Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.
| Application Number | Title | Filing Date | Disposal Date | Disposition | Time (months) | Office Actions | Restrictions | Interview | Appeal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18634439 | ROBOTIC DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR CARDIAC IMPLANTS | April 2024 | January 2025 | Allow | 9 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 18429549 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR DEPLOYMENT OF A TRANSCATHETER HEART VALVE | February 2024 | November 2024 | Allow | 10 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18405454 | ROTATION ADAPTER AND RECEIVER FOR MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGICAL DEVICES | January 2024 | January 2026 | Allow | 24 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18556447 | VALVE LEAFLET OBSTRUCTION REPAIR CLIP AND REPAIR SYSTEM THEREOF | October 2023 | April 2024 | Allow | 6 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18328396 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TISSUE HARVESTING | June 2023 | August 2025 | Allow | 26 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 18123868 | SURGICAL CLIP AND CLIP APPLIER | March 2023 | July 2025 | Allow | 28 | 4 | 0 | No | No |
| 18117381 | CIRCULAR CAPSULOTOMY INCISION TOOL | March 2023 | June 2023 | Allow | 4 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 18060142 | DELIVERY SYSTEM WITH ANCHORING NOSECONE AND METHOD OF DELIVERY | November 2022 | February 2026 | Allow | 39 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17989327 | OCCLUSION DEVICES AND METHODS OF THEIR MANUFACTURE AND USE | November 2022 | October 2024 | Abandon | 23 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17974126 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR CROSSING CHRONIC TOTAL OCCLUSIONS | October 2022 | April 2024 | Allow | 17 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17930227 | Prosthetic Tricuspid Valve Replacement Design | September 2022 | March 2026 | Abandon | 42 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17865723 | SUTURE ANCHOR CONSTRUCT AND DEPLOYMENT DEVICE | July 2022 | July 2024 | Allow | 25 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 17664414 | DEVICE AND METHOD WITH REDUCED PACEMAKER RATE IN HEART VALVE REPLACEMENT | May 2022 | January 2026 | Allow | 44 | 4 | 0 | Yes | Yes |
| 17771910 | SURGICAL PORT | April 2022 | September 2023 | Allow | 17 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17723266 | CARDIAC RESTORATION AND RESHAPING DEVICES AND METHODS | April 2022 | March 2026 | Abandon | 47 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17719645 | Method and Apparatus for Collapsing a Prosthetic Heart Valve | April 2022 | January 2026 | Abandon | 45 | 4 | 0 | No | No |
| 17692007 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR VARIABLE BLOOD FLOW OCCLUSION | March 2022 | February 2026 | Allow | 48 | 4 | 1 | Yes | Yes |
| 17626808 | CERCLAGE OPERATION DEVICE PROVIDED WITH POSITION FIXING DEVICE | February 2022 | October 2025 | Abandon | 45 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17574720 | DELIVERY SYSTEM WITH INLINE SHEATH | January 2022 | December 2023 | Allow | 23 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17566012 | System Comprising A Foam Structure And A Surgical Fixation Device | December 2021 | February 2026 | Abandon | 49 | 4 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17595919 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DELIVERY OF CHORDAE REPLACEMENT SYSTEM | November 2021 | April 2025 | Allow | 41 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 17531328 | DEMINERALIZED BONE PAPER | November 2021 | May 2024 | Allow | 30 | 3 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17520435 | MITRAL LEAFLET REPAIR | November 2021 | December 2025 | Allow | 49 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17442337 | FIBROSIS-INDUCING DRUG-ELUTING STENT FOR BLOCKING ELECTRIC CONDUCTION | October 2021 | March 2025 | Abandon | 42 | 3 | 0 | No | No |
| 17507709 | HEART VALVE REPAIR | October 2021 | March 2026 | Allow | 53 | 2 | 1 | No | No |
| 17601231 | MEDICAL DEVICE RELEASE APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE | October 2021 | August 2025 | Allow | 46 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17489087 | IMPLANT DELIVERY SLEEVES HAVING NON-TAPERED TUBULAR WALLS WITH CONSTRICTED IMPLANT DELIVERY CHANNELS FOR INSERTING IMPLANTS INTO TISSUE POCKETS | September 2021 | June 2024 | Allow | 33 | 0 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17438373 | ANASTOMOSING STENT AND METHODS OF USE | September 2021 | December 2025 | Abandon | 51 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 17438106 | PERCUTANEOUS PROSTHETIC DEVICE FOR REPLACING A MITRAL VALVE | September 2021 | July 2025 | Allow | 46 | 2 | 1 | No | No |
