USPTO Examiner LONG SARAH A - Art Unit 3771

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
18914014GREAT SAPHENOUS VEIN COLLECTION DEVICES USING DOUBLE CANNULA KNIFEOctober 2024March 2025Allow510YesNo
18441822SURGICAL CLAMP AND CLAMP JAWFebruary 2024February 2025Allow1210NoNo
18392853SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REDUCING TRICUSPID REGURGITATIONDecember 2023June 2025Allow1810YesNo
18384445STENT DELIVERY SYSTEMS WITH A RECONSTRAINING MEMBEROctober 2023April 2025Allow1720NoNo
18383437ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM AND RELATED METHODSOctober 2023January 2025Allow1400NoNo
18484290PRESSURE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR INTRAGASTRIC DEVICEOctober 2023April 2025Allow1810YesNo
18232097CATHETER-BASED SYSTEM FOR DELIVERY AND RETRIEVAL OF A LEADLESS PACEMAKERAugust 2023June 2025Allow2211YesNo
18217457Airway Assist DeviceJune 2023February 2025Abandon1910NoNo
18210590SINGLE PORTAL, SURGICAL APPARATUSJune 2023October 2024Allow1611YesNo
18314237RESTRICTED USAGE FEATURES FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTMay 2023March 2025Allow2210YesNo
18309183USER-ATTACHABLE/DETACHABLE IMAGING CATHETERApril 2023May 2024Allow1321YesNo
18138010CATHETER WITH TAPERED COMPLIANT BALLOON AND TAPERED STENTApril 2023September 2024Allow1710NoNo
18303542SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RESHAPING HEARTApril 2023December 2024Allow2010NoNo
18061241SUTURE DELIVERY SYSTEMDecember 2022December 2024Abandon2510NoNo
18071941BRAIDED STENT WITH EXPANSION RING AND METHOD OF DELIVERYNovember 2022November 2024Abandon2410NoNo
17920531SUTURE ANCHOR INSERTION ASSEMBLIES AND METHODS OF USEOctober 2022June 2025Allow3120YesNo
17961545PARALLEL KINEMATIC MECHANISMS WITH DECOUPLED ROTATIONAL MOTIONSOctober 2022April 2025Allow3010NoNo
17956106SAFETY SHIELDS FOR ELONGATED INSTRUMENTS AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODSSeptember 2022October 2024Allow2510NoNo
17884504ANIMAL IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM AND RELATED METHODSAugust 2022July 2023Allow1111NoNo
17878560MAGNETIC LANCET DEVICEAugust 2022June 2023Allow1021YesNo
17874581ULTRASONIC SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH DISTALLY POSITIONED JAW ASSEMBLIESJuly 2022April 2025Abandon3320NoNo
17847688STRUT FLOW DIVERTER FOR CEREBRAL ANEURYSMS AND METHODS FOR PREVENTING STRUT ENTANGLEMENTJune 2022August 2024Allow2600YesNo
17838249CARTRIDGE AND INJECTOR WITH THE CARTRIDGEJune 2022November 2024Allow2920NoNo
17749882ATHERECTOMY CATHETERMay 2022April 2025Allow3510YesNo
17680545SURGICAL INSTRUMENT FOR GRAFT HARVESTINGFebruary 2022May 2024Allow2610YesNo
17582543SURGICAL SLICING SHEARSJanuary 2022June 2024Abandon2920NoNo
17580290HELICAL ULTRA LOW FORESHORTENING STENTJanuary 2022September 2024Abandon3210NoNo
17567138APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MINIMALLY INVASIVE SUTURINGJanuary 2022April 2025Allow3920YesNo
17558809Devices and Methods for Advancing KnotsDecember 2021May 2024Abandon2801NoNo
17645442REPLACEMENT HEART VALVE SYSTEMS AND METHODSDecember 2021June 2025Allow4120NoNo
17454424ARTICULATING RETRIEVAL DEVICESNovember 2021April 2024Allow2920YesNo
17513933ARTICULATED TOOL POSITIONER FOR ROBOTIC SURGERY SYSTEMOctober 2021June 2024Allow3240NoNo
17452956SURGICAL DEVICE FOR COMPLEX SUTURING FIBROUS TISSUESOctober 2021February 2024Allow2810YesNo
17606818SURGICAL TOOLOctober 2021July 2023Abandon2110NoNo
17506712FLEXIBLE MEDICAL SCISSORSOctober 2021April 2022Allow610NoNo
17603950TISSUE REMOVAL DEVICEOctober 2021June 2025Abandon4410NoNo
17494051SURGICAL CLAMP AND CLAMP JAWOctober 2021September 2023Allow2310NoNo
17488064TISSUE RESECTING INSTRUMENT INCLUDING AN OUTFLOW CONTROL SEALSeptember 2021April 2023Allow1900NoNo
17487060CATHETER WITH ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED EXPANDABLE MOUTHSeptember 2021November 2023Allow2510YesNo
17484830Airway Assist DeviceSeptember 2021April 2023Allow1830YesNo
17478227SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENDOLUMINAL VALVE CREATIONSeptember 2021December 2024Allow3921YesNo
17474309SPECIMEN RETRIEVAL DEVICESeptember 2021July 2023Allow2210NoNo
17464809GRIP ADJUSTMENT ASSEMBLY FOR ENT INSTRUMENTSeptember 2021March 2025Abandon4310NoNo
17411182IRRIGATION DEVICES IN DEBRIDEMENT SYSTEMSAugust 2021August 2023Allow2400NoNo
17409786System and Method for Urinary Blockage RemovalAugust 2021January 2025Abandon4101NoNo
17393120INTRACRANIAL STENT FOR INSERTION INTO THE CEREBRAL VENOUS SINUS SYSTEM AND METHODS OF USEAugust 2021March 2025Allow4350YesNo
17365515Knotless Filament Anchor For Soft Tissue RepairJuly 2021June 2024Allow3630YesNo
17357993UTERINE FIBROID TISSUE REMOVAL DEVICEJune 2021October 2023Allow2820NoNo
17347132SUTURE ANCHOR SYSTEM AND METHODJune 2021June 2023Allow2410YesNo
17322631CATHETER WITH TAPERED COMPLIANT BALLOON AND TAPERED STENTMay 2021January 2023Allow2000NoNo
17315729APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SEPTAL PUNCHMay 2021August 2021Allow310YesNo
17246769DISPOSABLE COVER FOR A MECHANICAL RESECTION DEVICEMay 2021November 2024Abandon4201NoNo
17236372METHOD OF USING SURGICAL DEVICE TO DEPLOY IMPLANTSApril 2021March 2023Allow2310NoNo
