USPTO Examiner HOAG MITCHELL BRAIN - Art Unit 3771

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
18670425TOURNIQUET ASSEMBLIES AND SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING TOURNIQUETSMay 2024May 2025Allow1210YesNo
18670257DEGRADABLE INTESTINAL DIVERSION DEVICEMay 2024October 2025Abandon1720NoNo
18663982RELEASABLE ELONGATED ASSEMBLYMay 2024April 2025Allow1110YesNo
18652282SURGICAL CUTTING DEVICE FOR ULTRASONIC GUIDED SOFT TISSUE SURGERYMay 2024March 2025Allow1010NoNo
18692398ASSISTIVE DEVICE TO FACILITATE PLACEMENT OF LIGATION INSTRUMENT ONTO TARGET ORGANMarch 2024March 2026Abandon2410NoNo
18581692INFLATION LUMEN KINK PROTECTION AND BALLOON PROFILEFebruary 2024June 2025Allow1520NoNo
18541438MEDICAL DEVICE HAVING ROTATING SHAFT WITH LUMEN AND SEALING STRUCTUREDecember 2023October 2024Allow1010NoNo
18383394SINGLE-IMPULSE, SEMI-MOBILE AND STOPPERED SUTURING DEVICE USED IN NARROW AND DEEP TISSUE PLANES SURGERYOctober 2023December 2024Abandon1410NoNo
18476253LOCALIZED FUSION OF NATIVE LEAFLETS USING ACTIVATED ADHESIVESeptember 2023May 2025Allow2021NoNo
18363062MEDICAL DEVICE AND TREATMENT METHODAugust 2023June 2024Allow1010NoNo
18204554DEVELOPABLE AND COLLAPSABLE INTERNAL CUTTING MECHANISMJune 2023March 2024Allow1000YesNo
18141100ADVANCED MINIMALLY INVASIVE MULTI-FUNCTIONAL ROBOTIC SURGICAL DEVICES AND METHODSApril 2023September 2025Allow2940NoNo
18034593DEVICE FOR APPLYING RUBBER BANDS IN THE HUMAN BODYApril 2023October 2025Allow3010YesNo
18307111FORCEPS ACTUATION SYSTEMSApril 2023December 2024Allow2020YesNo
18132466DEVICES AND METHODS FOR WOUND CLOSUREApril 2023February 2025Abandon2220YesNo
18126418DETACHABLE BALLOON EMBOLIZATION DEVICE AND METHODSMarch 2023December 2025Allow3340NoNo
18126419DETACHABLE BALLOON EMBOLIZATION DEVICE AND METHODSMarch 2023October 2025Allow3130NoNo
18156314LAPAROSCOPIC GRASPER WITH FORCE-LIMITING GRASPING MECHANISMJanuary 2023March 2024Allow1410NoNo
18052171SURGICAL CUTTING DEVICE WITH GEAR MECHANISMNovember 2022June 2024Allow2010YesNo
17871046TREATMENT TOOL AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING TREATMENT TOOLJuly 2022February 2024Allow1911NoNo
17843648OCCLUDER, OCCLUDING SYSTEM, AND KNOTTING METHOD FOR TIGHTENING ELEMENT IN OCCLUDERJune 2022February 2026Allow4420NoNo
17840906INVERTING BRAIDED ANEURYSM TREATMENT SYSTEM HAVING A SEMI-FRUSTOCONICALLY-SHAPED PORTIONJune 2022July 2025Abandon3710NoNo
17717109EAR SHAPING DEVICEApril 2022July 2025Abandon3920NoNo
17656974REENTRY CATHETERS AND METHODS FOR TRAVERSING CHRONIC TOTAL OCCLUSIONSMarch 2022November 2022Allow820YesNo
17640867SUTURING DEVICE COMPRISING DIESMarch 2022July 2025Abandon4110NoNo
17653069TISSUE-REMOVING CATHETER WITH COUPLED INNER LINERMarch 2022October 2025Allow4440NoNo
17670229Skin Tag removal System and KitFebruary 2022January 2025Abandon3510NoNo
17649569DIRECT DRIVE ROBOT FOR VITREORETINAL SURGERYFebruary 2022February 2025Allow3630NoNo
17579827MINIMALLY INVASIVE HEART VALVE REPAIR IN A BEATING HEARTJanuary 2022January 2025Allow3630NoNo
17647391SURGICAL CUTTING DEVICE FOR ULTRASONIC GUIDED SOFT TISSUE SURGERYJanuary 2022April 2024Allow2710NoNo
17555721ACNE EXTRACTION TOOL DEVICEDecember 2021December 2023Abandon2411NoNo
17552477IMPLANTABLE SPHINCTER ASSISTANCE DEVICE WITH HOLDING, ALIGNING OR CLAMPING FEATURES INTEGRATED INTO HOUSINGDecember 2021September 2024Allow3321YesNo
17552681SURGICAL TOOL WITH REDUCED ACTUATION FORCEDecember 2021August 2023Allow2010NoNo
