Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.
| Application Number | Title | Filing Date | Disposal Date | Disposition | Time (months) | Office Actions | Restrictions | Interview | Appeal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19169790 | COUPLING DEVICE FOR COUPLING A ROD TO A BONE ANCHOR | April 2025 | October 2025 | Allow | 6 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 19023889 | Resorptive Intramedullary Implant Between Two Bones or Two Bone Fragments | January 2025 | May 2025 | Allow | 4 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 19023819 | Resorptive Intramedullary Implant Between Two Bones or Two Bone Fragments | January 2025 | June 2025 | Allow | 5 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18962484 | BONE ANCHOR BASED RETRACTOR/DISTRACTOR | November 2024 | March 2026 | Allow | 15 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18943046 | MULTI-CLAMP APPARATUS FOR EXTERNAL BONE FIXATOR | November 2024 | March 2026 | Allow | 16 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18943039 | HINGE APPARATUS FOR EXTERNAL BONE FIXATOR | November 2024 | January 2026 | Allow | 14 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18827709 | POLYAXIAL PEDICLE SCREW ASSEMBLY WITH CANNULATED SCREW SHANK HAVING AN INTERNAL DRIVE SOCKET SURROUNDED BY A PLANAR TOP END SURFACE | September 2024 | July 2025 | Allow | 10 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 18799592 | INTEGRATED EXPANDABLE INTERBODY SPACER (IEIS) | August 2024 | December 2025 | Allow | 16 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18770767 | Resorptive Intramedullary Implant Between Two Bones or Two Bone Fragments | July 2024 | October 2025 | Allow | 15 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18745132 | INTERVERTEBRAL IMPLANTS, INSTRUMENTS, AND METHODS | June 2024 | October 2025 | Allow | 16 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 18653281 | EXPANDABLE INTERVERTEBRAL CAGE IMPLANT | May 2024 | February 2026 | Allow | 22 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 18704209 | ORTHOPEDIC FIXATION DEVICE WITH LAG SCREW AND COMPRESSION SCREW | April 2024 | August 2025 | Allow | 16 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18629688 | MINIMALLY INVASIVE COMPLIANT DEVICES FOR TOTAL LUMBAR DISC REPLACEMENT | April 2024 | August 2025 | Allow | 16 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18696965 | SPINAL FIXATION TOOL, SYSTEM AND METHOD | March 2024 | October 2024 | Allow | 7 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18692522 | IMPROVED BONE ANCHOR AND BONE ANCHOR INSERTION TOOL | March 2024 | December 2025 | Abandon | 21 | 0 | 1 | No | No |
| 18444119 | INTERVERTEBRAL IMPLANT AND TOOL ASSEMBLY | February 2024 | October 2025 | Allow | 20 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18438270 | BONE ANCHOR ASSEMBLIES WITH INTERCHANGEABLE AND DIFFERENT LOCKING THREADED CLOSURES | February 2024 | June 2025 | Allow | 16 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18407714 | Intubation device | January 2024 | October 2025 | Allow | 21 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18406445 | PEDICLE SCREW STABILIZATION SYSTEMS AND INSTRUMENTS | January 2024 | December 2025 | Allow | 24 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 18397857 | METHODS FOR IMPROVING SPINAL ALIGNMENT AND MOTION | December 2023 | July 2025 | Allow | 18 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 18527164 | SPINAL IMPLANT AND DELIVERY SYSTEM | December 2023 | July 2025 | Allow | 19 | 0 | 1 | No | No |
| 18504077 | SHIELD FOR SPINAL DEFECT | November 2023 | August 2024 | Allow | 10 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18495753 | BIO-FLEXIBLE SPINAL IMPLANT HAVING DETACHABLE HEAD MODULE AND ASSEMBLY THEREOF | October 2023 | August 2025 | Allow | 22 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18556413 | SURGICAL INSERTION GUIDE | October 2023 | October 2025 | Allow | 24 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18371426 | METHODS FOR RESTORING BILATERAL SPINAL ALIGNMENT AND/OR RANGE OF MOTION | September 2023 | January 2026 | Allow | 28 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18464949 | DRIVE INSTRUMENTS WITH RETENTION MECHANISMS, MEDICAL IMPLANTS, AND RELATED TECHNOLOGIES | September 2023 | October 2025 | Allow | 25 | 0 | 1 | No | No |
| 18464451 | ADJUSTABLE TETHER IMPLANT | September 2023 | August 2025 | Allow | 24 | 0 | 1 | No | No |
