USPTO Examiner LABRANCHE BROOKE N - Art Unit 3771

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
19108304SURGICAL FORCEPS AND FIXATION THEREOFMarch 2025December 2025Allow1020NoNo
19068049Percutaneous Catheter Directed Intravascular Occlusion DevicesMarch 2025July 2025Allow420NoNo
19058000HEMOSTATIC CLIP ASSEMBLY AND TWO-PIECE FORCEPSFebruary 2025September 2025Allow711NoNo
19047147INTRAVASCULAR LITHOTRIPSY SYSTEMFebruary 2025June 2025Allow410NoNo
18920421FORCEPS AND FORCEPS SYSTEMOctober 2024March 2026Abandon1730NoNo
18914008EFFICIENT BACTERIOSTATIC MINIMALLY INVASIVE COLLECTION DEVICES FOR GREAT SAPHENOUS VEINOctober 2024February 2025Allow500NoNo
18852558SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HAVING A LOCKING MECHANISMSeptember 2024July 2025Allow921NoNo
18822404UTERINE MANIPULATOR WITH CUTTING HEADSeptember 2024February 2026Allow1800NoNo
18811481LITHOTRIPSY CATHETERS HAVING ELECTRODES FORMED IN METALLIZATION LAYERSAugust 2024September 2025Allow1321YesNo
18757158SURGICAL INSTRUMENTJune 2024January 2025Allow610NoNo
18680370SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS FOR SHOCK WAVE GENERATION UTILIZING CATHETERS WITH MULTI-METAL JOINTSMay 2024August 2025Allow1531YesNo
18678207Percutaneous Catheter Directed Intravascular Occlusion DevicesMay 2024July 2025Allow1410NoNo
18714380Medical Device for Causing Hemostasis of Blood VesselMay 2024February 2026Allow2110NoNo
18666446VASCULAR CLAMP ASSEMBLYMay 2024October 2025Allow1700NoNo
18638360FORCEPS JAW ACTIVATIONApril 2024October 2025Allow1820NoNo
18632325MULTIFUNCTIONAL PREOPERATIVE PRECISE LOCATOR SUITABLE FOR MULTIPLE ORGANSApril 2024December 2025Allow2010NoNo
18604049END TOOL FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTMarch 2024August 2024Allow510NoNo
18684411ELECTRODE APPARATUS FOR NERVE DENERVATION OR MODULATION IN VIVOFebruary 2024February 2026Allow2410NoNo
18430839GRASPING STRUCTURE FOR MEMBRANE REMOVALFebruary 2024March 2026Allow2520YesNo
18421735DRY DOUBLE-SIDED MATERIAL FOR ADHESION OF WET TISSUES AND DEVICESJanuary 2024March 2025Allow1311NoNo
18420607Determining Fluid Flow Rate in a Phacoemulsification ProbeJanuary 2024July 2025Allow1800YesNo
18291373SURGICAL INSTRUMENT AND STEERING GEAR FOR SAMEJanuary 2024October 2025Allow2100NoNo
18291052SURGICAL INSTRUMENT AND ACTUATION DEVICE THEREFORJanuary 2024November 2025Allow2210NoNo
18413251ULTRASONIC SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH A CLAMP ARM CLOCKING ASSEMBLYJanuary 2024January 2025Allow1210YesNo
18409293System and Method for Detection of Cornea CollapseJanuary 2024October 2025Allow2101NoNo
18545578SURGICAL INSTRUMENT AND METHOD FOR OCCLUSION OF UTERINE BLOOD VESSELSDecember 2023April 2025Abandon1621NoNo
18543209Tensionable Surgical ClampDecember 2023October 2024Allow1000NoNo
18540205SURGICAL INSTRUMENT STEERING INPUT DEVICEDecember 2023December 2025Allow2401NoNo
18539170Implant Delivery SystemDecember 2023January 2025Allow1310YesNo
18565641DEVICE AND METHOD FOR EXTRACTION OF TISSUE FROM A SUBJECTNovember 2023March 2026Allow2711NoNo
18517928CRIMP ATTACHMENT OF CLIP FOR RELOADABLE HEMOSTASIS DEVICENovember 2023June 2024Allow700NoNo
18258623A TIP FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT AND RELATED METHODSSeptember 2023May 2025Allow2340YesNo
18462880ENDOSCOPIC TREATMENT TOOL AND CLIP DEVICESeptember 2023March 2026Abandon3010NoNo
18458862ADJUSTABLE INTERATRIAL SHUNTS AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODSAugust 2023August 2025Allow2430YesNo