17276033CUTTING TOOL FOR THE HORIZONTAL INCISION OF A TENDONMarch 2021February 2024Allow3600YesNo
17193193METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DELIVERING A SELF-EXPANDING STENT TO THE VENOUS SINUSESMarch 2021June 2023Allow2710NoNo
17192329APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SEPTAL PUNCHMarch 2021August 2021Allow610YesNo
17174564LAMINATE MEMBRANE, AN IMPLANT COMPROMISING THE LAMINATE MEMBRANE AND A METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAMEFebruary 2021November 2022Allow2100NoNo
17251545SYSTEM, APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR FOLLICULAR UNIT EXTRACTIONDecember 2020January 2024Allow3710NoNo
17118025CHECK VALVE WITH DOCKING STATION FOR GASTROINTESTINAL BALLOONDecember 2020August 2024Allow4421YesNo
17113996TRAY FOR A SOFT TISSUE CUTTING DEVICE AND METHODS OF USEDecember 2020May 2024Allow4111YesNo
17112272ULTRASONIC DEVICE FOR CUTTING AND COAGULATINGDecember 2020February 2024Allow3830NoNo
17100311ULTRASONIC SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH CONTROL MECHANISMSNovember 2020October 2022Allow2300NoNo
16953503METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING BODY TISSUE SPHINCTERS AND THE LIKENovember 2020February 2023Allow2710YesNo
16952242TISSUE REMOVAL HANDPIECE WITH INTEGRATED SUCTIONNovember 2020October 2022Allow2320NoNo
17054883ANIMAL TAGNovember 2020January 2022Abandon1420YesNo
17094633Specimen Retrieval System for Use in Endoscopic SurgeryNovember 2020July 2023Allow3220YesNo
17088251CATHETER-BASED SYSTEM FOR DELIVERY AND RETRIEVAL OF A LEADLESS PACEMAKERNovember 2020January 2023Allow2710NoNo
17083127SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REDUCING TRICUSPID REGURGITATIONOctober 2020July 2023Allow3320YesNo
17077146ULTRASONIC SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH A SHAFT ASSEMBLY AND ELONGATED WAVEGUIDE SUPPORT ARRANGEMENTOctober 2020May 2025Allow5531YesNo
17077098ULTRASONIC SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH A MULTIPLANAR ARTICULATION JOINTOctober 2020June 2024Abandon4420YesNo
17077373SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH A CARRIER KART AND VARIOUS COMMUNICATION CABLE ARRANGEMENTSOctober 2020October 2023Allow3621YesNo
17076013APPARATUS AND METHOD OF FORMING BARBS ON A SUTUREOctober 2020October 2023Allow3640YesNo
17074347SURGICAL INSTRUMENT AND METHOD OF USEOctober 2020March 2024Allow4120YesNo
17071889Left Atrial Appendage Clipping Device and Methods for Clipping the LAAOctober 2020March 2023Allow2910YesNo
17068521PLIANT MEMBERS FOR RECEIVING AND AIDING IN THE DEPLOYMENT OF VASCULAR PROSTHESESOctober 2020December 2024Allow5030YesNo
17060874STENT HAVING HIGH EXPANSION RATIOOctober 2020October 2024Abandon4940NoNo
17039199RECIPROCATING DRIVE SYSTEM FOR A CUTTING DEVICESeptember 2020March 2022Allow1710YesNo
17034036VASCULAR PUNCHSeptember 2020April 2022Allow1920NoNo
16982701AORTIC FILTER AND FLOW DIVERTER AND METHODS FOR USE THEREOFSeptember 2020September 2023Allow3611YesNo
17020797MESH CAP FOR AMELIORATING OUTPOUCHINGSSeptember 2020June 2025Allow5741YesNo
17019160PALATAL GINGIVAL GRAFT HARVESTING DEVICESeptember 2020September 2021Abandon1230YesNo
17010026DETACHABLE HANDHELD TISSUE REMOVAL DEVICESeptember 2020November 2023Allow3921YesNo
17001597System and Method for Reshaping HeartAugust 2020January 2023Allow2910NoNo
17000606MEDICAL DEVICE FOR REMOVING AN IMPLANTED OBJECT USING LASER CUT HYPOTUBESAugust 2020January 2025Allow5350NoNo
16997132DEVICES AND METHODS FOR TRANSCATHETER VALVE LOADING AND IMPLANTATIONAugust 2020December 2022Allow2810NoNo
16993110PRESSURE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR INTRAGASTRIC DEVICEAugust 2020July 2023Allow3520NoNo
16992804DEVICE FOR VESSEL HARVESTINGAugust 2020July 2024Allow4711YesNo
16987562LAPROSCOPIC INSTRUMENT DEPTH STOPAugust 2020February 2024Abandon4311NoNo
16930239SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REDUCING BLADE EXPOSURESJuly 2020March 2023Allow3220NoNo
16960599STERILE INTERFACE MODULE FOR ROBOTIC SURGICAL ASSEMBLIESJuly 2020September 2024Allow5020YesNo
16908800PATULOUS EUSTACHIAN TUBE STENTJune 2020October 2023Allow4030YesNo
16903865RETRACTABLE CANNULA ASSEMBLYJune 2020May 2023Allow3521NoNo
16901144CRUSHED PIERCING NEEDLES WITH INSTALLED-BACK-PINJune 2020August 2022Abandon2620YesNo
16895941Airway Assist DeviceJune 2020March 2022Allow2120YesNo
16875058MANUALLY-ACTUATED TISSUE RESECTING INSTRUMENTSMay 2020November 2023Abandon4321YesNo
15931977DYNAMIC BIOMETRIC MESHMay 2020June 2022Allow2500NoNo
16861837VASCULAR COUPLING DEVICEApril 2020January 2023Allow3310YesNo
16860627SURGICAL DEVICE WITH INCORPORATED TISSUE EXTRACTIONApril 2020September 2023Allow4040YesNo
16858015APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SEPTAL PUNCHApril 2020April 2021Allow1221YesNo
16855787SUCTION NEEDLE TRAP AND SURGICAL DRAPEApril 2020March 2023Abandon3501NoNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner LONG, SARAH A.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
6
Examiner Affirmed
5
(83.3%)
Examiner Reversed
1
(16.7%)
Reversal Percentile
28.1%
Lower than average

