USPTO Examiner CIGNA JACOB JAMES - Art Unit 3726

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
18817833DOLL SHOE WITH IMPROVED RETENTIONAugust 2024May 2025Allow810NoNo
18753681DENTAL APPLIANCE AND METHOD FOR MAKING THE SAMEJune 2024May 2025Allow1100NoNo
18719121METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING GRIPPING TOOLJune 2024April 2025Allow1000NoNo
18735354METHOD OF SERVICING OR INSTALLING A COMPONENT OF A WIND TURBINE USING A CRANEJune 2024December 2024Allow610YesNo
18733261RAMP LOCK EXTRACTOR TOOLS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR DISASSEMBLING MUTLIPART COMPONENT BODIESJune 2024February 2025Allow811YesNo
18622221FastenerMarch 2024February 2025Allow1100NoNo
18400188INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AXIAL RETENTION DEVICEDecember 2023February 2025Allow1410NoNo
18544198METHOD FOR ACHIEVING A TARGET JOINT PRELOADDecember 2023May 2025Allow1711YesNo
18289229AUTOMATED MODULAR CONSTRUCTION FACTORY METHOD AND SYSTEMNovember 2023April 2025Abandon1800NoNo
18144334APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TAPPING A VALVE OF A HOST PIPE LINED WITH A LINERMay 2023June 2025Allow2511NoNo
18249304EXPANSION JOINTApril 2023March 2025Allow2321YesNo
18182999NUT PLATE GRIPPERS, END EFFECTORS THAT INCLUDE NUT PLATE GRIPPERS, ROBOTS THAT INCLUDE END EFFECTORS, INSTALLATION SYSTEMS THAT INCLUDE ROBOTS, AND RELATED METHODSMarch 2023July 2024Allow1610NoNo
18008734REPAIR SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING AT LEAST ONE REPAIR TASK IN A WIND TURBINEDecember 2022June 2025Allow3130YesNo
17917245METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SINTERED PRODUCT FROM THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECT, AND 3D SHAPING INKJET INKOctober 2022March 2025Allow2911YesNo
17789220METHOD OF MANUFACTURING MEDICAL IMPLANTJune 2022March 2025Allow3300NoNo
17804131PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING A TREAD MOLDING ELEMENT OF A TIRE-MOLD COMPRISING A THERMOSETTING POLYMERMay 2022February 2025Allow3200NoNo
17749430ADDITIVELY MANUFACTURED HEAT EXCHANGER WITH SPECIAL SURFACE ROUGHNESSMay 2022February 2025Allow3310YesNo
17772534METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING ONE-PIECE WHEEL HAVING HOLLOW STRUCTURE FOR REDUCING NOISE, AND ONE-PIECE WHEEL USING SAMEApril 2022June 2025Abandon3810NoNo
17669559SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DRILLING HOLES AND INSTALLING FASTENERS IN VEHICLE STRUCTURESFebruary 2022June 2025Allow4011NoNo
17556996ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING AND GENERATIVE DESIGN HYDRAULIC SHUTTLE VALVEDecember 2021February 2025Allow3831YesNo
17514496TAPERED CUP AND METHOD OF FORMING THE SAMEOctober 2021April 2025Allow4131YesNo
17410246MEDICAL INSTRUMENT AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A MEDICAL INSTRUMENTAugust 2021April 2025Allow4421NoNo
17431958A METHOD OF PROCESSING PROFILES IN A PROFILE PROCESSING ASSEMBLY AND A PROFILE INFEED ASSEMBLY FOR TRANSPORTING PROFILES TOWARDS A WORKING MACHINEAugust 2021January 2025Allow4130NoNo
17393092METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A TRACTION ELEMENT USING A CORING PROCESSAugust 2021November 2022Allow1500YesNo
17288038ARRAY-SPRAYING ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING LARGE-SIZED EQUIAXED CRYSTAL ALUMINUM ALLOY INGOTApril 2021August 2022Allow1620YesNo
17192115TURBINE BEARING MAINTENANCE APPARATUS AND METHODMarch 2021December 2022Allow2110YesNo
17155378Grease Fitting Installation Tool and MethodJanuary 2021February 2023Allow2420NoNo
17104386FABRICATION METHOD FOR LOOP HEAT PIPENovember 2020August 2022Allow2110NoNo
17088348BREAST MOTION SIMULATORNovember 2020May 2022Abandon1810NoNo
17072075ADJUSTABLE SPACER WITH HARDENED ENDSOctober 2020January 2025Allow5160NoNo
17015355VEHICLE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING VEHICLE BODYSeptember 2020January 2022Allow1620YesNo
17002885Reduced Weight Magnetic CylinderAugust 2020August 2021Allow1100NoNo
16969225DIGITAL INTEGRATED MOLDING METHOD FOR DENTAL ATTACHMENTSAugust 2020October 2021Allow1410NoNo