18236601Apparatus and Method for Deploying Stent Across Adjacent Tissue LayersAugust 2023July 2025Allow2330NoNo
18278077JAW ACTUATION MECHANISMAugust 2023January 2026Allow2910NoNo
18231206Surgical Clip ApplierAugust 2023April 2025Allow2030YesNo
18352110ARTICULATED SURGICAL INSTRUMENT FOR ROBOTIC SURGERY OR MICROSURGERY, MANUFACTURING METHOD AND ASSEMBLY METHODJuly 2023October 2025Allow2710NoNo
18221119HEMORROHOIDECTOMY LINEAR STAPLER" to "LINEAR STAPLE FOR FOR END - END ANASTOMOSIS PROCEDURES".July 2023April 2025Abandon2140NoNo
18217100CLIP DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR ENGAGING TISSUEJune 2023March 2025Allow2110YesNo
18216761PROSTHETIC VALVE, DELIVERY APPARATUS AND DELIVERY METHODJune 2023November 2025Allow2830NoNo
18321040CLIP APPLYING MECHANISM AND CLIP APPLYING APPARATUS THEREOFMay 2023November 2025Allow3010NoNo
18316608CLIP APPLYING MECHANISM AND CLIP APPLYING APPARATUS THEREOFMay 2023January 2026Allow3320NoNo
18316045ACCESSORY DEVICE TO PROVIDE NEUROPROTECTION DURING INTERVENTIONAL PROCEDURESMay 2023November 2024Allow1820NoNo
18315492ENDOSCOPE TREATMENT TOOL, ENDOSCOPE DEVICE, AND TREATMENT METHODMay 2023November 2025Allow3010NoNo
18315124NON-SHEDDING COUPLING METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RELOADABLE HEMOSTASIS CLIPMay 2023July 2024Allow1410NoNo
18251027METHOD FOR FORMING PTFE COATING FILM ON STENT, AND STENT MANUFACTURED THEREBYApril 2023January 2026Allow3300NoNo
18182484MEDICAL INSTRUMENTMarch 2023April 2024Allow1310NoNo
18183067MULTI-ACCESS INTRAPROCEDURAL EMBOLIC PROTECTION DEVICEMarch 2023November 2024Allow2030YesNo
18042236DOUBLE LUMEN AORTIC CANNULA AND CROSS CLAMP ASSEMBLY AND RELATED METHODSFebruary 2023November 2025Allow3321NoNo
18109650PERICARDIAL MODIFICATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR HEART FAILURE TREATMENTFebruary 2023May 2025Allow2701YesNo
18166405SYSTEMS, APPARATUS, AND METHODS FOR PLACING A GUIDEWIRE FOR A GASTROSTOMY TUBEFebruary 2023November 2025Abandon3311NoNo
18006567ADJUSTABLE INTERATRIAL SHUNTS AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODSJanuary 2023August 2023Allow601YesNo
18016742BALANCING SYSTEM FOR A MICRO-SAWJanuary 2023August 2023Allow710NoNo
18014800Medical Instrument and MethodJanuary 2023January 2024Allow1220NoNo
18084674REDUCING VIBRATION IN A VITRECTORDecember 2022November 2025Abandon3510NoNo
18064989TRANS-ESOPHAGEAL AORTIC FLOW RATE CONTROLDecember 2022May 2025Allow2921NoNo
18065495RELOADABLE CLIP WITH A FLARING CAPSULE DEFORMATIONDecember 2022June 2024Allow1810NoNo
17986526MEDICANT ELUTING ADJUNCTS AND METHODS OF USING MEDICANT ELUTING ADJUNCTSNovember 2022June 2025Allow3140YesNo
17984128VASO-OCCLUSIVE DEVICES WITH IN-SITU STIFFENINGNovember 2022February 2024Allow1610NoNo
18053078TREATMENT OF ISCHAEMIANovember 2022March 2024Abandon1711NoNo
17982195PHACOMACHINE AIR PULSE CONVERSION FOR CAPSULOTOMY DEVICENovember 2022February 2023Allow300NoNo
17977073MEDICAL APPARATUS WITH OPTICAL SENSING, AND RELATED DEVICES AND METHODSOctober 2022November 2025Allow3721NoNo
17977812TOURNIQUET AND CONNECTION ASSEMBLY THEREFOROctober 2022September 2023Abandon1020NoNo
18050971UTERINE MANIPULATOR WITH CUTTING HEADOctober 2022August 2024Allow2110NoNo
18050359REPOSITIONABLE OVER THE SCOPE CLIPOctober 2022June 2025Allow3110NoNo
17974476Enhanced Infant PacifierOctober 2022May 2025Allow3120NoNo
17962810SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CLOSING PORTIONS OF BODY TISSUEOctober 2022December 2025Abandon3840YesNo
