USPTO Examiner STOUT MICHAEL C - Art Unit 2924

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
29739747DIALJune 2020September 2021Allow1500NoNo
29653699DENTAL SYRINGE CAPJune 2018April 2019Allow1000NoNo
29581714CONTAINER LINEROctober 2016November 2019Allow3711NoNo
12807861METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING AND EVALUATING PARALLEL MOTOR CONTROL FUNCTION IN THE BRAIN BASED ON ELECTROMYOGRAM SIGNALSSeptember 2010February 2013Allow2910YesNo
12304062METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETECTING AND PREVENTING PLANTAR ULCERSApril 2010March 2013Allow5110NoNo
12389778DIAGNOSTIC TEST ELEMENT AND PROCESS FOR ITS PRODUCTIONFebruary 2009July 2011Allow4121YesNo
12388878METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REAL TIME CHARACTERIZATION OF SOFT MATERIALS AND BIOLOGICAL TISSUES BASED ON NONLINEAR PROPERTIESFebruary 2009September 2014Abandon6051NoNo
12306762FLEXIBILITY ASSESSMENT APPARATUSDecember 2008March 2012Allow3911NoNo
12337785BIOPSY DEVICE WITH RETRACTABLE CUTTERDecember 2008January 2012Allow3710NoNo
12088996METHOD AND IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE FOR MEASURING AN ELECTRICAL BIO-IMPEDANCE OF A PATIENTApril 2008November 2010Allow3210YesNo
29285389LIGHT BARRIER FOR GATESMarch 2007October 2007Allow700NoNo
11727654SWALLOWING FUNCTION EVALUATING APPARATUSMarch 2007September 2009Allow2930NoNo
11673082TEST ELEMENT WITH ELASTICALLY MOUNTED LANCETFebruary 2007July 2011Allow5331YesNo
11582921ROTARY DEVICE TO GATHER MUCOUS FOR TESTINGOctober 2006November 2008Allow2520YesNo
29181182PUMP DEVICEMay 2003November 2003Allow600NoNo

Appeals Overview

No appeal data available for this record. This may indicate that no appeals have been filed or decided for applications in this dataset.

Examiner STOUT, MICHAEL C - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner STOUT, MICHAEL C works in Art Unit 2924 and has examined 15 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 93.3%, this examiner allows applications at a higher rate than most examiners at the USPTO. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 32 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner STOUT, MICHAEL C's allowance rate of 93.3% places them in the 80% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner is more likely to allow applications than most examiners at the USPTO.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by STOUT, MICHAEL C receive 1.40 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 19% percentile for office actions issued. This examiner issues significantly fewer office actions than most examiners.

Prosecution Timeline

The median time to disposition (half-life) for applications examined by STOUT, MICHAEL C is 32 months. This places the examiner in the 52% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly faster than average with this examiner.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a +10.0% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by STOUT, MICHAEL C. This interview benefit is in the 43% percentile among all examiners. Recommendation: Interviews provide a below-average benefit with this examiner.

Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Effectiveness

When applicants file an RCE with this examiner, 35.7% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 81% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Insight: RCEs are highly effective with this examiner compared to others. If you receive a final rejection, filing an RCE with substantive amendments or arguments has a strong likelihood of success.

After-Final Amendment Practice

This examiner enters after-final amendments leading to allowance in 0.0% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 3% 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.

Petition Practice

When applicants file petitions regarding this examiner's actions, 100.0% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 92% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Note: Petitions are frequently granted regarding this examiner's actions compared to other examiners. Per MPEP § 1002.02(c), various examiner actions are petitionable to the Technology Center Director, including prematureness of final rejection, refusal to enter amendments, and requirement for information. If you believe an examiner action is improper, consider filing a petition.

Examiner Cooperation and Flexibility

Examiner's Amendments: This examiner makes examiner's amendments in 20.0% of allowed cases (in the 98% 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 28.6% of allowed cases (in the 96% 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:

  • Plan for RCE after final rejection: This examiner rarely enters after-final amendments. Budget for an RCE in your prosecution strategy if you receive a final rejection.
  • RCEs are effective: This examiner has a high allowance rate after RCE compared to others. If you receive a final rejection and have substantive amendments or arguments, an RCE is likely to be successful.
  • 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.