USPTO Examiner WOODALL NICHOLAS W - Art Unit 3775

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
19251959MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY OSTEOTOMY FRAGMENT SHIFTER, STABILIZER, AND TARGETERJune 2025January 2026Allow711NoNo
19048793AUTOMATIC BONE CEMENT MIXING AND INJECTION DEVICEFebruary 2025April 2025Allow200NoNo
19029561Implant Device for a Tibial Plateau Leveling OsteotomyJanuary 2025August 2025Allow710YesNo
19025873METHOD FOR MODELING A GLENOID SURFACE OF A SCAPULA, APPARATUS FOR IMPLANTING A GLENOID COMPONENT OF A SHOULDER PROSTHESIS, AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SUCH A COMPONENTJanuary 2025October 2025Allow911YesNo
19021559MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY OSTEOTOMY FRAGMENT SHIFTER, STABILIZER, AND TARGETERJanuary 2025June 2025Allow511NoNo
19021690MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY OSTEOTOMY FRAGMENT SHIFTER, STABILIZER, AND TARGETERJanuary 2025May 2025Allow411NoNo
18977494Flexible Intraosseous ObturatorDecember 2024March 2026Allow1500NoNo
18947455STERNAL ASCENDER APPARATUSNovember 2024March 2026Allow1600NoNo
18825541PIVOTAL BONE ANCHOR ASSEMBLY WITH FORCIBLY DOWNWARDLY DISPLACEABLE PRESSURE INSERTSeptember 2024July 2025Allow1111NoNo
18794875DYNAMIC COMPRESSION FIXATION DEVICESAugust 2024November 2025Allow1500NoNo
18788747SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR HANDHELD ROBOTIC SURGERYJuly 2024March 2026Allow2011NoNo
18787077ORTHOPEDIC BROACHJuly 2024November 2025Allow1510NoNo
18775502LIGHTED SPECULUMJuly 2024February 2026Allow1910NoNo
18765443Systems and Methods for Ball Probe Ultrasonic ForaminotomyJuly 2024July 2025Allow1210NoNo
18763047SURGICAL GUIDANCE DEVICEJuly 2024December 2025Abandon1710NoNo
18738734HEADLESS COMPRESSION SCREW DRIVER SYSTEMJune 2024July 2025Allow1410NoNo
18734320TISSUE RETRACTION DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODSJune 2024February 2026Allow2021YesNo
18673824SURGICAL ROBOTIC ACCESS SYSTEM FOR IRREGULARLY SHAPED ROBOTIC ACTUATORS AND ASSOCIATED ROBOTIC SURGICAL INSTRUMENTSMay 2024August 2025Allow1511NoNo
18659187Hip Arthroplasty Trial Systems and Associated Medical Devices, Methods, and KitsMay 2024April 2025Allow1110NoNo
18657036DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DEPLOYMENT OF AN ANCHORING DEVICE FOR INTERVERTEBRAL SPINAL FUSIONMay 2024August 2025Allow1611NoNo
18657255METHODS AND DEVICES FOR ACCESSING AND RETRACTING A CAPSULE OF A JOINTMay 2024April 2025Allow1110NoNo
18651304SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SYSTEM FOR TOTAL KNEE REPLACEMENT WITH FORCE SENSOR ADAPTERS AND FORCE SENSOR SYSTEMSApril 2024October 2025Allow1811NoNo
18649799INTRA-OSSEOUS PLATE SYSTEM AND METHODApril 2024June 2025Allow1410NoNo
18701513BONE FIXATOR WITH REMOVABLE PORTIONApril 2024November 2025Allow1910YesNo
18618792SURGICAL ACCESS DEVICE INCLUDING AN ANCHOR HAVING A SUTURE RETENTION MECHANISMMarch 2024March 2025Allow1210NoNo
18611097Spinal Disc Implant And Device And Method For Percutaneous Delivery Of The Spinal Disc ImplantMarch 2024February 2025Allow1110NoNo
18609879PARALLEL GUIDE FOR MINIMALLY INVASIVE BUNION SURGERYMarch 2024January 2025Allow1010NoNo
18441032Robotic Spine Surgery System And MethodsFebruary 2024July 2025Allow1711NoNo
18440846METHOD FOR MODELING A GLENOID SURFACE OF A SCAPULA, APPARATUS FOR IMPLANTING A GLENOID COMPONENT OF A SHOULDER PROSTHESIS, AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SUCH A COMPONENTFebruary 2024July 2024Allow510YesNo
18429021ENDOSCOPIC ULTRASOUND GUIDED ACCESS NEEDLEJanuary 2024September 2024Allow800NoNo
18408080ORTHOPEDIC STABILIZATION DEVICE, KIT, AND METHODJanuary 2024January 2025Allow1321NoNo