What This Means

With a 16.7% 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
20
Allowed After Appeal Filing
4
(20.0%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
16
(80.0%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
23.3%
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, 20.0% of applications that filed an appeal were subsequently allowed. This appeal filing benefit rate is in the bottom 25% across the USPTO, indicating that filing appeals is less effective here than in most other areas.

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 LONG, SARAH A - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner LONG, SARAH A works in Art Unit 3771 and has examined 360 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 76.9%, this examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 35 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner LONG, SARAH A's allowance rate of 76.9% places them in the 36% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by LONG, SARAH A receive 2.68 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 90% 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 LONG, SARAH A is 35 months. This places the examiner in the 21% 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 +24.7% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by LONG, SARAH A. This interview benefit is in the 75% 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, 21.7% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 18% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Insight: RCEs show lower effectiveness with this examiner compared to others. Consider whether a continuation application might be more strategic, especially if you need to add new matter or significantly broaden claims.

After-Final Amendment Practice

This examiner enters after-final amendments leading to allowance in 31.6% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 38% 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, 114.3% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 80% 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 71.4% of appeals filed. This is in the 55% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 60.0% 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, 56.9% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 72% 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 41% 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 0.7% of allowed cases (in the 53% 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:

  • 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.
  • Plan for extended prosecution: Applications take longer than average with this examiner. Factor this into your continuation strategy and client communications.

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.