Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.
| Application Number | Title | Filing Date | Disposal Date | Disposition | Time (months) | Office Actions | Restrictions | Interview | Appeal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19229631 | FAST-ACTING SWELLABLE DOWNHOLE SEAL | June 2025 | February 2026 | Allow | 8 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18852722 | LOCATOR FOR SURVEY APPARATUS | September 2024 | February 2026 | Allow | 16 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18651882 | MULTIPLE STAGE CEMENTING TOOL AND METHOD OF USE | May 2024 | March 2025 | Allow | 10 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18616775 | SUBSURFACE SAFETY VALVE INCLUDING AN ELECTROPERMANENT MAGNET AND TARGET | March 2024 | February 2026 | Allow | 23 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18419779 | DEVICE FOR CENTERING A SENSOR ASSEMBLY IN A BORE | January 2024 | January 2026 | Allow | 24 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18541898 | METHOD FOR FORMING UNDERGROUND FLOWLINES WITH ELECTRONIC TRACKING | December 2023 | March 2025 | Allow | 15 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18540279 | SOLID PARTICLE HANDLING ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR USE OF SAME | December 2023 | May 2025 | Allow | 17 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18370925 | Segmented Retainer For High Pressure Barriers | September 2023 | April 2025 | Allow | 19 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18453417 | NON-EQUIDISTANT OPEN TRANSMISSION LINES FOR ELECTROMAGNETIC HEATING AND METHOD OF USE | August 2023 | October 2025 | Allow | 26 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18358016 | TORQUE-ADAPTIVE IMPACT TOOL SUITABLE FOR PDC BIT | July 2023 | March 2026 | Allow | 32 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18346195 | SPLIT BLADE DRILL BIT | June 2023 | July 2025 | Allow | 25 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 18204312 | Swivel Sub With Intermediate Lug For Extended Rotation | May 2023 | June 2025 | Allow | 24 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18313872 | DOWNHOLE PLUG WITH INTEGRATED SLIP COVER AND EXPANSION ELEMENT | May 2023 | September 2025 | Allow | 28 | 3 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18307940 | BEARING ASSEMBLY FOR A DUAL ROD DIRECTIONAL DRILLING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USE | April 2023 | August 2025 | Allow | 28 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18249015 | IMPROVED APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CREATING TUNABLE PRESSURE PULSE | April 2023 | October 2025 | Allow | 30 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18031446 | WELL TOOL DEVICE FOR TRANSPORTING A HEAT GENERATING MIXTURE INTO A WELL PIPE | April 2023 | July 2024 | Allow | 15 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18132875 | DOWNHOLE SETTING SYSTEM FOR USE IN A WELLBORE | April 2023 | August 2025 | Abandon | 28 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18190794 | APPARATUS FOR RETRIEVING DEEP-SEA NODULES | March 2023 | November 2025 | Allow | 31 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18180074 | Controlled Deformation and Shape Recovery of Packing Elements | March 2023 | September 2024 | Allow | 19 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18179595 | SPRING LOADED LIFT FRAME FOR A SNOWPLOW ASSEMBLY | March 2023 | August 2025 | Allow | 30 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18165609 | SINGULATOR INSERT FOR 3D SINGULATION AND SEED ORIENTATION | February 2023 | October 2025 | Allow | 33 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18103513 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TESTING OF THE DOWNHOLE CONNECTOR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DURING INSTALLATION | January 2023 | December 2024 | Allow | 23 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18102749 | METHOD FOR TESTING OF THE DOWNHOLE CONNECTOR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DURING INSTALLATION | January 2023 | July 2023 | Allow | 6 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18146436 | MULTI-ZONE PERFORATE AND TREAT METHOD | December 2022 | June 2025 | Allow | 30 | 3 | 0 | Yes | Yes |
