USPTO Examiner HUTCHINS CATHLEEN R - Art Unit 3672

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
18730470SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SINGLE TRIP GRAVEL PACKING IN OPEN HOLE BOREHOLEJuly 2024July 2025Allow1110YesNo
18580623CUTTING TOOLJanuary 2024October 2024Allow810NoNo
18402298Novel Wear-Resistant and Collision-Resistant Polycrystalline Diamond Compact (PDC) Drill Bit With Rostriform Teeth and Plurality of BladesJanuary 2024September 2024Allow810NoNo
18509815MODULAR PERFORATION TOOLNovember 2023June 2025Allow1910YesNo
18240872APPROACHES TO DRILLING FLUID VOLUME MANAGEMENTAugust 2023May 2025Allow2010YesNo
18348147ANCHOR SYSTEM AND METHODJuly 2023February 2025Allow1920YesNo
18328050DOWNHOLE MONITORING OF HYDRAULIC EQUIPMENTJune 2023June 2025Allow2510YesNo
18033357CUTTING TOOLApril 2023February 2024Allow1000YesNo
18126243Gas Pump SystemMarch 2023August 2023Allow510NoNo
18026595CUTTING TOOLMarch 2023January 2024Allow1000YesNo
18115305Single-Trip Deployment And Isolation Using A Ball ValveFebruary 2023May 2025Allow2711YesNo
18173939HYDRAULIC INDEXING SYSTEMFebruary 2023April 2025Allow2610YesNo
18010273CUTTING TOOL AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SAMEDecember 2022January 2024Allow1311YesNo
18065930Systems and Methods for Downhole Service ToolsDecember 2022April 2025Allow2810YesNo
18056560Methods and Devices for Casing and Cementing WellboresNovember 2022December 2024Allow2510NoNo
17938341TUBING RETRIEVABLE SAFETY VALVE ASSEMBLY WITH SECONDARY FLAPPER AND SEATOctober 2022March 2025Allow2910NoNo
17932139UNTETHERED LOGGING DEVICES AND RELATED METHODS OF LOGGING A WELLBORESeptember 2022March 2025Allow3010NoNo
17903725TOOL WITH A BASE ELEMENT AND STUDS PROVIDED THEREON AND USE OF SUCH TOOL FOR FORMING SECANT WALLSSeptember 2022March 2025Abandon3110NoNo
17821287Reverse Circulator And MethodAugust 2022November 2024Allow2610NoNo
17816639FIXED CUTTER DRILL BITS AND CUTTER ELEMENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR SAMEAugust 2022December 2024Allow2910YesNo
17815038Energy Retaining Toe ValveJuly 2022August 2024Allow2510NoNo
17773540SENSOR ELEMENTS AND ASSEMBLIES, CUTTING TOOLS COMPRISING SAME AND METHODS OF USING SAMEApril 2022September 2024Allow2810NoNo
17696690APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PLACING A CASING PATCH IN CASING OF A WELLBOREMarch 2022February 2024Abandon2310NoNo
17692428ONE-PIECE CUTTING HEAD FOR A DRILL BITMarch 2022March 2024Allow2400NoNo
17639922PRESSURE CONTROL VALVEMarch 2022December 2023Allow2110NoNo
17584769COIL TUBING LATCH TOOLJanuary 2022July 2023Allow1800YesNo
17628658CENTRALISERJanuary 2022February 2025Allow3630YesNo
17565558ADJUSTABLE INJECTION VALVE FOR A PLUG AND ABANDONMENT ANCHORING DEVICEDecember 2021October 2023Allow2210YesNo
17561208PISTON-LESS DOWNHOLE TOOLS AND PISTON-LESS PRESSURE COMPENSATION TOOLSDecember 2021December 2023Allow2410YesNo
17613815A CUTTING ELEMENT AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAMENovember 2021May 2024Allow2920NoNo
17529611METHODS OF MANUFACTURING HIGH TEMPERATURE CONFORMABLE POLYMERIC SCREENSNovember 2021September 2023Allow2200YesNo
17595411MODULAR PERFORATION TOOLNovember 2021September 2023Allow2210YesNo
17526114METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DISCONNECTING AND RECONNECTING CASINGNovember 2021January 2024Allow2620YesNo
17510193SELECTIVELY LEACHED THERMALLY STABLE CUTTING ELEMENT IN EARTH-BORING TOOLS, EARTH-BORING TOOLS HAVING SELECTIVELY LEACHED CUTTING ELEMENTS, AND RELATED METHODSOctober 2021November 2023Allow2510YesNo