| 17408722 | ANCHORING METHOD FOR REDUCING CARDIAC VALVE REGURGITATION | August 2021 | September 2025 | Allow | 49 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17431191 | STENT | August 2021 | July 2025 | Abandon | 47 | 3 | 0 | No | No |
| 17396158 | DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR RESHAPING A HEART VALVE ANNULUS | August 2021 | July 2025 | Abandon | 48 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17383510 | PERCUTANEOUS ATRIAL AND VENTRICULAR SEPTAL DEFECT CLOSURE DEVICE | July 2021 | July 2024 | Allow | 36 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17425151 | INTRAOCULAR LENS IMPLANTER AND PRELOADED TYPE INTRAOCULAR LENS IMPLANTATION DEVICE | July 2021 | March 2026 | Allow | 55 | 3 | 1 | No | No |
| 17378672 | TISSUE FIXATION DEVICES AND A TRANSORAL ENDOSCOPIC GASTROESOPHAGEAL FLAP VALVE RESTORATION DEVICE AND ASSEMBLY USING SAME | July 2021 | November 2023 | Abandon | 28 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17361941 | LOW PROFILE ELECTRODES FOR AN ANGIOPLASTY SHOCK WAVE CATHETER | June 2021 | October 2024 | Allow | 40 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17359964 | PROSTHETIC VALVE | June 2021 | September 2024 | Allow | 39 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17353702 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MONITORING VALVE EXPANSION | June 2021 | June 2025 | Allow | 47 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 17299259 | STEPWISE-CLAMPING TYPE VALVE PROSTHESIS AND DELIVERY SYSTEM THEREOF | June 2021 | April 2025 | Allow | 46 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 17335271 | PRE-LOADED MULTIPORT DELIVERY DEVICE | June 2021 | August 2024 | Allow | 39 | 0 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17290153 | SURGICAL DEVICE FOR IMPLANT REMOVAL | April 2021 | August 2024 | Allow | 40 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17284868 | PROSTHETIC KNEE SPACER AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME | April 2021 | May 2025 | Abandon | 49 | 2 | 1 | No | No |
| 17282994 | MODULAR VALVE REPLACEMENT SYSTEMS AND ASSOCIATED DEVICES AND METHODS OF USE | April 2021 | November 2024 | Allow | 43 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17282017 | PROSTHESIS EXTRACTION SYSTEM | April 2021 | September 2024 | Allow | 42 | 1 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17200213 | ANTI-BACKSPIN COMPONENT FOR VASCULAR PROSTHESIS DELIVERY DEVICE | March 2021 | May 2025 | Allow | 50 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17195054 | ALL-SUTURE SUTURE ANCHOR SYSTEMS AND METHODS | March 2021 | August 2023 | Allow | 29 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 17180169 | DEVICES FOR TREATING PARAVALVULAR LEAKAGE AND ASSOCIATED METHODS | February 2021 | September 2024 | Abandon | 43 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16950196 | DISTAL END SUPPORTED TISSUE SLITTING APPARATUS | November 2020 | November 2023 | Allow | 36 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17092063 | DEVICES FOR REDUCING LEFT ATRIAL PRESSURE, AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING SAME | November 2020 | August 2024 | Allow | 45 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17088291 | FLEXIBLE DRIVE TUBE FOR LAPAROSCOPIC DEVICE | November 2020 | June 2024 | Allow | 43 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17052127 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CATARACT EXTRACTION | October 2020 | March 2024 | Abandon | 41 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 17074868 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR CRIMPING PROSTHETIC IMPLANTS | October 2020 | March 2025 | Allow | 53 | 3 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 17039216 | ENDOSCOPIC SUTURING SYSTEM | September 2020 | February 2024 | Allow | 41 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16967999 | SUTURE FASTENERS | August 2020 | February 2024 | Allow | 42 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 16905645 | Minimally Invasive Repair of Heart Valve Leaflets | June 2020 | January 2024 | Allow | 43 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16778060 | ENDOSCOPIC SUTURING SYSTEM | January 2020 | November 2023 | Allow | 46 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16667030 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR CUTTING LENTICULAR TISSUE | October 2019 | July 2023 | Allow | 44 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16582025 | BIORESORBABLE KNIT FOR HERNIA REPAIR AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME | September 2019 | January 2026 | Allow | 60 | 7 | 1 | No | No |