| 18084680 | Drilling Dynamics Data Recorder | December 2022 | April 2024 | Abandon | 16 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 18082396 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR A FRAC PLUG | December 2022 | December 2024 | Allow | 24 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18071657 | Ultra-High Expansion Downhole Packer | November 2022 | May 2023 | Allow | 6 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17990859 | WELLBORE CLEAN-OUT TOOL | November 2022 | September 2023 | Allow | 10 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17978828 | Pre-Positioning A Meltable Seal For Plug And Abandonment | November 2022 | February 2025 | Allow | 27 | 3 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18050393 | HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONAL DRILLING RIG WITH ELECTRICAL BUSS BAR | October 2022 | September 2023 | Allow | 10 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17956709 | HIGH EXPANSION MULTI-SLIP FRAC PLUG WITH NARROW CROSS-SECTION | September 2022 | August 2025 | Allow | 35 | 3 | 1 | No | No |
| 17956482 | STAND ALONE COMPRESSION PACKER | September 2022 | March 2025 | Abandon | 30 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 17954437 | LATERAL LINER INCLUDING A VALVED WIPER PLUG ASSEMBLY | September 2022 | March 2026 | Allow | 42 | 4 | 1 | Yes | Yes |
| 17952692 | CONTROLLING A WELLBORE PRESSURE | September 2022 | April 2024 | Allow | 18 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17907142 | ROW CLEANER | September 2022 | October 2025 | Allow | 37 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17934381 | DEVICE FOR CENTERING A SENSOR ASSEMBLY IN A BORE | September 2022 | March 2023 | Allow | 5 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17933375 | Wheel Assembly | September 2022 | April 2023 | Allow | 7 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17931296 | FLOW SPLITTER AND AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS HAVING FLOW SPLITTERS | September 2022 | August 2025 | Allow | 35 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17942236 | DOWNHOLE ENERGY HARVESTING | September 2022 | April 2025 | Abandon | 31 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17899836 | Safety Clutch System for Circulation/Fill-up/Flowback Tool | August 2022 | April 2025 | Allow | 31 | 0 | 1 | No | No |
| 17897895 | SEALING OF WELLS WITH BIOMASS WASTE | August 2022 | July 2024 | Abandon | 23 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17893737 | Expandable Drill Pipe Centralizer/Stabilizer | August 2022 | December 2023 | Allow | 15 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17883583 | SYSTEM FOR TEMPORARY ISOLATION AND OPENING BY AUTOMATIC PRESSURE BREAK IN A PRODUCTION PIPE | August 2022 | February 2024 | Abandon | 18 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17874061 | PUMP OUT STAGE CEMENTING SYSTEM | July 2022 | July 2024 | Allow | 23 | 0 | 1 | No | No |
| 17863096 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CARBON DIOXIDE SEQUESTRATION INJECTION | July 2022 | July 2024 | Abandon | 24 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 17811568 | SELF-ASSEMBLING POROUS GRAVEL PACK IN A WELLBORE | July 2022 | October 2023 | Allow | 15 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17808344 | A Method for Operating a Top Drive | June 2022 | May 2023 | Allow | 11 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17785891 | NON-METALLIC WEAR BANDS FOR OILFIELD RODS AND TUBULARS, AND METHODS OF FORMING SAME | June 2022 | April 2025 | Abandon | 34 | 2 | 1 | No | No |
| 17827689 | Motor Power Section with Integrated Sensors | May 2022 | February 2023 | Allow | 9 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17741039 | Fast-Acting Swellable Downhole Seal | May 2022 | April 2025 | Allow | 35 | 6 | 0 | Yes | Yes |
| 17737832 | Liner Hanger for Use With an Expansion Tool Having an Adjustable Cone | May 2022 | March 2023 | Allow | 11 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17724745 | PRESSURE COLLAPSIBLE CLOSED CELLULAR SWELL PACKER | April 2022 | December 2025 | Allow | 44 | 4 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17659884 | THERMALLY EXPANDING SEALING ELEMENTS | April 2022 | August 2025 | Abandon | 40 | 5 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17659511 | Self-Powered Downhole Electrolysis Tool | April 2022 | June 2024 | Abandon | 26 | 0 | 1 | No | No |
| 17657441 | CONTRACTIBLE TUBING FOR PRODUCTION | March 2022 | July 2025 | Abandon | 39 | 4 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17693771 | METHOD OF LIFTING FLUIDS FROM A PRODUCING FORMATION TO A SURFACE LOCATION | March 2022 | February 2023 | Allow | 11 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17680982 | Packer Setting Mechanism with Setting Load Booster | February 2022 | May 2024 | Allow | 27 | 2 | 1 | No | No |