17938406Percutaneous Catheter Directed Intravascular Occlusion DevicesOctober 2022December 2024Allow2630YesNo
17938469Percutaneous Catheter Directed Intravascular Occlusion DevicesOctober 2022April 2024Allow1820NoNo
17957471LIGATION CLIP APPLIER WITH CLIP RETAINING END EFFECTORSeptember 2022February 2026Allow4130NoNo
17952776TWO-PART FASTENERS FOR SURGICAL CLIP APPLIERS AND SURGICAL CLIP APPLIERS FOR DEPLOYING THE SAMESeptember 2022June 2025Allow3220NoNo
17800487VASCULAR OCCLUSION CATHETER FOR PARTIAL OCCLUSION OR FULL OCCLUSIONSeptember 2022August 2024Allow2430YesNo
17944622IVC Filter Retrieval DeviceSeptember 2022December 2024Allow2720NoNo
17931309EXCLUSION DEVICE BEAMS AND RELATED METHODSSeptember 2022December 2025Allow3921NoNo
17929076TOOLS FOR TRANSURETHRAL DEPLOYMENT AND FIXATION OF GRAFT FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT OF URETHRAL STRICTURESSeptember 2022March 2026Allow4340YesNo
17897603LOCKING APPARATUSAugust 2022June 2024Allow2210NoNo
17817198DEVICES AND METHODS FOR ENDOSCOPIC PATCH DELIVERYAugust 2022November 2024Allow2721NoNo
17858637MULTI-ACCESS INTRAPROCEDURAL EMBOLIC PROTECTION DEVICEJuly 2022January 2025Allow3020NoNo
17810692METHOD FOR MAKING ANASTOMOSES BETWEEN HOLLOW STRUCTURES VIA DIRECT ATRIAL ACCESSJuly 2022January 2025Allow3011YesNo
17855211TRAJECTORY GUIDE WITH DOUBLE X-Y SLIDING TABLESJune 2022July 2025Allow3630NoNo
17789338LOOP AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOFJune 2022March 2025Abandon3310NoNo
17846084SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PELVIC FLOOR PROCEDURESJune 2022March 2026Abandon4520NoNo
17841916BALLOON CATHETERJune 2022February 2025Allow3211NoNo
17839513METHODS AND INSTRUMENTS FOR TREATING OBESITYJune 2022March 2025Abandon3320NoNo
17781568COMBINED HYSTEROSCOPIC INSTRUMENT OPERATION PROPELLERJune 2022May 2025Abandon3510NoNo
17826279ELONGATED ASSEMBLIES FOR SURGICAL CLIP APPLIERS AND SURGICAL CLIP APPLIERS INCORPORATING THE SAMEMay 2022August 2024Abandon2710NoNo
17804244ROTATABLE CONNECTION BETWEEN AN INTERVENTION MEMBER AND A MANIPULATION MEMBER OF AN ENDOVASCULAR DEVICEMay 2022October 2024Allow2920YesNo
17735149DRIVE AND ARTICULATION MECHANISMS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS FOR USE IN ROBOTIC SURGICAL SYSTEMSMay 2022April 2024Allow2310NoNo
17729741SUTURE BASED CLOSURE DEVICEApril 2022April 2025Allow3520NoNo
17718845ABSORBABLE SURGICAL STAPLES COMPRISING SUFFICIENT STRUCTURAL PROPERTIES DURING A TISSUE HEALING WINDOWApril 2022January 2025Abandon3310NoNo
17768158A SURGICAL DEVICEApril 2022October 2024Allow3101NoNo
17709869Access CatheterMarch 2022September 2025Allow4220YesNo
17708581SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TREATING HEARING LOSSMarch 2022August 2022Allow510YesNo
17707696INTRAVASCULAR LITHOTRIPSY BALLOONMarch 2022January 2026Abandon4640YesNo
17704223Percutaneous Catheter Directed Intravascular Occlusion DevicesMarch 2022December 2023Allow2110NoNo
17762614SURGERY-ASSISTANCE DEVICEMarch 2022August 2024Allow2900NoNo
17693246VIRTUAL REALITY SURGICAL TOOLS SYSTEMMarch 2022February 2024Abandon2310NoNo
17753527SURGICAL TOOL, SURGERY SUPPORT SYSTEM, AND SURGICAL OPERATING UNITMarch 2022October 2024Allow3110NoNo
17638272SURGICAL INSTRUMENT FOR BLUNT DISSECTION, DILATION OF INCISIONS, AND SEPARATION OF ADHESIONSFebruary 2022April 2025Allow3711YesNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner LABRANCHE, BROOKE N.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
10
Examiner Affirmed
8
(80.0%)
Examiner Reversed
2
(20.0%)
Reversal Percentile
33.6%
Lower than average