| 18462275 | PIVOTABLE BONE ANCHOR ASSEMBLY WITH INDEPENDENT PROVISIONAL LOCKING BY INSERT COMPRESSING MEMBER | September 2023 | February 2025 | Allow | 17 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18458318 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TISSUE REMOVAL | August 2023 | April 2025 | Allow | 20 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18236924 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR ALTERING SPINAL LORDOSIS AND/OR KYPHOSIS DURING SPINAL FUSION | August 2023 | April 2025 | Allow | 20 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18232557 | TOTAL SPINAL JOINT SYSTEMS WITH DISSIMILAR BEARING MATERIALS | August 2023 | November 2025 | Abandon | 27 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18232103 | DEVICES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO ALTER SPINAL ALIGNMENT | August 2023 | October 2025 | Abandon | 27 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18229149 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR ALTERING SPINAL LATERAL CURVATURE | August 2023 | March 2025 | Allow | 20 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18350069 | METHOD OF ASSEMBLING A PIVOTAL BONE ANCHOR ASSEMBLY WITH SNAP-IN-PLACE BUSHING | July 2023 | January 2024 | Allow | 6 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18332665 | BONE ANCHOR ASSEMBLIES WITH INTERCHANGEABLE AND DIFFERENT LOCKING THREADED CLOSURES | June 2023 | November 2023 | Allow | 5 | 0 | 1 | No | No |
| 18317676 | PIVOTAL BONE ANCHOR ASSEMBLY HAVING THREADED RECEIVER LOWER OPENING AND SHANK HEAD | May 2023 | November 2025 | Abandon | 30 | 0 | 1 | No | No |
| 18128724 | Tissue Retraction And Vertebral Displacement Devices, Systems, And Methods For Posterior Spinal Fusion | March 2023 | October 2025 | Allow | 31 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18124908 | Medical Device Employing a Coaxial Screw Gear Sleeve Mechanism | March 2023 | August 2025 | Allow | 29 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18182828 | POSTERIOR STABILIZATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS | March 2023 | October 2025 | Abandon | 31 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18120042 | UNIVERSAL CLAMP APPARATUS FOR BONE FIXATION DEVICE | March 2023 | June 2025 | Allow | 27 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 18108625 | Implant for Bone | February 2023 | October 2025 | Allow | 32 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18106737 | EXPANDABLE IMPLANT ASSEMBLY | February 2023 | June 2025 | Allow | 28 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18162647 | PIVOTAL BONE ANCHOR ASSEMBLY HAVING TWIST-IN-PLACE INSERT AND RECEIVER WITH PRE-FORMED AXIAL ROTATION INSERT STOPS | January 2023 | May 2024 | Allow | 15 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18018512 | Specimen Retrieval Device | January 2023 | September 2025 | Allow | 32 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 18099736 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING THE SHAPE OF SPINAL RODS AND SPINAL INTERBODY DEVICES FOR USE WITH AUGMENTED REALITY DISPLAYS, NAVIGATION SYSTEMS AND ROBOTS IN MINIMALLY INVASIVE SPINE PROCEDURES | January 2023 | June 2025 | Allow | 29 | 0 | 1 | No | No |
| 18098642 | Two-Piece Spine Implant Installation Instrument For Use With An Endoscope And Method Of Use | January 2023 | August 2025 | Allow | 31 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 18071600 | Capped Distraction/Compression Rod System | November 2022 | October 2025 | Abandon | 35 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17968622 | SPINAL CORRECTION TENSIONING SYSTEM | October 2022 | March 2026 | Allow | 41 | 2 | 1 | No | No |
| 17996308 | IMPROVED LINEAR FIBULAR NAIL | October 2022 | October 2025 | Abandon | 36 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 18045899 | TISSUE RETRACTOR AND METHOD OF USE | October 2022 | November 2024 | Allow | 25 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 17961809 | Expandable Spinal Implant Apparatus And Method Of Use | October 2022 | July 2025 | Allow | 34 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17935241 | UNI-PLANER BONE FIXATION ASSEMBLY | September 2022 | July 2025 | Allow | 33 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 17933430 | PIVOTAL BONE ANCHOR ASSEMBLY WITH POLYAXIAL SCREW HAVING FRUSTO-CONICAL UPPER SURFACE | September 2022 | December 2022 | Allow | 3 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17931989 | CAGE FOR MINIMAL INVASIVE SURGERY | September 2022 | April 2025 | Abandon | 31 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17930113 | LAMINA PLATE ASSEMBLY | September 2022 | October 2025 | Abandon | 38 | 2 | 1 | No | No |
| 17897882 | RETRACTOR FOR SPINAL SURGERY | August 2022 | November 2025 | Allow | 39 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 17822147 | Lumbar vertebrae fusion device with internal extension mechanism | August 2022 | December 2024 | Allow | 27 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17821939 | SCREW TOWER AND ROD REDUCTION TOOL | August 2022 | January 2025 | Allow | 29 | 0 | 1 | No | No |
| 17881573 | FIXATED INTERVERTEBRAL MESH IMPLANT AND METHOD | August 2022 | October 2025 | Allow | 38 | 2 | 1 | No | No |