17548885SURGICAL TOOL WITH REDUCED ACTUATION FORCEDecember 2021October 2023Allow2210NoNo
17538492SURGICAL RONGEUR AND METHODS THEREOFNovember 2021November 2024Allow3610YesNo
17532590SYSTEMS, APPARATUSES, AND METHODS FOR REMOVING A MEDICAL IMPLANT FROM CARDIAC TISSUENovember 2021January 2026Abandon5021NoNo
17612141TROCAR SYSTEM FOR USE IN LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERYNovember 2021November 2024Allow3610YesNo
17506705ULTRASONIC GUIDED PUNCTURE DEVICE AND ULTRASONIC GUIDED PUNCTURE APPARATUSOctober 2021March 2025Abandon4120NoNo
17492076TOURNIQUET ASSEMBLIES AND SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING TOURNIQUETSOctober 2021January 2024Allow2820NoNo
17412185Device For Extracting Nasal Mucus Or EarwaxAugust 2021July 2024Allow3530YesNo
17410368ULTRASONIC SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH SLIDING BLADE SHEATHAugust 2021March 2025Abandon4220NoNo
17410232BALLOON CATHETER SYSTEM ASSISTED BY ULTRASOUND AND MICROBUBBLES AND METHOD FOR VASODILATIONAugust 2021March 2024Allow3121NoNo
17406618DEVICES AND METHODS FOR DELIVERY AND DEPLOYMENT OF BALLOON EXPANDABLE TRANSCATHETER VALVESAugust 2021April 2024Allow3211YesNo
17401248CONTROLLED TISSUE ANCHOR SPACINGAugust 2021June 2025Allow4611NoNo
17398969BALLOON CATHETER FOR TRANSCAROTID PROCEDURESAugust 2021November 2025Allow5150YesNo
17382799MEDICAL INSTRUMENT HAVING A PIN-AND-SLOT CONTROL FOR MOUNTING ACTUATION ELEMENTSJuly 2021April 2023Allow2010NoNo
17369014MULTI-LAYER FOLDING FLOW DIVERTERSJuly 2021October 2023Allow2811NoNo
17351427CUTTING INSTRUMENT WITH ASYMMETRIC BLADEJune 2021October 2024Allow4050YesNo
17311192ADJUSTABLE VASCULAR CLOSURE DEVICEJune 2021August 2024Allow3810YesNo
17338830SELF-ORIENTING ROTATING STENTRIEVER PINCHING CELLSJune 2021December 2023Allow3111YesNo
17329999DYNAMICALLY CONTROLLING A DISTAL WINDOW OPENING IN A ROTARY SURGICAL SHAVERMay 2021February 2025Allow4440NoNo
17320321ARTICULATING ULTRASONIC SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS AND SYSTEMSMay 2021May 2023Allow2410NoNo
17285562DEVICES AND METHODS FOR MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGICAL PROCEDURESApril 2021February 2026Allow5831NoNo
17229968IMPLANT REMOVAL DEVICES AND METHODSApril 2021August 2023Allow2811NoNo
17221582DOUBLE BALLOON FLUID-CARRYING CATHETERApril 2021May 2023Abandon2510NoNo
17277010DEVELOPABLE AND COLLAPSABLE INTERNAL CUTTING MECHANISMMarch 2021March 2023Allow2300YesNo
17274684INTRAOCULAR LENS EXCHANGERMarch 2021November 2023Allow3210NoNo
17170007CANNULA, CANNULA SYSTEM, AND MANIPULATORFebruary 2021April 2025Abandon5011NoNo
17137852TORQUE-BASED TRANSITION BETWEEN OPERATING GEARSDecember 2020November 2024Allow4620NoNo
17135147Releasable Elongated AssemblyDecember 2020January 2024Allow3710NoNo
17124932MICROFORCEPSDecember 2020September 2023Allow3331NoNo
17102927CUTTING BALLOON CATHETERNovember 2020July 2023Allow3120YesNo
17097969DEVICES AND METHODS FOR WOUND CLOSURENovember 2020January 2023Allow2611YesNo
17096257SELF-SERVICE ANASTOMOSIS CLAMP FOR DIGESTIVE TRACT AND DELIVERY SYSTEM THEREOFNovember 2020September 2023Allow3440YesNo
17049367SUTURE PASSER WITH LOCKING ACTUATOROctober 2020December 2024Abandon5050NoNo
17048212CLIP APPLICATOROctober 2020June 2022Allow2010NoNo
17043965System And Method For Percutaneous Removal Of Transcatheter Heart ValvesSeptember 2020May 2024Abandon4340NoNo