18408125FIXATION ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF USEJanuary 2024January 2025Allow1320NoNo
18395327SURGICAL VISUALIZATION SYSTEMSDecember 2023July 2025Allow1910NoNo
18540859BEARING ASSEMBLIES FOR SELECTIVELY COUPLING COMPONENTSDecember 2023September 2025Allow2110NoNo
18528766MESH SPACER HYBRIDDecember 2023January 2025Allow1410NoNo
18524051PLATE INSERTER INSTRUMENTNovember 2023September 2025Allow2210YesNo
18521215EXTERNAL FIXATION K-WIRE CLAMP AND CORRESPONDING METHOD OF USENovember 2023October 2025Allow2211NoNo
18519658FEMORAL TRIALLING KIT AND ASSEMBLYNovember 2023June 2024Allow700NoNo
18385543STIMULATING TARGETING NEEDLEOctober 2023September 2024Allow1020NoNo
18380569SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SCAPHOID FIXATIONOctober 2023January 2025Allow1511NoNo
18486437TOOL SYSTEM FOR REMOVING PROSTHETIC CEMENT FROM A BONE OF A PATIENT UNDERGOING A JOINT PROSTHESIS REPLACEMENT OPERATIONOctober 2023December 2024Allow1511NoNo
18484032ALIGNMENT GUIDE APPARATUS, METHODS AND SYSTEMSOctober 2023January 2025Allow1520NoNo
18484050BONE FIXATION SYSTEM, ASSEMBLY, IMPLANTS, DEVICES, ALIGNMENT GUIDES, AND METHODS OF USEOctober 2023January 2025Allow1520NoNo
18479344DEVICE FOR PERFORMING A SURGICAL PROCEDURE AND METHODOctober 2023July 2024Allow1010NoNo
18460924METHOD OF ASSEMBLING A PIVOTABLE BONE ANCHOR ASSEMBLY WITH A SLIDABLE RETAINING STRUCTURESeptember 2023April 2024Allow820NoNo
18360331Device and Method for Deployment of an Anchoring Device for Intervertebral Spinal FusionJuly 2023February 2024Allow700NoNo
18357887BONE CEMENT MIXERJuly 2023July 2024Allow1210NoNo
18216682SOFT FLEXIBLE LAPAROSCOPIC TROCARJune 2023April 2025Abandon2241NoNo
18338634BONE IMPLANTSJune 2023April 2025Allow2121NoNo
18205803SURGICAL PLANNING AND METHODJune 2023October 2024Allow1720NoNo
18199194DISTRACTION DEVICE WITH DISPOSABLE FORCE SENSOR PODMay 2023December 2024Allow1911NoNo
18195526ADJUSTABLE POSITION TRIAL COMPONENT WITH DRILL GUIDEMay 2023July 2024Allow1520NoNo
18144844SPINAL LAMINA PROTECTORMay 2023May 2025Allow2400NoNo
18035886STABILIZER TOOL FOR TOTAL ENDOSCOPIC CORONARY ARTERY BYPASSMay 2023August 2025Allow2701NoNo
18143193STERNAL ASCENDER APPARATUSMay 2023July 2024Allow1410NoNo
18139474SYSTEM FOR A MINIMALLY-INVASIVE, OPERATIVE GASTROINTESTINAL TREATMENT BACKGROUNDApril 2023March 2024Allow1110NoNo
18136218SURGICAL ROBOTIC ACCESS SYSTEM FOR IRREGULARLY SHAPED ROBOTIC ACTUATORS AND ASSOCIATED ROBOTIC SURGICAL INSTRUMENTSApril 2023January 2024Allow910NoNo
18135899Hip Arthroplasty Trial Systems and Associated Medical Devices, Methods, and KitsApril 2023February 2024Allow1010NoNo
18135663SPINOUS PROCESS CLAMPApril 2023December 2025Allow3211YesNo
18030605MAXILLA REPOSITIONING IMPLANT WITHOUT FINGER-TYPE STRUCTURESApril 2023February 2026Allow3410YesNo
18192774DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING BONE CEMENT PASTEMarch 2023January 2026Allow3411YesNo
18189811DEVICES AND METHODS FOR ACCESSING THE LEFT ATRIUM FOR CARDIAC PROCEDURESMarch 2023May 2024Allow1400NoNo
18188644ILLUMINATED SUCTION DEVICEMarch 2023November 2024Allow2010NoNo
18186379SURGICAL GUIDANCE DEVICEMarch 2023March 2024Allow1210YesNo
18116530COUPLING ASSEMBLY FOR COUPLING A ROD TO A BONE ANCHORING ELEMENT, AND POLYAXIAL BONE ANCHORING DEVICEMarch 2023August 2024Allow1730NoNo
18110619STERNAL ASCENDER APPARATUSFebruary 2023July 2025Allow2810NoNo
18100245PHOTODYNAMIC ARTICULAR JOINT IMPLANTS AND METHODS OF USEJanuary 2023January 2026Allow3650YesNo
18152010DYNAMIC COMPRESSION FIXATION DEVICESJanuary 2023May 2024Allow1611YesNo
18083959MILLING APPARATUS FOR IMPLANTING A JOINT PROSTHESISDecember 2022January 2025Allow2511NoNo
