USPTO Examiner MATTHEWS TESSA M - Art Unit 3773

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
19017237ELASTIC INTRAMEDULLARY FIXATION DEVICEJanuary 2025March 2025Allow200NoNo
18776707PIVOTAL BONE ANCHOR ASSEMBLY WITH RESILIENTLY AXIALLY COMPRESSIBLE SHANK HEAD AND ROD ENGAGING INSERTJuly 2024February 2025Allow710YesNo
18668698EXPANDABLE INTERSPINOUS PROCESS FIXATION DEVICEMay 2024April 2025Allow1020YesNo
18663812SPINAL FIXATION SYSTEM HAVING A LOW PROFILE LOCKABLE CONNECTORMay 2024November 2024Allow610NoNo
18597710POLYAXIAL BONE ANCHORING DEVICE AND SYSTEM INCLUDING AN INSTRUMENT AND A POLYAXIAL BONE ANCHORING DEVICEMarch 2024June 2025Allow1510NoNo
18438429SURGICAL SCREW CADDYFebruary 2024August 2024Allow610YesNo
18681311ROD FOR SPINAL FIXATION IMPLANTFebruary 2024January 2025Allow1110NoNo
18389365Funnel Hole for Intramedullary NailNovember 2023November 2024Allow1200NoNo
18490125POST-OPERATIVELY ADJUSTABLE SPINAL FIXATION DEVICESOctober 2023June 2025Allow2010NoNo
18372778EXPANDABLE FUSION DEVICE FOR POSITIONING BETWEEN ADJACENT VERTEBRAL BODIESSeptember 2023June 2025Allow2010NoNo
18449781SPINOUS PROCESS FIXATION SYSTEM AND METHODS THEREOFAugust 2023May 2025Allow2110NoNo
18447382SURGICAL RETENTION FEATUREAugust 2023March 2025Allow1911YesNo
18359566PIVOTAL BONE ANCHOR ASSEMBLY WITH RESILIENTLY BIASED FRICTION FIT INSERTJuly 2023March 2024Allow710NoNo
18356931MULTIPOINT FIXATION IMPLANTS AND RELATED METHODSJuly 2023November 2024Allow1600NoNo
18221348PIVOTAL BONE ANCHOR ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR USE THEREOFJuly 2023August 2024Allow1310NoNo
18330460METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ADJUSTING AN EXTERNAL FIXATION FRAMEJune 2023August 2024Allow1400NoNo
18321174SPINOUS PROCESS FIXATION SYSTEM AND METHODS THEREOFMay 2023December 2024Allow1910NoNo
18141983SELF-RETAINING SURGICAL RETRACTORMay 2023April 2025Allow2400NoNo
18308550CONTINUOUS COMPRESSION FIXATION DEVICE FOR THE FUSION OF AN INTERCALARY STRUCTURAL AUGMENTApril 2023December 2024Abandon2010NoNo
18302906SPINOUS PROCESS FIXATION SYSTEM AND METHODS THEREOFApril 2023March 2025Allow2311NoNo
18300437SMART AND AUTONOMOUS GROWING ROD FOR TREATING SPINAL DEFORMITIESApril 2023March 2025Allow2310NoNo
18130074BELT DRIVEN EXPANDABLE INTERBODY FUSION DEVICEApril 2023April 2025Allow2400NoNo
18190334EXPANDABLE INTERSPINOUS PROCESS FIXATION DEVICEMarch 2023February 2024Allow1110NoNo
18180937ILLUMINATED DUAL-BLADE RETRACTORMarch 2023June 2025Allow2720YesNo
18174012DEVICE, KIT AND METHOD FOR CORRECTION OF SPINAL DEFORMITYFebruary 2023April 2025Allow2620NoNo
18099046SPINAL FIXATION DEVICES AND METHODS OF USEJanuary 2023February 2024Abandon1310NoNo
18095138FACET SCREW AND DELIVERY DEVICEJanuary 2023August 2023Allow710YesNo
18151780DEVICES AND METHODS FOR CORRECTING VERTEBRAL MISALIGNMENTJanuary 2023June 2024Allow1811NoNo
18004070SYSTEM FOR VARYING DISTANCE BETWEEN BONE SEGMENTSJanuary 2023December 2024Allow2410NoNo
18092553SPINAL IMPLANT SYSTEM AND METHODS OF USEJanuary 2023November 2023Allow1010NoNo
18088861Implant For Restoring Height Of A Vertebral BodyDecember 2022January 2024Allow1310NoNo
18057317TENSIONING INSTRUMENTSNovember 2022January 2025Allow2611NoNo
17991422DEVICES AND METHODS FOR TISSUE RETRACTIONNovember 2022May 2024Allow1820NoNo
18057108Transosseous Guide And MethodNovember 2022February 2024Abandon1510NoNo
17989627CROSSLINK LOCKING MECHANISMNovember 2022January 2024Allow1410NoNo
17987394Paraxial Revision Rod-to-Rod ConnectorNovember 2022February 2024Allow1520YesNo
17979917BIOABSORBABLE IMPLANT COMBINED WITH TISSUE-ENGINEERED COMPOSITE INTERVERTEBRAL DISCNovember 2022October 2023Allow1110NoNo
17963339ADJUSTABLE SPINAL PLATEOctober 2022June 2024Allow2100NoNo
17958417BONE INFUSION APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR INTERBODY GRAFTSOctober 2022October 2023Abandon1210NoNo
17955958BONE ANCHORS AND SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS WITH INTEGRATED GUIDE TIPSSeptember 2022November 2023Allow1410YesNo
17949648INSTRUMENT FOR INSERTING AN INTERSPINOUS PROCESS IMPLANTSeptember 2022January 2024Allow1610YesNo
17890423ILLUMINATED SURGICAL RETRACTORAugust 2022April 2024Allow2020NoNo
17887159LATERAL INSERTION SPINAL IMPLANTAugust 2022February 2023Allow600YesNo
17883517Apparatus and Method for a Stabilization NailAugust 2022February 2024Allow1820YesNo
17883212INTERSPINOUS IMPLANTSAugust 2022January 2025Allow2940NoNo
17816743METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ADJUSTING AN EXTERNAL FIXATION FRAMEAugust 2022October 2023Abandon1410NoNo
17877920BONE FIXATION DEVICES, SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND INSTRUMENTSJuly 2022December 2024Allow2911YesNo
17850967SURGICAL RETRACTORSJune 2022June 2024Allow2421YesNo
17837247ARTICULATING GRAFT DELIVERYJune 2022December 2024Allow3010NoNo
17836741EXPANDABLE FUSION DEVICE FOR POSITIONING BETWEEN ADJACENT VERTEBRAL BODIESJune 2022May 2023Allow1110NoNo
17748966POLYAXIAL BONE ANCHORING DEVICEMay 2022January 2024Allow2010NoNo
17663885REMOTELY ADJUSTABLE INTERACTIVE IMPLANTABLE DEVICEMay 2022October 2024Allow2931YesNo
17734680SPINAL IMPLANT SYSTEM AND METHODS OF USEMay 2022September 2023Allow1710YesNo