17028446HANDLE CONFIGURATIONS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTSSeptember 2020July 2024Abandon4511NoNo
16982636ROBOTIC SURGICAL SYSTEMS AND INSTRUMENT DRIVE ASSEMBLIESSeptember 2020February 2024Allow4110YesNo
17024075SURGICAL GRASPER HAVING PARALLEL JAWSSeptember 2020June 2023Abandon3320NoNo
17023553MEDICAL DEVICE HAVING ROTATING SHAFT WITH LUMEN AND SEALING STRUCTURESeptember 2020September 2023Allow3621YesNo
16979909SINGLE-IMPULSE, SEMI-MOBILE AND STOPPERED SUTURING DEVICE USED IN NARROW AND DEEP TISSUE PLANES SURGERYSeptember 2020November 2023Abandon3930YesNo
17013913MEDICAL DEVICE AND TREATMENT METHODSeptember 2020May 2023Allow3211NoNo
17012674Adjustable Acupressure ClampSeptember 2020August 2024Abandon4821NoNo
16999698DEGRADABLE INTESTINAL DIVERSION DEVICEAugust 2020December 2024Abandon5140YesNo
16995217METHODS AND DEVICES FOR RESECTING TISSUEAugust 2020July 2025Allow5970YesYes
16967869SYSTEM OF SONOTRODE AND GUIDE SHAFTAugust 2020July 2024Allow4750YesNo
16947541ELASTOMERIC SUTUREAugust 2020May 2023Abandon3311NoNo
16942950BARBED SUTURE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD OF THE BARBED SUTUREJuly 2020May 2023Abandon3421NoNo
16934524SYSTEM, DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TREATMENT OF HEMORRHOIDSJuly 2020July 2022Allow2421YesNo
16925382TICK AND TICK HEAD REMOVERJuly 2020January 2026Abandon6041YesNo
16912322DEVICE AND METHODS FOR INSPECTION AND TREATMENT OF HEMORRHOIDSJune 2020March 2023Allow3321NoNo
16905788TISSUE GRASPING DEVICES AND RELATED METHODSJune 2020March 2023Allow3320NoNo
16904289FOCUSING ELEMENT FOR PLASMA SYSTEM TO DISRUPT VASCULAR LESIONSJune 2020March 2025Allow5730NoNo
16885820ARTICULATABLE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTMay 2020February 2023Allow3330NoNo
16852006SYSTEM FOR REPAIRING VALVE LEAFLETS IN MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERYApril 2020March 2023Allow3510NoNo
16850950LOCALIZED FUSION OF NATIVE LEAFLETS USING ACTIVATED ADHESIVEApril 2020June 2023Allow3821YesNo
16833231ENDARTERECTOMY DEVICEMarch 2020October 2022Allow3000NoNo
16830150FORCEPS DRIVE SHAFTMarch 2020August 2023Allow4150YesNo
16830176FORCEPS ACTUATION SYSTEMSMarch 2020March 2023Allow3630YesNo
16830079FORCEPS DRIVE SHAFT CONTROLMarch 2020September 2023Allow4250YesNo
16829260FORCEPS MOTION TRANSFER ASSEMBLIESMarch 2020February 2023Allow3521NoNo
16803043JAW MEMBERS, END EFFECTOR ASSEMBLIES, AND ULTRASONIC SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS INCLUDING THE SAMEFebruary 2020June 2023Allow3931NoNo
16637546Hybrid Suture AnchorFebruary 2020January 2026Abandon6081NoNo
16632854TONSILLECTOMY SUCTION DISSECTOR APPARATUSJanuary 2020March 2022Allow2611NoNo
16729434TROCAR WITH INTERNAL CAMERA PROVIDING TILTED VIEW ANGLEDecember 2019November 2024Abandon5840YesNo
16717758Handset for an Ultrasonic DeviceDecember 2019September 2023Allow4530YesNo
16685324MEDICAL INSTRUMENT AND A TREATMENT INSTRUMENT, INCLUDING A BENDABLE END EFFECTORNovember 2019December 2022Allow3710YesNo
16679664LAPAROSCOPIC GRASPER WITH FORCE-LIMITING GRASPING MECHANISMNovember 2019October 2022Allow3530NoNo
16678647SURGICAL CUTTING DEVICE WITH GEAR MECHANISMNovember 2019August 2022Allow3320YesNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner HOAG, MITCHELL BRAIN.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
1
Examiner Affirmed
0
(0.0%)
Examiner Reversed
1
(100.0%)
Reversal Percentile
99.2%
Higher than average

