 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 76.3%, this examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 32 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner HOBBS, MICHAEL L's allowance rate of 76.3% places them in the 42% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by HOBBS, MICHAEL L receive 2.05 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 54% 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 HOBBS, MICHAEL L is 32 months. This places the examiner in the 50% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly faster than average with this examiner.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a +23.5% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by HOBBS, MICHAEL L. This interview benefit is in the 70% percentile among all examiners. Recommendation: Interviews provide an above-average benefit with this examiner and are worth considering.

Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Effectiveness

When applicants file an RCE with this examiner, 26.3% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 43% 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 43.7% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 67% 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, 15.4% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 25% percentile among all examiners. Note: Pre-appeal conferences show below-average success with this examiner. Consider whether your arguments are strong enough to warrant a PAC request.

Appeal Withdrawal and Reconsideration

This examiner withdraws rejections or reopens prosecution in 61.1% of appeals filed. This is in the 38% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 36.4% 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.

Petition Practice

When applicants file petitions regarding this examiner's actions, 49.0% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 45% 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 0.0% of allowed cases (in the 8% percentile). This examiner rarely makes examiner's amendments compared to other examiners. You should expect to make all necessary claim amendments yourself through formal amendment practice.

Quayle Actions: This examiner issues Ex Parte Quayle actions in 17.6% of allowed cases (in the 93% percentile). Per MPEP § 714.14, a Quayle action indicates that all claims are allowable but formal matters remain. This examiner frequently uses Quayle actions compared to other examiners, which is a positive indicator that once substantive issues are resolved, allowance follows quickly.

Prosecution Strategy Recommendations

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

    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.