16925330VENTILATED THREE DIMENSIONAL STRUCTURE FROM ADDITIVE MANUFACTURE FOR EASY POWDER REMOVAL DURING POST PROCESSJuly 2020April 2022Allow2110NoNo
16767746DENTAL PROSTHESIS MOLDING BLOCK AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A DENTAL PROSTHESIS PART FROM THE DENTAL PROSTHESIS MOLDING BLOCKMay 2020April 2025Allow5940YesNo
16760862METHOD FOR PRODUCING MOLDED ARTICLE, PRODUCTION DEVICE, AND MOLDED ARTICLEApril 2020February 2022Allow2110YesNo
16851959SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CRIMPING A PROSTHETIC VALVEApril 2020February 2022Allow2210NoNo
16827078SELF-CLOSING DEVICES AND APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR MAKING AND DELIVERING THEMMarch 2020September 2022Allow3020YesNo
16808285THREE-DIMENSIONAL PRINTING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL PRINTINGMarch 2020November 2021Allow2010NoNo
16643304METHOD FOR PREPARING PRODUCTION-SUITABLE 3D PRINTED PROSTHESIS USING POLYMERIZABLE MONOMERSFebruary 2020May 2025Abandon6040NoYes
16790031METAL PLATE, METHOD OF MANUFACTURING METAL PLATE, AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING MASK BY USING METAL PLATEFebruary 2020August 2021Allow1810NoNo
16632986ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING-3D PRINTING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL WOVEN STRUCTURESJanuary 2020July 2022Abandon3010NoNo
16744720INTEGRAL CERAMIC MATRIX COMPOSITE FASTENER WITH NON-POLYMER RIGIDIZATIONJanuary 2020March 2022Allow2610NoNo
16732983ENHANCED FLUID DEFLECTION ANGLE STRUCTURES AND METHODS FOR MANUFACTURINGJanuary 2020August 2022Allow3110NoNo
16627401METHOD FOR PRODUCING COMPONENTS OF A TILTING-PAD BEARING, AND TILTING-PAD BEARINGDecember 2019February 2022Allow2610YesNo
16625216METHOD OF MANUFACTURING DENTURE BY USING TRAY CAP JIG HAVING FALSE TEETH FIXED UNMOVABLY DURING MILLING FALSE TEETHDecember 2019September 2022Abandon3320NoNo
16719037CUSTOM FORMABLE-COLLAPSIBLE DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING AT LEAST A PORTION OF A HUMAN BODYDecember 2019December 2022Abandon3630NoNo
16624197MOUNTING ELEMENT FOR PRODUCTION OF A DENTAL PROSTHESIS, A PROSTHESIS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAMEDecember 2019May 2022Allow2810YesNo
16712731METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A CURVED HEAT EXCHANGER USING WEDGE SHAPED SEGMENTSDecember 2019April 2021Allow1600NoNo
16712095ADDITIVELY MANUFACTURED SELF-DESTRUCTIVE DELAY DEVICEDecember 2019January 2022Allow2520NoNo
16618474A PROCESS OF MANUFACTURING OF SEGMENTS FOR CARBON THRUST BEARINGDecember 2019May 2021Allow1710NoNo
16698376ADDITIVELY-MANUFACTURED GRADIENT GYROID LATTICE STRUCTURESNovember 2019July 2022Abandon3210NoNo
16616585APPLICATION NOZZLENovember 2019April 2022Abandon2810NoNo
16688303THROTTLE UNIT AND A STATIC PRESSURE BEARING DEVICE EQUIPPED WITH THE THROTTLE UNIT, AND A METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A GROOVED BLOCKNovember 2019May 2021Allow1800NoNo
16614529DOOR ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLENovember 2019August 2022Abandon3320YesNo
16685091METHODS FOR JOINING EXTENDED LENGTHS OF CONDUITNovember 2019August 2022Allow3320NoNo
16683322B-TUBE REFORM FOR IMPROVED THERMAL CYCLE PERFORMANCENovember 2019September 2022Allow3410YesNo
16665500DUCT WITH ADDITIVE MANUFACTURED SEALOctober 2019August 2022Allow3410YesNo
16594386Continuous Custom Dental Restoration Manufacturing Process and SystemOctober 2019February 2022Allow2810NoNo
16593674FLUID CONDUITS WITH HEAT SHIELDINGOctober 2019February 2022Allow2901YesNo
16591250TRACK CHAIN COMPONENTS WITH HARDFACE OVERLAYOctober 2019September 2022Allow3610YesNo
16589209Method of Manufacturing A Dental Restoration PartOctober 2019August 2022Abandon3410NoNo
16588171BUILD PART AND METHOD OF ADDITIVELY MANUFACTURING THE BUILD PARTSeptember 2019April 2022Allow3020YesNo
16583548CERAMIC DENTAL RESTORATIONS MADE BY ADDITIVE MANUFACTURINGSeptember 2019September 2022Allow3530NoNo
16497988BALL JOINT MANUFACTURING METHOD AND STABILIZER LINK MANUFACTURING METHODSeptember 2019July 2021Allow2210NoNo