What This Means

With a 100.0% reversal rate, the PTAB has reversed the examiner's rejections more often than affirming them. This reversal rate is in the top 25% across the USPTO, indicating that appeals are more successful here than in most other areas.

Strategic Value of Filing an Appeal

Total Appeal Filings
2
Allowed After Appeal Filing
1
(50.0%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
1
(50.0%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
83.8%
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, 50.0% of applications that filed an appeal were subsequently allowed. This appeal filing benefit rate is in the top 25% across the USPTO, indicating that filing appeals is particularly effective here. The act of filing often prompts favorable reconsideration during the mandatory appeal conference.

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 HOAG, MITCHELL BRAIN - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner HOAG, MITCHELL BRAIN works in Art Unit 3771 and has examined 83 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 68.7%, this examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 37 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner HOAG, MITCHELL BRAIN's allowance rate of 68.7% places them in the 30% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by HOAG, MITCHELL BRAIN receive 2.29 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 64% 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 HOAG, MITCHELL BRAIN is 37 months. This places the examiner in the 34% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly slower than average with this examiner.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a +21.8% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by HOAG, MITCHELL BRAIN. This interview benefit is in the 67% 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, 23.4% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 32% 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 38.7% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 59% 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, 0.0% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 22% percentile among all examiners. Note: Pre-appeal conferences show limited success with this examiner compared to others. While still worth considering, be prepared to proceed with a full appeal brief if the PAC does not result in favorable action.

Appeal Withdrawal and Reconsideration

This examiner withdraws rejections or reopens prosecution in 66.7% of appeals filed. This is in the 52% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 50.0% 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, 125.0% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 96% 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 0.0% of allowed cases (in the 45% 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 0.0% of allowed cases (in the 48% percentile). This examiner issues Quayle actions less often than average. Allowances may come directly without a separate action for formal matters.

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.