What This Means

With a 20.0% reversal rate, the PTAB affirms the examiner's rejections in the vast majority of cases. This reversal rate is below the USPTO average, indicating that appeals face more challenges here than typical.

Strategic Value of Filing an Appeal

Total Appeal Filings
26
Allowed After Appeal Filing
8
(30.8%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
18
(69.2%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
47.0%
Lower 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, 30.8% of applications that filed an appeal were subsequently allowed. This appeal filing benefit rate is below the USPTO average, suggesting that filing an appeal has limited effectiveness in prompting favorable reconsideration.

Strategic Recommendations

Appeals to PTAB face challenges. Ensure your case has strong merit before committing to full Board review.

Filing a Notice of Appeal shows limited benefit. Consider other strategies like interviews or amendments before appealing.

Examiner LABRANCHE, BROOKE N - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner LABRANCHE, BROOKE N works in Art Unit 3771 and has examined 349 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 73.6%, this examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 37 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner LABRANCHE, BROOKE N's allowance rate of 73.6% places them in the 38% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by LABRANCHE, BROOKE N receive 2.74 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 80% 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.

Prosecution Timeline

The median time to disposition (half-life) for applications examined by LABRANCHE, BROOKE N 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 +13.3% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by LABRANCHE, BROOKE N. This interview benefit is in the 50% 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, 22.4% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 28% 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 22.2% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 29% 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, 142.9% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 88% 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 64.3% of appeals filed. This is in the 44% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 61.1% 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, 54.9% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 56% 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 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:

  • Expect multiple rounds of prosecution: This examiner issues more office actions than average. Address potential issues proactively in your initial response and consider requesting an interview early in prosecution.
  • 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.

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.