16582457VEHICLE WHEEL DISC AND MANUFACTURING METHOD OF VEHICLE WHEEL DISCSeptember 2019June 2021Allow2001NoNo
16579915CLINCHING MACHINESeptember 2019September 2021Allow2411NoNo
16578281METHOD FOR DESIGNING REFINER PLATES WITH EQUIDISTANT CURVED BARSSeptember 2019June 2021Allow2110NoNo
16496287SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING DENTAL WORKPIECESeptember 2019August 2022Abandon3420YesNo
16493489SURGICAL CLAMP PRODUCED BY ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING AND A METHOD FOR PRODUCING SUCH A CLAMPSeptember 2019March 2022Allow3010YesNo
16491436COUPLING ELEMENT HAVING VIBRATION DAMPINGSeptember 2019August 2021Allow2410YesNo
16548275ACCESSORY ATTACHMENT SYSTEMAugust 2019July 2021Allow2300NoNo
16540801SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING DEVICE WITH EMBEDDED FLUID CONDUITSAugust 2019August 2021Allow2500NoNo
16484495Model for Applying Radiation, Method for Producing the Same, and Use ThereofAugust 2019March 2022Allow3130YesNo
16530420MINIATURE WALKING ROBOT WITH SOFT JOINTS AND LINKSAugust 2019February 2022Allow3020YesNo
16481208COMPOSITE ROLL FOR ROLLING AND ITS PRODUCTION METHODJuly 2019September 2021Allow2620NoNo
16456020METHOD OF MANUFACTURING AN ARTICLEJune 2019September 2022Allow3930YesNo
16472541Method For Controlling A Machine ToolJune 2019May 2022Allow3520YesNo
16467577Method For Producing A Dental Restoration Part, And A Dental Processing MachineJune 2019October 2022Allow4031YesNo
16466653METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A STRUCTURAL ELEMENTJune 2019March 2022Abandon3410NoNo
16430014DOOR HINGE AND STORAGE UNIT INCLUDING SUCH A DOOR HINGEJune 2019February 2022Allow3331YesNo
16422889CUBE-SHAPED PRIMARY STRUCTURE MODULEMay 2019September 2021Allow2810NoNo
16381169ROBOTIC ACCESS SYSTEM INCLUDING ROBOTIC FAN CRAWLER FOR WIND BLADE INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCEApril 2019April 2022Allow3630YesNo
16339456DEVICE FOR EXTRACTING AND INSERTING BUSHESApril 2019March 2021Allow2300NoNo
16371810PRODUCTION LINE FOR MAKING TANGIBLE PRODUCTS BY LAYERWISE MANUFACTURINGApril 2019January 2021Allow2210NoNo
16290460TRACTION ELEMENTS FOR ATHLETIC SHOES AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE THEREOFMarch 2019August 2021Abandon2921YesNo
16329621METHOD FOR PRODUCING FORGED CRANKSHAFTFebruary 2019June 2021Abandon2800NoNo
16329056METHOD FOR PRODUCING FORGED CRANKSHAFTFebruary 2019June 2021Abandon2810NoNo
16274810PRODUCTION LINE FOR MAKING TANGIBLE PRODUCTS BY LAYERWISE MANUFACTURINGFebruary 2019February 2021Allow2410NoNo
16274497FLOW RESTRICTOR AND GAS COMPRESSORFebruary 2019November 2020Allow2100NoNo
16324042LINE OF A MANUFACTURING PLANT FOR ASSEMBLING OF MULTICOMPONENT ARTICLESFebruary 2019March 2022Allow3720YesNo
16324031METHOD FOR MOUNTING COMPONENTS OF A WIND TURBINEFebruary 2019December 2021Abandon3420NoNo
16252929Manhole Inserts and Manhole Insert Gasket Fabrication MethodsJanuary 2019October 2022Allow4510NoNo
16244807SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LIMITING MOVEMENT OF A RETAINING RINGJanuary 2019January 2021Allow2400NoNo
16236682Multi-Piece Jaw Assembly for Surgical Clip ApplierDecember 2018January 2021Allow2511YesNo
16314112METHOD FOR PRODUCING A HEAT PIPEDecember 2018April 2021Allow2820YesNo
16313072THE METHOD OF MANUFACTURING OF HEAT PIPES FOR HEATING SYSTEMSDecember 2018April 2021Abandon2710NoNo
16201301GAS TURBINE ENGINE COMPOSITE VANE ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR MAKING THE SAMENovember 2018March 2021Allow2711YesNo
16200345AIRCRAFT AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING AN AIRCRAFTNovember 2018May 2021Allow3010YesNo
16179938ENCLOSURE FOR ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT ON POLENovember 2018February 2021Abandon2710NoNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner CIGNA, JACOB JAMES.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
8
Examiner Affirmed
5
(62.5%)
Examiner Reversed
3
(37.5%)
Reversal Percentile
58.5%
Higher than average

