USPTO Examiner SMITH RACHEL T - Art Unit 3783

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
18631176ELECTRIC FLUSHERApril 2024August 2024Allow410NoNo
18505961NEEDLE SAFETY SYSTEMSNovember 2023January 2025Abandon1510NoNo
18495563NEEDLE SAFETY SYSTEMSOctober 2023January 2025Abandon1501NoNo
18485508Gas Seal PadOctober 2023May 2024Allow700NoNo
18353594Flue for Ultrasonic Aspiration Surgical HornJuly 2023July 2024Allow1210YesNo
18221123Systems and Methods for Controlling Catheter Device SizeJuly 2023September 2024Allow1401YesNo
18337898MEDICAL DEVICE SHAFT WITH REDUCED WHIPPINGJune 2023July 2024Allow1310NoNo
18207040BREAST MILK DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND USES THEREOFJune 2023April 2024Allow1011YesNo
18330733Method of Making Drug-Elution Control Sleeve For Drug-Eluting BalloonJune 2023January 2024Allow700YesNo
18256197HAND-OPERATED FLOW REGULATOR AND ENEMA ADMINISTRATION SYSTEM COMPRISING SAID REGULATORJune 2023March 2024Allow1010NoNo
18205596SYRINGE ADAPTER FOR MEDICATIONJune 2023June 2024Allow1200NoNo
18198193RESIN SYRINGE, PREFILLED SYRINGE, AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING RESIN SYRINGEMay 2023January 2024Allow800NoNo
18297913METHODS AND DEVICES FOR DELIVERING THERAPEUTIC MATERIALS TO THE INTERVERTEBRAL DISCApril 2023December 2023Allow810NoNo
18122030SENSING CATHETERSMarch 2023August 2024Allow1711NoNo
18118116THROMBECTOMY CATHETERMarch 2023December 2024Abandon2211NoNo
18172294Acoustic Detection of a Usage of an Injection DeviceFebruary 2023January 2024Allow1110NoNo
18108175Locking Hemodialysis Needle Assembly with Integral Needle Tip ProtectorFebruary 2023November 2023Allow1000NoNo
18158615Method of Making Drug-Elution Control Sleeve For Drug-Eluting BalloonJanuary 2023April 2023Allow310YesNo
18152513Injector DeviceJanuary 2023July 2023Allow600NoNo
18094917Midline Catheter Placement DeviceJanuary 2023September 2023Allow810NoNo
18149791APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING ACCESS FOR A MEDICAL PROCEDUREJanuary 2023May 2024Allow1720NoNo
18091959SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SAFETY SYRINGEDecember 2022December 2023Allow1211NoNo
17989899PACKAGELESS SYRINGE ASSEMBLY WITH STERILIZABLE FLUID PATHNovember 2022August 2023Allow910NoNo
17982008BALLOON ANCHORING GUIDE CATHETER EXTENSIONNovember 2022May 2024Allow1830NoNo
17948358NEEDLE SHIELD REMOVER AND A MEDICAMENT DELIVERY DEVICE COMPRISING THE NEEDLE SHIELD REMOVERSeptember 2022September 2023Allow1200NoNo
17930502NEEDLE SHIELD GRIP DEVICES AND RELATED METHODSSeptember 2022August 2023Allow1101NoNo
17929427NEEDLE SHIELD PULLER FOR DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMSeptember 2022May 2023Allow900NoNo
17823441DELIVERY SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE EFFECTIVE, RELIABLE AND FOOLPROOF DELIVERY OF CONTROLLED AMOUNTS OF A MEDICAL FLUIDAugust 2022March 2023Allow600NoNo
17820154NEEDLE SAFETY SYSTEMSAugust 2022December 2023Abandon1611NoNo
17859667Needle MagnetizerJuly 2022January 2024Allow1820NoNo
17735610Systems and Methods for Controlling Catheter Device SizeMay 2022May 2023Allow1310NoNo
17721460NEEDLE ASSEMBLYApril 2022February 2023Allow1000NoNo
17682428PATIENT ACCESS SITE SECUREMENT SYSTEMFebruary 2022February 2024Allow2311NoNo
17670262Time Delay Mechanism for a Hydraulic Drug Delivery DeviceFebruary 2022April 2023Allow1410NoNo
17668454Gas Seal PadFebruary 2022August 2023Allow1810YesNo
17643310VALVE, IN PARTICULAR FOR A DEVICE FOR ADMINISTERING A LIQUID MEDICAMENT, AND A CORRESPONDING DEVICE FOR ADMINISTERING A LIQUID MEDICAMENTDecember 2021July 2023Allow1910NoNo
17533001ENDOVASCULAR BALLOON CATHETERS AND METHODS FOR USENovember 2021January 2023Allow1400NoNo
17526193Flue for Ultrasonic Aspiration Surgical HornNovember 2021December 2022Allow1300NoNo
17502493NEEDLING DEVICE AND DRUG APPLICATOROctober 2021February 2024Abandon2830NoNo