17726836METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING BONE FRACTURES, AND/OR FOR FORTIFYING AND/OR AUGMENTING BONE, INCLUDING THE PROVISION AND USE OF COMPOSITE IMPLANTSApril 2022December 2023Abandon1901NoNo
17717252SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR COMBINED PERIOCULAR DIRECT-ILLUMINATION AND TRANS-CONJUNCTIVAL AND TRANS-SCLERAL RETRO-ILLUMINATION DURING OPHTHALMIC SURGERYApril 2022May 2023Allow1310NoNo
17713881FLEXIBLE INTRAMEDULLARY NAILApril 2022June 2025Abandon3910NoNo
17707269POST-OPERATIVELY ADJUSTABLE SPINAL FIXATION DEVICESMarch 2022July 2023Allow1601YesNo
17763599INTERVERTEBRAL SPACERMarch 2022November 2024Allow3210NoNo
17685610SURGICAL IMPLANT AND METHOD OF USEMarch 2022September 2024Allow3131NoNo
17685364SELECTIVELY LOCKING POLYAXIAL SCREWMarch 2022September 2023Allow1920YesNo
17684835SCOLIOSIS SUPPORT ROD SYSTEMMarch 2022September 2023Allow1910YesNo
17681379EXTERNAL BONE FIXATION SYSTEMFebruary 2022March 2024Allow2420NoNo
17666680INTERBODY STANDALONE INTERVERTEBRAL IMPLANTFebruary 2022March 2024Allow2530YesNo
17590185SMART AND AUTONOMOUS GROWING ROD FOR TREATING SPINAL DEFORMITIESFebruary 2022March 2023Allow1410YesNo
17590141SMART AND AUTONOMOUS GROWING ROD FOR TREATING SPINAL DEFORMITIESFebruary 2022December 2022Allow1010NoNo
17587526SURGICAL INSTRUMENT PORTS CONFIGURED FOR USE WITH WOUND RETRACTORS, AND RELATED DEVICES AND METHODSJanuary 2022June 2023Allow1610YesNo
17587666INSTRUMENT FOR INSERTING AN INTERSPINOUS PROCESS IMPLANTJanuary 2022July 2023Allow1810YesNo
17648254EXTERNAL BONE FIXATION SYSTEMJanuary 2022January 2024Allow2430YesNo
17571777DEVICES AND METHODS FOR STABILIZATION OF THE SPINE USING TRANSPEDICULAR APPROACHESJanuary 2022July 2023Abandon1820NoNo
17557157SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SURGICAL PROCEDURES USING BAND CLAMP IMPLANTS AND TENSIONING INSTRUMENTSDecember 2021September 2024Allow3331NoNo
17553183DEVICES AND METHODS FOR TISSUE RETRACTIONDecember 2021February 2024Allow2630YesNo
17553668SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR A DIGITAL OTOACOUSTIC INTEGRATED OTOSCOPEDecember 2021May 2024Abandon2901NoNo
17546201ADJUSTABLE, MODULAR INSTRUMENT AND METHOD FOR SPINAL MANIPULATIONDecember 2021March 2023Allow1520NoNo
17527485SURGICAL INSTRUMENT AND METHODNovember 2021May 2023Allow1820NoNo
17525075FLEXIBLE INTRAMEDULLARY NAILNovember 2021April 2025Abandon4141NoNo
17523530Bone Fixation System for Spinal StabilizationNovember 2021July 2023Abandon2020NoNo
17519498SURGICAL RETRACTORNovember 2021May 2023Abandon1810NoNo
17518095SPINAL FUSION DEVICENovember 2021August 2023Allow2220YesNo
17511397COUPLING DEVICE FOR COUPLING A ROD TO A BONE ANCHOROctober 2021January 2023Allow1410NoNo
17507346SPINOUS PROCESS FIXATION SYSTEM AND MEHTODS THEREOFOctober 2021January 2023Allow1510NoNo
17504429ACCESS DEVICE WITH ANCHORING BODY AND MODULAR INSERTS AND SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR SUPPORTING ACCESSORIES USED IN MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGICAL PROCEDURESOctober 2021November 2023Allow2411YesNo
17497453SPINOUS PROCESS FIXATION SYSTEM AND MEHTODS THEREOFOctober 2021January 2023Allow1510NoNo
17483149SPINOUS PROCESS FIXATION SYSTEM AND METHODS THEREOFSeptember 2021July 2023Allow2120NoNo
17479376IMPLANT, INSERTION DEVICE, AND PLATE ASSEMBLYSeptember 2021September 2024Allow3630YesNo
17467573SPINAL IMPLANT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LUMBAR AND LUMBOSACRAL FUSIONSeptember 2021January 2023Abandon1710NoNo
17466255STEERABLE IMPLANT, INSTALLER, AND METHOD OF INSTALLATIONSeptember 2021October 2022Allow1410NoNo
17435933Device for the angular correction of a lower limb in pediatric patientsSeptember 2021August 2024Allow3510NoNo
17465252SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SURGICAL PROCEDURES USING BAND CLAMP IMPLANTS AND TENSIONING INSTRUMENTSSeptember 2021May 2023Allow2111YesNo
17433659Method and Device for Endoscopic Endonasal Occipitocervical FusionAugust 2021September 2024Allow3720NoNo
17412013POLYAXIAL BONE ANCHORING DEVICEAugust 2021December 2023Allow2831NoNo
17403343BONE ANCHORING DEVICEAugust 2021February 2024Allow3031NoNo
17430711INTERVERTEBRAL DEVICESAugust 2021June 2024Allow3400NoNo
17398961Multi-material multi-component spinal implantAugust 2021May 2023Allow2111YesNo
17393760SYSTEM OF A ROD INSERTION DEVICE AND A RODAugust 2021January 2024Allow2930NoNo
17389254Disposable Video Laryngoscope With Fluid Spray SystemJuly 2021February 2023Allow1810NoNo
17379619SPINOUS PROCESS FIXATION SYSTEM AND METHODS THEREOFJuly 2021March 2023Allow2011NoNo
17378229ROD SYSTEM INCLUDING AT LEAST TWO RODS AND CONNECTOR DEVICE FOR RODSJuly 2021January 2023Allow1821YesNo
17370873IMPLANTS HAVING BONE GROWTH PROMOTING AGENTS CONTAINED WITHIN BIODEGRADABLE MATERIALSJuly 2021September 2024Allow3840NoNo
17364906METHOD AND IMPLANT SYSTEM FOR SACROILIAC JOINT FIXATION AND FUSIONJuly 2021June 2022Abandon1110YesNo
17352088APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR A STABILIZATION NAILJune 2021July 2022Allow1330YesNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner MATTHEWS, TESSA M.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
4
Examiner Affirmed
2
(50.0%)
Examiner Reversed
2
(50.0%)
Reversal Percentile
79.0%
Higher than average