| 17881298 | PERCUTANEOUS ACCESS PATHWAY SYSTEM | August 2022 | February 2025 | Allow | 30 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17877021 | Retractor Tool Apparatus and Method of Manipulation | July 2022 | December 2025 | Allow | 41 | 3 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17815698 | EXPANDABLE VERTEBRAL PROSTHESIS | July 2022 | September 2024 | Allow | 26 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 17871864 | HEIGHT-EXPANDABLE SPINAL CAGE | July 2022 | February 2025 | Allow | 31 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 17813856 | INTRAMEDULLARY FIXATION DEVICE WITH SHAPE LOCKING INTERFACE | July 2022 | March 2026 | Allow | 44 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17861164 | RETRACTORS | July 2022 | August 2025 | Allow | 37 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 17809350 | MINIMALLY INVASIVE INSTRUMENT SET, DEVICES, AND RELATED METHODS | June 2022 | June 2025 | Allow | 36 | 2 | 1 | No | No |
| 17849053 | IRIS EXPANDER | June 2022 | March 2025 | Allow | 33 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 17848435 | INTERNAL FIXATION SYSTEM FOR ANATOMICAL REDUCTION OF FRACTURED VERTEBRAL BODY OF SPINE AND INTRAVERTEBRAL BONE GRAFTING | June 2022 | April 2025 | Allow | 34 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 17843034 | BOTTOM LOADED PEDICLE SCREW | June 2022 | January 2025 | Allow | 31 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17840746 | SPINAL FIXATION SYSTEM AND METHOD | June 2022 | October 2025 | Allow | 40 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 17834781 | PIVOTAL BONE ANCHOR ASSEMBLY WITH SNAP-IN-PLACE PRE-LOCK FRICTION FIT BUSHING | June 2022 | July 2023 | Allow | 13 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 17732063 | ORTHOPEDIC IMPLANT AUGMENTS | April 2022 | November 2024 | Allow | 31 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17729234 | SPINAL ANCHORING SYSTEM | April 2022 | December 2024 | Allow | 32 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17659931 | TISSUE RETRACTOR DEVICE | April 2022 | November 2024 | Abandon | 31 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17754918 | IMPLANT WITH INTRAMEDULLARY PORTION AND VARIABLE ANGLE EXTRAMEDULLARY PORTION | April 2022 | February 2025 | Allow | 34 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 17718893 | ENDOSCOPIC IMAGING SYSTEM | April 2022 | January 2023 | Abandon | 9 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17754684 | VARIABLE VERTEBRAL CAGE | April 2022 | June 2025 | Allow | 38 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17706873 | INTERVERTEBRAL IMPLANT AND TOOL ASSEMBLY | March 2022 | December 2023 | Allow | 21 | 4 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17655156 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LAPIDUS REPAIR OF BUNIONS | March 2022 | March 2025 | Allow | 36 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 17653560 | TETHERED RESTRAINT OF VERTEBRAL BODIES | March 2022 | January 2025 | Allow | 34 | 0 | 1 | No | No |
| 17665146 | POLYAXIAL PEDICLE SCREW | February 2022 | May 2023 | Allow | 16 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17665311 | PIVOTAL BONE ANCHOR ASSEMBLY HAVING A THREADED SHANK HEAD AND A THREADED RECEIVER LOWER OPENING | February 2022 | February 2023 | Allow | 12 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17569832 | COUPLING DEVICE FOR COUPLING A ROD TO A BONE ANCHOR | January 2022 | January 2025 | Allow | 36 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17557419 | INTERBODY CAGE AND METHOD OF INSERTION | December 2021 | December 2024 | Abandon | 36 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 17553136 | DISTRIBUTING GRAFT MATERIAL FROM AN EXPANDABLE CAGE | December 2021 | May 2025 | Allow | 41 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 17616265 | ANCHORING DEVICE FOR USE IN SPINAL DEFORMITY CORRECTION SURGERY | December 2021 | March 2025 | Allow | 40 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 17504239 | INTERVERTEBRAL IMPLANTS, INSTRUMENTS, AND METHODS | October 2021 | December 2024 | Allow | 38 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17492353 | Bone anchor based retractor/distractor | October 2021 | June 2024 | Abandon | 33 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17488395 | INTRA-CORPORAL TELESCOPIC OSTEODISTRACTION DEVICE, AN EXTRA CORPORAL FORCE PRODUCING DEVICE, A METHOD FOR BONE LENGTHENING AND A BONE LENGTHENING ARRANGEMENT | September 2021 | April 2024 | Allow | 31 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 17442074 | IMPLANTABLE EXPANDABLE BONE SUPPORT DEVICE | September 2021 | February 2025 | Allow | 41 | 2 | 1 | No | No |