17475800DEVICE FOR ATTACHING A CATHETERSeptember 2021March 2022Allow610NoNo
17474706PORTABLE NEEDLE ASSEMBLY WITH ADJUSTABLE LENGTH NEEDLESeptember 2021March 2024Allow3001NoNo
17470165MEDICAL DEVICE SHAFT WITH REDUCED WHIPPINGSeptember 2021January 2023Allow1600NoNo
17382301Needle Safety MechanismsJuly 2021July 2024Abandon3611NoNo
17375880SUCTIONING AND SUPPLY DEVICE WITH DRIVE UNIT AND CONNECTING PARTJuly 2021June 2024Allow3520NoNo
17355452SYRINGE ADAPTER FOR MEDICATIONJune 2021March 2023Allow2010NoNo
17346687CAP FOR AN INJECTION DEVICEJune 2021November 2023Allow2910NoNo
17342530PROCESS AND AUTOINJECTOR DEVICE FOR INJECTIONS WITH INCREASED PATIENT COMFORTJune 2021December 2023Allow3010NoNo
17296446DRUG ELUTING BALLOON AND BALLOON CATHETERMay 2021September 2024Allow4010NoNo
17327252SAFETY NEEDLE DEVICESMay 2021January 2023Allow2000NoNo
17313857THERAPEUTIC INFUSION NEEDLEMay 2021February 2024Abandon3301NoNo
17287296DEVICES AND SYSTEMS FOR INTRALUMINAL LOCAL DRUG DELIVERYApril 2021September 2023Allow2910YesNo
17216529APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REMOVING INTRA-OSSEOUS DEVICEMarch 2021September 2023Allow3010YesNo
17209919METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE FAIL-SAFE TERMINATION OF IN VIVO DRUG DELIVERY FROM AN IMPLANTABLE DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMMarch 2021July 2023Allow2720NoNo
17193183SYRINGE WITH SAFE DISPOSAL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION IMPROVEMENT STRUCTUREMarch 2021May 2023Abandon2610NoNo
17188499Wound Treatment SystemMarch 2021August 2024Abandon4210NoNo
17270897Cardiac Cell Microneedle Patch for Treating Heart DiseasesFebruary 2021October 2024Abandon4420NoNo
17179088Hinged Needle Shield And Needle AssembliesFebruary 2021February 2024Allow3640NoNo
17179131ORAL TAMPER EVIDENT CLOSURE WITH RETAINED INDICATORFebruary 2021October 2023Allow3210NoNo
17166372SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING DIABETESFebruary 2021August 2024Allow4320YesNo
17265071SELECTABLE DRUG DELIVERY RATE DEVICEFebruary 2021June 2024Allow4111NoNo
17264780PUMPJanuary 2021May 2024Allow3910NoNo
17158868ADMINISTRATION MECHANISM FOR A MEDICAMENT DELIVERY DEVICEJanuary 2021June 2023Allow2810NoNo
17155651Vaginal Drug Delivery Device and Vaginal Diagnostic DeviceJanuary 2021March 2024Allow3830NoNo
17260251DEVICE HAVING SYRINGE DISPENSERS FOR ADMINISTERING THERAPEUTIC SUBSTANCES USING A HIGH VELOCITY LIQUID-GAS STREAMJanuary 2021December 2024Abandon4720NoNo
17142564APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING ACCESS FOR A MEDICAL PROCEDUREJanuary 2021September 2022Allow2100YesNo
17130057SYRINGE DISPENSERDecember 2020July 2023Allow3020NoNo
17131310CATHETER TEST APPARATUS, KITS, AND METHODSDecember 2020January 2024Abandon3711NoNo
17255083PERCUTANEOUS TERMINAL FOR HEMODIALYSIS AND INDIVIDUALIZED HEMODIALYSIS SYSTEMDecember 2020February 2024Allow3701NoNo
17100845SOFT TIP CANNULA WITH RETRACTABLE TIP PROTECTORNovember 2020March 2023Allow2721YesNo
17057558Automatic Drug Delivery DeviceNovember 2020July 2024Allow4411NoNo
17097867Medical Injector Cap RemoverNovember 2020May 2022Allow1810NoNo
17092661BIO-ELECTROCEUTICAL DEVICE USING CELL CLUSTERNovember 2020April 2024Allow4110YesNo
17088137NEEDLE SAFETY SYSTEMSNovember 2020November 2023Abandon3711NoNo
17075388Fluid Responsive Devices and MethodsOctober 2020March 2024Allow4110YesNo
17048275MICRONEEDLE BASED STABILISATION SYSTEM FOR MEDICAL DEVICESOctober 2020March 2023Allow2810NoNo
17031108SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SAFETY SYRINGESeptember 2020February 2022Allow1701NoNo
17028247DISTAL NEEDLE AND STYLET TIPSSeptember 2020January 2023Allow2831YesNo
16982703Medical DeviceSeptember 2020April 2024Allow4310NoNo
17019763SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING CATHETER DEVICE SIZESeptember 2020February 2022Allow1701NoNo
16978071Syringe Pump Vibration Module to Reduce Stopper FrictionSeptember 2020March 2024Allow4210NoNo