| 17669490 | Wear-Resistant Annular Seal Assembly and Straddle Packer Incorporating Same | February 2022 | March 2024 | Allow | 25 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17587022 | Plug Assembly With Sloped Walls | January 2022 | August 2023 | Abandon | 19 | 5 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17630724 | DRILL BIT WITH MULTIPLE CUTTING STRUCTURES | January 2022 | September 2023 | Allow | 20 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17648912 | Systems and Methods for Plugging an Oil Well | January 2022 | March 2024 | Abandon | 26 | 0 | 1 | No | No |
| 17579972 | Adaptive Control of Rotating or Non-Rotating Transducer and Sensors Casing Stand-Off Supported by Casing Centralizers | January 2022 | September 2024 | Allow | 32 | 3 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17577086 | Real-Time Monitoring Of Swellpackers | January 2022 | August 2024 | Allow | 31 | 3 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17565147 | SINGLE SLIP FRAC TOOL | December 2021 | April 2024 | Allow | 27 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17643657 | SYSTEMS FOR A DISSOLVABLE MATERIAL BASED DOWNHOLE TOOL | December 2021 | June 2023 | Allow | 18 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17546984 | SEALING ASSEMBLY FOR WELLBORE OPERATIONS | December 2021 | September 2024 | Allow | 33 | 4 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17540842 | Wiper Barrier Plug Assemblies | December 2021 | January 2024 | Abandon | 26 | 2 | 1 | No | No |
| 17457367 | MULTI-EXPANSION PACKER SYSTEM HAVING AN EXPANDABLE INNER PART DISPOSED WITHIN AN OUTER PART OF THE PACKER | December 2021 | April 2023 | Allow | 16 | 0 | 1 | No | No |
| 17537743 | Methods for Increasing the Amplitude of Reciprocal Extensions and Contractions of a Shock Tool for Drilling Operations | November 2021 | August 2023 | Allow | 20 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 17450617 | DAMPING VIBRATION IN COILED TUBING | October 2021 | July 2025 | Abandon | 45 | 4 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17494182 | PLUG AND ABANDONMENT SYSTEM | October 2021 | September 2024 | Allow | 35 | 3 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17493944 | EXPANDABLE METAL SEALING/ANCHORING TOOL | October 2021 | March 2025 | Allow | 42 | 3 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17489170 | A Method for Communicating Electrical Signals in a Well | September 2021 | July 2023 | Allow | 21 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17442598 | PACKER ASSEMBLY FOR DEFORMING WELLBORE CASING | September 2021 | December 2023 | Allow | 26 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 17470378 | METHOD OF DRILLING A WELLBORE | September 2021 | February 2023 | Allow | 17 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17437649 | A DEVICE FOR CENTERING A SENSOR ASSEMBLY IN A BORE | September 2021 | October 2023 | Allow | 25 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17437223 | ROCK CRUSHING UNIT FOR WIDENING A PILOT HOLE MADE ON ROCKY TERRAIN | September 2021 | February 2024 | Allow | 29 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17458856 | Solid-State Damping Of Mechanical Vibration In Tool String | August 2021 | May 2023 | Allow | 21 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17395870 | EXPANDABLE METAL DISPLACEMENT PLUG | August 2021 | March 2025 | Allow | 43 | 3 | 1 | No | No |
| 17393212 | Drill String with Centralizer | August 2021 | September 2024 | Allow | 37 | 3 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17388607 | WELL INTEGRITY SMART JOINT | July 2021 | May 2023 | Abandon | 21 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 17423366 | SLEEVED GUN CONNECTION | July 2021 | December 2024 | Allow | 41 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17422546 | Flotation Apparatus for Providing Buoyancy to Tubular Members | July 2021 | August 2024 | Allow | 37 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17371761 | INTERNALLY MOUNTED AND ACTUATED PACKER SYSTEM | July 2021 | February 2025 | Abandon | 44 | 4 | 1 | No | No |
| 17361402 | TAGGING ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A SACRIFICIAL STOP COMPONENT | June 2021 | February 2025 | Allow | 43 | 4 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17353083 | WELL COLLAPSE RECONNECT METHOD | June 2021 | April 2025 | Allow | 45 | 3 | 0 | No | No |