| 17480193 | Lateral Spondylolisthesis Reduction Cage | September 2021 | January 2025 | Allow | 40 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 17439850 | Set Screw and Set Screw Driving Tool for Improved Rod Alignment | September 2021 | November 2024 | Allow | 38 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 17473060 | PIVOTAL BONE ANCHOR ASSEMBLY WITH RECEIVER HAVING VERTICAL TOOL ENGAGEMENT GROOVE | September 2021 | April 2022 | Allow | 7 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17464769 | Rod Inserter And Rod With Reduced Diameter End | September 2021 | August 2024 | Allow | 36 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17446335 | IMPLANTS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS OF USE | August 2021 | September 2024 | Allow | 36 | 2 | 1 | No | No |
| 17446391 | INTERSPINOUS PROCESS FUSION DEVICE AND METHOD OF USE | August 2021 | July 2024 | Allow | 35 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17391158 | DUAL EXPANDING SPINAL IMPLANT, SYSTEM, AND METHOD OF USE | August 2021 | December 2021 | Allow | 4 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17443388 | MATRIX IMPLANT | July 2021 | July 2024 | Allow | 36 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 17382782 | Screw Tower and Rod Reduction Tool | July 2021 | May 2022 | Allow | 10 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17380897 | EXPANDABLE FUSION DEVICE WITH INDEPENDENT EXPANSION SYSTEMS | July 2021 | February 2025 | Allow | 43 | 3 | 1 | No | No |
This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner HAMMOND, ELLEN CHRISTINA.
With a 50.0% reversal rate, the PTAB reverses the examiner's rejections in a meaningful percentage of cases. This reversal rate is in the top 25% across the USPTO, indicating that appeals are more successful here than in most other areas.
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, 33.3% 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 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 HAMMOND, ELLEN CHRISTINA works in Art Unit 3773 and has examined 346 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 83.2%, this examiner has an above-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 31 months.
Examiner HAMMOND, ELLEN CHRISTINA's allowance rate of 83.2% places them in the 57% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has an above-average tendency to allow applications.
On average, applications examined by HAMMOND, ELLEN CHRISTINA receive 1.83 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 42% percentile for office actions issued. This examiner issues fewer office actions than average, which may indicate efficient prosecution or a more lenient examination style.
The median time to disposition (half-life) for applications examined by HAMMOND, ELLEN CHRISTINA is 31 months. This places the examiner in the 58% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly faster than average with this examiner.
Conducting an examiner interview provides a +12.1% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by HAMMOND, ELLEN CHRISTINA. This interview benefit is in the 48% percentile among all examiners. Recommendation: Interviews provide a below-average benefit with this examiner.
When applicants file an RCE with this examiner, 28.7% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 53% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Insight: RCEs show above-average effectiveness with this examiner. Consider whether your amendments or new arguments are strong enough to warrant an RCE versus filing a continuation.
This examiner enters after-final amendments leading to allowance in 62.1% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 87% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: This examiner is highly receptive to after-final amendments compared to other examiners. Per MPEP § 714.12, after-final amendments may be entered "under justifiable circumstances." Consider filing after-final amendments with a clear showing of allowability rather than immediately filing an RCE, as this examiner frequently enters such amendments.
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.
This examiner withdraws rejections or reopens prosecution in 80.0% of appeals filed. This is in the 73% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 25.0% 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.
When applicants file petitions regarding this examiner's actions, 57.1% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 60% 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's Amendments: This examiner makes examiner's amendments in 2.3% of allowed cases (in the 76% 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 2.8% of allowed cases (in the 73% percentile). This examiner issues Quayle actions more often than average when claims are allowable but formal matters remain (MPEP § 714.14).
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.