18081819OFFSET REAMER DRIVERDecember 2022May 2024Abandon1730NoNo
18008153SURGICAL DEVICES CONTROLLABLE BY SURGICAL ROBOTIC SYSTEMSDecember 2022February 2026Allow3911NoNo
17982096BONE SCREW INSERTERS AND METHODSNovember 2022January 2025Allow2711YesNo
17981269DEVICES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USING AND MONITORING SPINAL IMPLANTSNovember 2022August 2024Allow2120NoNo
18052408PEDICLE SCREW REMOVERNovember 2022January 2025Allow3730NoNo
17978039UNIBODY ORTHOPEDIC SURGICAL INSTRUMENTOctober 2022November 2025Allow3711YesNo
17996834FEMORAL HEAD RESTORATIONOctober 2022December 2025Allow3811NoNo
17968625KNEE ARTHROPLASTY ALIGNMENT METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND INSTRUMENTSOctober 2022November 2025Abandon3701NoNo
18045841ORTHOPEDIC FASTENERS, INSTRUMENTS AND METHODSOctober 2022September 2024Abandon2320NoNo
17960974SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR HANDHELD ROBOTIC SURGERYOctober 2022April 2024Allow1810NoNo
17938081PIVOTAL BONE ANCHOR ASSEMBLY WITH SLIDABLY MOVABLE RETAINING STRUCTUREOctober 2022April 2023Allow610NoNo
17954753KNOTLESS ORTHOPEDIC STABILIZATION SYSTEMSeptember 2022December 2024Allow2711NoNo
17953051Substantially Rigid and Stable Endoluminal Surgical Suite for Treating a Gastrointestinal LesionSeptember 2022January 2024Allow1610NoNo
17934359HEADLESS COMPRESSION SCREW DRIVER SYSTEMSeptember 2022January 2024Allow1610NoNo
17943522METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PREPARING BONE FOR RECEIVING AN IMPLANTSeptember 2022April 2024Allow1920NoNo
17822824CIRCULAR FIXATOR SYSTEM AND METHODAugust 2022July 2025Allow3511NoNo
17897321INTRA-OSSEOUS PLATE SYSTEM AND METHODAugust 2022January 2024Allow1610NoNo
17821729SPINAL DISC IMPLANT AND DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PERCUTANEOUS DELIVERY OF THE SPINAL DISC IMPLANTAugust 2022December 2023Allow1610NoNo
17816777METHOD FOR MODELING A GLENOID SURFACE OF A SCAPULA, APPARATUS FOR IMPLANTING A GLENOID COMPONENT OF A SHOULDER PROSTHESIS, AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SUCH A COMPONENTAugust 2022November 2024Allow2820YesNo
17873784ORTHOPEDIC STABILIZATION DEVICE, KIT, AND METHODJuly 2022October 2023Allow1410NoNo
17872785BONE CEMENT MIXERJuly 2022March 2023Allow811YesNo
17813177SURGICAL ALIGNMENT BY MAGNETIC FIELD GRADIENT LOCALIZATIONJuly 2022December 2023Allow1710NoNo
17862899SURGICAL ACCESS DEVICE WITH FASCIAL CLOSURE SYSTEMJuly 2022October 2023Allow1610YesNo
17847304Navigation-Guided Surgery Fixation (NGSF) Kit or System and Method of Using SameJune 2022June 2025Allow3611NoNo
17843027PUNCTURING DEVICE AND ANCHORING DEVICEJune 2022December 2023Allow1810NoNo
17839203ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PATIENT POSITION INTRAOPERATIVELY USING RADIOGRAPHIC MEASUREMENTSJune 2022November 2023Allow1720YesNo
17631448CONDENSING SCREW FOR IMPLANT PROCEDURE HAVING DOUBLE SPIRAL STRUCTUREJune 2022June 2025Allow4110NoNo
17834009SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMICALLY STIMULATING BONE GROWTHJune 2022September 2024Allow2711YesNo
17826680Multi-Barrel Drill GuideMay 2022August 2024Abandon2730NoNo
17751161SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SCAPHOID FIXATIONMay 2022June 2023Allow1200NoNo
17751187MULTI-LUMEN-CATHETER RETRACTOR SYSTEM FOR A MINIMALLY-INVASIVE, OPERATIVE GASTROINTESTINAL TREATMENTMay 2022May 2024Allow2430NoNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner WOODALL, NICHOLAS W.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
31
Examiner Affirmed
21
(67.7%)
Examiner Reversed
10
(32.3%)
Reversal Percentile
48.7%
Lower than average