What This Means

With a 37.5% 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
25
Allowed After Appeal Filing
11
(44.0%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
14
(56.0%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
70.3%
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, 44.0% 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.

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 CIGNA, JACOB JAMES - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner CIGNA, JACOB JAMES works in Art Unit 3726 and has examined 731 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 62.5%, this examiner allows applications at a lower rate than most examiners at the USPTO. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 36 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner CIGNA, JACOB JAMES's allowance rate of 62.5% places them in the 16% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner is less likely to allow applications than most examiners at the USPTO.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by CIGNA, JACOB JAMES receive 1.81 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 55% 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 CIGNA, JACOB JAMES is 36 months. This places the examiner in the 18% percentile for prosecution speed. Applications take longer to reach final disposition with this examiner compared to most others.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a +34.5% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by CIGNA, JACOB JAMES. This interview benefit is in the 85% 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.

Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Effectiveness

When applicants file an RCE with this examiner, 24.5% 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.

After-Final Amendment Practice

This examiner enters after-final amendments leading to allowance in 36.5% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 47% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: This examiner shows below-average receptiveness to after-final amendments. You may need to file an RCE or appeal rather than relying on after-final amendment entry.

Pre-Appeal Conference Effectiveness

When applicants request a pre-appeal conference (PAC) with this examiner, 140.0% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 87% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: Pre-appeal conferences are highly effective with this examiner compared to others. Before filing a full appeal brief, strongly consider requesting a PAC. The PAC provides an opportunity for the examiner and supervisory personnel to reconsider the rejection before the case proceeds to the PTAB.

Appeal Withdrawal and Reconsideration

This examiner withdraws rejections or reopens prosecution in 66.7% of appeals filed. This is in the 46% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 68.8% 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, 75.0% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 90% 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 2.7% of allowed cases (in the 81% 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 7.0% of allowed cases (in the 83% 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:

  • Prepare for rigorous examination: With a below-average allowance rate, ensure your application has strong written description and enablement support. Consider filing a continuation if you need to add new matter.
  • Prioritize examiner interviews: Interviews are highly effective with this examiner. Request an interview after the first office action to clarify issues and potentially expedite allowance.
  • Request pre-appeal conferences: PACs are highly effective with this examiner. Before filing a full appeal brief, request a PAC to potentially resolve issues without full PTAB review.
  • Plan for extended prosecution: Applications take longer than average with this examiner. Factor this into your continuation strategy and client communications.
  • 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.