| 16551237 | LANCING DEVICE WITH SIDE ACTIVATED CHARGE AND EJECT MECHANISMS | August 2019 | April 2024 | Allow | 56 | 2 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 16539105 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR ISOLATING A TREATMENT REGION IN THE BODY FROM OTHER REGIONS | August 2019 | September 2024 | Abandon | 60 | 4 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 16456692 | Endoscopic Needle Assembly | June 2019 | August 2022 | Abandon | 38 | 1 | 1 | No | No |
| 16238747 | INNER TUBULAR MEMBER FOR ANGLED ROTARY SURGICAL INSTRUMENT | January 2019 | March 2024 | Allow | 60 | 3 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 14315246 | SPACE FILLING DEVICES | June 2014 | October 2023 | Allow | 60 | 9 | 1 | No | Yes |
| 13974920 | CORING TOOL | August 2013 | July 2018 | Allow | 59 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 13556326 | Two Stage Plunger for Intraocular Lens Injector | July 2012 | March 2013 | Allow | 8 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 12486088 | METHOD OF SUTURING | June 2009 | December 2012 | Allow | 42 | 3 | 0 | No | Yes |
| 12514359 | METHOD FOR DELIVERING AN OCCLUSION PLUG | May 2009 | December 2011 | Allow | 31 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 11719898 | TWO STAGE PLUNGER FOR INTRAOCULAR LENS INJECTOR | April 2009 | December 2011 | Allow | 55 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 12380418 | MEDICAL CLAMP AND METHOD OF USE | February 2009 | March 2012 | Allow | 36 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 11996201 | Method for Prolonging the Action on Acupuncture Points for Reducing Body Weight | May 2008 | July 2013 | Allow | 60 | 3 | 1 | No | No |
This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner HIGHLAND, RACHEL S.
With a 0.0% reversal rate, the PTAB affirms the examiner's rejections in the vast majority of cases. This reversal rate is in the bottom 25% across the USPTO, indicating that appeals face significant challenges here.
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, 0.0% 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.
⚠ 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 HIGHLAND, RACHEL S works in Art Unit 3774 and has examined 51 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 78.4%, this examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 44 months.
Examiner HIGHLAND, RACHEL S's allowance rate of 78.4% places them in the 46% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications.
On average, applications examined by HIGHLAND, RACHEL S receive 2.08 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 55% percentile for office actions issued. This examiner issues a slightly above-average number of office actions.
The median time to disposition (half-life) for applications examined by HIGHLAND, RACHEL S is 44 months. This places the examiner in the 15% percentile for prosecution speed. Applications take longer to reach final disposition with this examiner compared to most others.
Conducting an examiner interview provides a +16.1% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by HIGHLAND, RACHEL S. This interview benefit is in the 56% percentile among all examiners. Recommendation: Interviews provide an above-average benefit with this examiner and are worth considering.
When applicants file an RCE with this examiner, 36.4% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 83% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Insight: RCEs are highly effective with this examiner compared to others. If you receive a final rejection, filing an RCE with substantive amendments or arguments has a strong likelihood of success.
This examiner enters after-final amendments leading to allowance in 14.3% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 15% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: This examiner rarely enters after-final amendments compared to other examiners. You should generally plan to file an RCE or appeal rather than relying on after-final amendment entry. Per MPEP § 714.12, primary examiners have discretion in entering after-final amendments, and this examiner exercises that discretion conservatively.
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 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.
When applicants file petitions regarding this examiner's actions, 80.0% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 85% 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's Amendments: This examiner makes examiner's amendments in 0.0% of allowed cases (in the 46% 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 5.0% of allowed cases (in the 80% percentile). Per MPEP § 714.14, a Quayle action indicates that all claims are allowable but formal matters remain. This examiner frequently uses Quayle actions compared to other examiners, which is a positive indicator that once substantive issues are resolved, allowance follows quickly.
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.