What This Means

With a 32.3% reversal rate, the PTAB reverses the examiner's rejections in a meaningful percentage 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
93
Allowed After Appeal Filing
23
(24.7%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
70
(75.3%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
33.6%
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, 24.7% 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 WOODALL, NICHOLAS W - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner WOODALL, NICHOLAS W works in Art Unit 3775 and has examined 1,159 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 78.8%, this examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 37 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner WOODALL, NICHOLAS W's allowance rate of 78.8% places them in the 47% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by WOODALL, NICHOLAS W receive 1.97 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 49% percentile for office actions issued. This examiner issues fewer office actions than average, which may indicate efficient prosecution or a more lenient examination style.

Prosecution Timeline

The median time to disposition (half-life) for applications examined by WOODALL, NICHOLAS W 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 +13.8% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by WOODALL, NICHOLAS W. This interview benefit is in the 52% 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 54% 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.

After-Final Amendment Practice

This examiner enters after-final amendments leading to allowance in 46.8% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 71% 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, 80.0% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 64% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: Pre-appeal conferences show above-average effectiveness with this examiner. If you have strong arguments, a PAC request may result in favorable reconsideration.

Appeal Withdrawal and Reconsideration

This examiner withdraws rejections or reopens prosecution in 64.8% of appeals filed. This is in the 45% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 52.6% 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, 60.4% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 65% 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 4.8% of allowed cases (in the 85% 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 0.2% of allowed cases (in the 52% 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:

  • Examiner cooperation: This examiner frequently makes examiner's amendments to place applications in condition for allowance. If you are close to allowance, the examiner may help finalize the claims.

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.