17490971ACCESSIBILITY BELOW AN ELECTRIC SUBMERSIBLE PUMP USING A Y-TOOLSeptember 2021June 2023Allow2100NoNo
17438367BOTTOMHOLE ASSEMBLYSeptember 2021November 2023Allow2610YesNo
17462392ADDRESSABLE SWITCH ASSEMBLY FOR WELLBORE SYSTEMS AND METHODAugust 2021April 2025Allow4440YesNo
17399136CASING EXIT ANCHOR WITH REDUNDANT ACTIVATION SYSTEMAugust 2021May 2023Allow2110NoNo
17393697CASING EXIT ANCHOR WITH REDUNDANT ACTIVATION SYSTEMAugust 2021May 2023Allow2110YesNo
17424188EXPANDABLE METAL PACKER SYSTEM WITH PRESSURE CONTROL DEVICEJuly 2021June 2023Allow2310YesNo
17377565MILL SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROCESSING DRILL CUTTINGSJuly 2021May 2023Allow2210NoNo
17370952GOUGING CUTTER DRILL BITJuly 2021September 2023Allow2620NoNo
17365825ISOLATING A DOWNHOLE-TYPE ELECTRIC MACHINEJuly 2021July 2023Allow2410NoNo
17361634Insert For Use With Dual-Member Pipe JointJune 2021April 2023Allow2210NoNo
17360704SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MOUNTING A CUTTER IN A DRILL BITJune 2021May 2023Allow2310YesNo
17348684PRECIPITATE-STRENGTHENED HARD METAL-DIAMOND COMPOSITEJune 2021July 2024Allow3720YesNo
17298138JARRING TOOL AND METHOD OF USEMay 2021January 2024Allow3211NoNo
17295772DISC CUTTER FOR UNDERCUTTING APPARATUS AND A METHOD OF MANUFACTURE THEREOFMay 2021December 2023Allow3010NoNo
17323537POLYCRYSTALLINE DIAMOND COMPACT AND APPLICATIONS THEREFORMay 2021April 2023Allow2310NoNo
17315776DOWNHOLE MAGNET, DOWNHOLE MAGNETIC JETTING TOOL AND METHOD OF ATTACHMENT OF MAGNET PIECES TO THE TOOL BODYMay 2021April 2023Allow2310NoNo
17232561METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR A TOE SLEEVEApril 2021April 2023Allow2310YesNo
17231371Coupling For RodsApril 2021May 2023Allow2510NoNo
17227987DISCONNECTABLE PRESSURE-PRESERVING ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AND METHOD OF INSTALLATIONApril 2021June 2023Allow2610YesNo
17198475ACTUATION VALVE SYSTEM WITH PILOT AND MAIN VALVESMarch 2021September 2023Allow3011NoNo
17196388USE OF HALBACH ARRAY IN DOWNHOLE DEBRIS RETRIEVAL MAGNETSMarch 2021September 2023Allow3020YesNo
17159362Operating Tool For an Artificial Lift SystemJanuary 2021June 2023Allow2920NoNo
17262110Wellsite Pumping Systems and Methods of OperationJanuary 2021March 2024Allow3710YesNo
17151306DRILLING TOOL HAVING PRE-FABRICATED COMPONENTSJanuary 2021January 2024Allow3621YesNo
17111251CEMENT PLACEMENT IN A WELLBORE WITH LOSS CIRCULATION ZONEDecember 2020April 2023Allow2810NoNo
17088179DIAMOND COATING ON THE CONE FOR EXPANDABLE TUBULARSNovember 2020October 2023Allow3511YesNo
17087283METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CEMENTING AND CLEANING A RESERVOIR LINERNovember 2020October 2024Allow4740NoNo
17051674Wellbore ReamerOctober 2020July 2023Allow3220NoNo
17049931SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING WEAR OF A DRILL BITOctober 2020November 2023Abandon3720YesNo
17075781PRESSURE BULKHEAD STRUCTURE WITH INTEGRATED SELECTIVE ELECTRONIC SWITCH CIRCUITRYOctober 2020April 2023Allow2910NoNo
17072464REVERSIBLE POLYCRYSTALLINE DIAMOND COMPACT BITOctober 2020July 2023Allow3311NoNo
17071928Use of Rotary Cutting Elements in Downhole MillingOctober 2020June 2023Abandon3210NoNo
17068617TALL FLANGE RUBBER ADAPTEROctober 2020June 2022Allow2020NoNo
17065236METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ANCHORING A PLUG IN A WELLBOREOctober 2020February 2023Allow2810NoNo
17065093LOW FRICTION AND HIGH WEAR RESISTANT SUCKER ROD STRINGOctober 2020February 2022Allow1610NoNo