What This Means

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.

Strategic Value of Filing an Appeal

Total Appeal Filings
9
Allowed After Appeal Filing
2
(22.2%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
7
(77.8%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
26.8%
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, 22.2% 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 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 shows limited benefit. Consider other strategies like interviews or amendments before appealing.

Examiner MATTHEWS, TESSA M - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner MATTHEWS, TESSA M works in Art Unit 3773 and has examined 337 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 85.8%, this examiner has an above-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 28 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner MATTHEWS, TESSA M's allowance rate of 85.8% places them in the 58% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has an above-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by MATTHEWS, TESSA M receive 2.00 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 65% 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 MATTHEWS, TESSA M is 28 months. This places the examiner in the 54% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly faster than average with this examiner.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a +19.8% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by MATTHEWS, TESSA M. 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, 28.9% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 44% 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 51.8% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 73% 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 20% 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 55.6% of appeals filed. This is in the 23% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Insight: This examiner rarely withdraws rejections during the appeal process compared to other examiners. If you file an appeal, be prepared to fully prosecute it to a PTAB decision. Per MPEP § 1207, the examiner will prepare an Examiner's Answer maintaining the rejections.

Petition Practice

When applicants file petitions regarding this examiner's actions, 54.5% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 69% 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 42% 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 41% 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.