| 17352152 | NON-CONDENSABLE GAS MANAGEMENT DURING PRODUCTION OF IN-SITU HYDROCARBONS | June 2021 | January 2023 | Allow | 19 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17343863 | SEALING ASSEMBLY FOR DISSOLVABLE BRIDGE PLUG, A DISSOLVABLE BRIDGE PLUG AND A SEALING METHOD FOR GAP | June 2021 | September 2022 | Allow | 16 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 17335773 | Mechanical Rotary Steering Drilling Tool | June 2021 | November 2022 | Allow | 18 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17335351 | HYDRAULICALLY POWERED CENTRALIZER DEVICE FOR BOREHOLE AND METHOD | June 2021 | January 2024 | Allow | 32 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17334363 | INDIVIDUAL SEPARATE CHUNKS OF EXPANDABLE METAL | May 2021 | March 2025 | Allow | 45 | 3 | 1 | No | No |
| 17334612 | COMPLETION PLUG FOR WELL COMPLETION | May 2021 | October 2024 | Allow | 41 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17330727 | RUPTURE DISK, METHOD AND SYSTEM | May 2021 | March 2024 | Allow | 34 | 5 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17323022 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMAGING A PROPPANT IN A HYDRAULICALLY-FRACTURED OIL RESERVOIR | May 2021 | October 2022 | Allow | 17 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17317556 | HEATING A FORMATION OF THE EARTH WHILE DRILLING A WELLBORE | May 2021 | January 2023 | Allow | 20 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17313367 | CHEMICAL INJECTION SYSTEM FOR COMPLETED WELLBORES | May 2021 | September 2024 | Abandon | 41 | 5 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17233215 | Shearable Sleeve | April 2021 | May 2023 | Allow | 25 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17228105 | MULTIPLE LAYERS OF OPEN-HOLE SEAL IN A WELLBORE | April 2021 | February 2024 | Allow | 34 | 4 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17228291 | EXPANDABLE METAL AS BACKUP FOR ELASTOMERIC ELEMENTS | April 2021 | February 2025 | Allow | 47 | 3 | 1 | No | No |
| 17222078 | Integrated Well Logging Systems and Methods | April 2021 | April 2023 | Allow | 24 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner YAO, THEODORE N.
With a 0.0% reversal rate, the PTAB affirms the examiner's rejections in the vast majority of cases. This reversal rate is in the bottom 25% across the USPTO, indicating that appeals face significant challenges here.
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, 35.0% 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.
⚠ Appeals to PTAB face challenges. Ensure your case has strong merit before committing to full Board review.
✓ Filing a Notice of Appeal is strategically valuable. The act of filing often prompts favorable reconsideration during the mandatory appeal conference.
Examiner YAO, THEODORE N works in Art Unit 3676 and has examined 231 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 64.9%, this examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 34 months.
Examiner YAO, THEODORE N's allowance rate of 64.9% places them in the 25% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications.
On average, applications examined by YAO, THEODORE N receive 3.02 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 87% percentile for office actions issued. This examiner issues more office actions than most examiners, which may indicate thorough examination or difficulty in reaching agreement with applicants.
The median time to disposition (half-life) for applications examined by YAO, THEODORE N is 34 months. This places the examiner in the 45% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly slower than average with this examiner.
Conducting an examiner interview provides a +42.0% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by YAO, THEODORE N. This interview benefit is in the 88% 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, 22.2% 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.
This examiner enters after-final amendments leading to allowance in 11.5% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 11% 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, 88.9% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 67% 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 61.9% of appeals filed. This is in the 40% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 38.5% 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, 46.7% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 41% 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's Amendments: This examiner makes examiner's amendments in 0.0% of allowed cases (in the 39% percentile). This examiner makes examiner's amendments less often than average. You may need to make most claim amendments yourself.
Quayle Actions: This examiner issues Ex Parte Quayle actions in 12.0% of allowed cases (in the 90% 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.
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.