17029594REDUCING FRICTION IN A DRILL STRING AND CLEANING A WELLBORESeptember 2020March 2023Allow3010NoNo
17028869LIFE-OF-WELL GAS LIFT SYSTEMS FOR PRODUCING A WELL AND GAS PUMP SYSTEMS HAVING PUMP CONTROL VALVES WITH BELLEVILLE WASHERSSeptember 2020October 2022Allow2500YesNo
17023573DOWNHOLE PACKER APPARATUSSeptember 2020May 2023Allow3210NoNo
17022915Single-Trip Deployment And Isolation Using A Ball ValveSeptember 2020November 2022Allow2611NoNo
16978741Downhole Well Competion SystemSeptember 2020March 2022Allow1810NoNo
17011736Drill Bore Protection Device and MethodSeptember 2020July 2023Allow3511NoNo
17004582WELL FLUID FLOW CONTROL CHOKEAugust 2020December 2022Allow2711NoNo
16999429COATINGS TO PREVENT CUTTER LOSS IN STEEL BODY PDC DOWNHOLE TOOLSAugust 2020July 2023Allow3520NoNo
16996470Method of Producing Hydrocarbon Fluids From CasingAugust 2020June 2022Abandon2210NoNo
16996492SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ELECTRICAL CONTROL OF DOWNHOLE WELL TOOLSAugust 2020March 2022Allow1931YesNo
16993489Methods and Devices for Casing and Cementing WellboresAugust 2020August 2022Allow2420NoNo
16991630ROTATABLE MULTI-HEAD BALL BITSAugust 2020November 2022Allow2730YesNo
16940038DIRECTIONAL DRILLING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CALIBRATING SAMEJuly 2020December 2021Allow1710NoNo
16933531POLYCRYSTALLINE DIAMOND COMPOSITE COMPACT ELEMENT, TOOLS INCORPORATING SAME AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAMEJuly 2020May 2022Abandon2210NoNo
16921696APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COMPLETION OPERATIONSJuly 2020August 2021Allow1300NoNo
16956395HYBRID BIT WITH ROLLER CONES HAVING INSERTSJune 2020January 2022Allow1910NoNo
16889375DOWNHOLE PUMP WITH SWITCHED RELUCTANCE MOTORJune 2020March 2022Allow2210NoNo
16866086METHODS OF FORMING COMPONENTS FOR EARTH-BORING TOOLS AND RELATED COMPONENTS AND EARTH BORING TOOLSMay 2020May 2023Abandon3701NoNo
16760853SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ELECTRO-HYDRAULIC ACTUATION OF DOWNHOLE TOOLSApril 2020November 2021Allow1910YesNo
16863873HYDROCARBON WELLS INCLUDING GAS LIFT VALVES AND METHODS OF PROVIDING GAS LIFT IN A HYDROCARBON WELLApril 2020January 2022Allow2110NoNo
16859265SMART SYSTEM FOR SELECTION OF WELLBORE DRILLING FLUID LOSS CIRCULATION MATERIALApril 2020December 2021Allow2010YesNo
16857473Directional Drilling System with CartridgesApril 2020July 2022Allow2720NoNo
16855806DOWNHOLE TOOL ACTUATORS AND RELATED METHODS FOR OIL AND GAS APPLICATIONSApril 2020December 2021Allow2010NoNo
16849266SETTING TOOL AND METHODApril 2020January 2023Abandon3330NoNo
16755751NON-ROTATING LINEAR ACTUATOR WITH HYDRAULIC FEED THROUGHApril 2020December 2022Abandon3210NoNo
16839885ANTI-PRESET FOR PACKERSApril 2020June 2021Allow1500NoNo
16651962EARTH-BORING TOOLS HAVING A GAUGE REGION CONFIGURED FOR REDUCED BIT WALK AND METHOD OF DRILLING WITH SAMEMarch 2020August 2021Allow1610NoNo
16829049CASING EXIT ANCHOR WITH REDUNDANT ACTIVATION SYSTEMMarch 2020July 2021Allow1510NoNo
16829048CASING EXIT ANCHOR WITH REDUNDANT ACTIVATION SYSTEMMarch 2020July 2021Allow1610YesNo
16649478Systems and Methods for Downhole Service ToolsMarch 2020September 2022Allow2921YesNo
16823131EARTH BORING TOOLS WITH ENHANCED HYDRAULICS ADJACENT CUTTING ELEMENTS AND METHODS OF FORMINGMarch 2020October 2022Allow3130YesNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner HUTCHINS, CATHLEEN R.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
9
Examiner Affirmed
6
(66.7%)
Examiner Reversed
3
(33.3%)
Reversal Percentile
53.7%
Higher than average

What This Means

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.

Strategic Value of Filing an Appeal

Total Appeal Filings
42
Allowed After Appeal Filing
19
(45.2%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
23
(54.8%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
71.6%
Higher 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, 45.2% of applications that filed an appeal were subsequently allowed. This appeal filing benefit rate is above the USPTO average, suggesting that filing an appeal can be an effective strategy for prompting 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 is strategically valuable. The act of filing often prompts favorable reconsideration during the mandatory appeal conference.

Examiner HUTCHINS, CATHLEEN R - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner HUTCHINS, CATHLEEN R works in Art Unit 3672 and has examined 1,137 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 83.5%, this examiner has an above-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 29 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner HUTCHINS, CATHLEEN R's allowance rate of 83.5% places them in the 52% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has an above-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by HUTCHINS, CATHLEEN R receive 1.77 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 53% 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 HUTCHINS, CATHLEEN R is 29 months. This places the examiner in the 48% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly slower than average with this examiner.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a +9.0% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by HUTCHINS, CATHLEEN R. 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, 35.1% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 74% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Insight: RCEs show above-average effectiveness with this examiner. Consider whether your amendments or new arguments are strong enough to warrant an RCE versus filing a continuation.

After-Final Amendment Practice

This examiner enters after-final amendments leading to allowance in 49.9% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 69% 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 74% 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 77.5% of appeals filed. This is in the 65% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 32.3% 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, 49.2% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 59% 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 Cooperation and Flexibility

Examiner's Amendments: This examiner makes examiner's amendments in 8.7% of allowed cases (in the 95% 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 0.6% of allowed cases (in the 51% 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:

  • 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.