17010092APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR RESTORING TISSUESeptember 2020April 2023Allow3210NoNo
16976016A CASINGAugust 2020June 2023Abandon3401NoNo
17001959DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR A CATHETER ACCESSORYAugust 2020July 2024Allow4741NoYes
17001221Computer Controlled Pediatric Regional AnesthesiaAugust 2020February 2024Abandon4160YesNo
16996769Midline Catheter Placement DeviceAugust 2020June 2022Allow2211NoNo
16987025DEVICE AND METHOD FOR INTRAOSSEOUS DENTAL ANESTHETIZATIONAugust 2020April 2022Abandon2010NoNo
16967872PEN NEEDLE APPARATUSAugust 2020February 2023Allow3010NoNo
16984690METHOD FOR PAINLESS RENAL DENERVATION USING A PERI-VASCULAR TISSUE ABLATION CATHETER WITH SUPPORT STRUCTURESAugust 2020September 2024Allow5020NoNo
16943162Needle MagnetizerJuly 2020May 2022Allow2121NoNo
16965976SELF-CLEANING CATHETER SYSTEMS WITH SELF-MONITORING CAPABILITIESJuly 2020April 2024Abandon4510NoNo
16965662PRESSURE SENSOR ASSEMBLY AND METHODS FOR INJECTION DEVICESJuly 2020August 2024Allow4920YesNo
15733395BREAST STATUS DETERMINATIONJuly 2020November 2023Allow4010YesNo
16961710Cardiac PumpJuly 2020August 2023Allow3700NoNo
16961636COMPACT INJECTOR SYSTEMS AND METHODSJuly 2020October 2022Allow2711NoNo
16912421SENSING CATHETERSJune 2020December 2022Allow2931YesNo
16957639LOW COST SYRINGE WITH DURABLE AND DISPOSABLE COMPONENTSJune 2020January 2023Allow3111NoNo
16909320BALLOON ANCHORING GUIDE CATHETER EXTENSIONJune 2020June 2022Allow2421NoNo
16956222MICROARRAY APPLICATORJune 2020May 2023Allow3510NoNo
16954652Acoustic Detection of a Usage of an Injection DeviceJune 2020November 2022Allow2910NoNo
16954987LIQUID DELIVERY CAP DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODSJune 2020April 2023Allow3411YesNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner SMITH, RACHEL T.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
2
Examiner Affirmed
2
(100.0%)
Examiner Reversed
0
(0.0%)
Reversal Percentile
19.2%
Lower than average

What This Means

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.

Strategic Value of Filing an Appeal

Total Appeal Filings
10
Allowed After Appeal Filing
3
(30.0%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
7
(70.0%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
43.2%
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, 30.0% 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 SMITH, RACHEL T - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner SMITH, RACHEL T works in Art Unit 3783 and has examined 233 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 80.7%, this examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 29 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner SMITH, RACHEL T's allowance rate of 80.7% places them in the 44% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by SMITH, RACHEL T receive 1.48 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 35% 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 SMITH, RACHEL T is 29 months. This places the examiner in the 49% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly slower than average with this examiner.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a +18.5% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by SMITH, RACHEL T. This interview benefit is in the 65% 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, 32.9% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 63% 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 42.6% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 58% 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, 160.0% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 91% 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, 80.0% 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, 38.9% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 37% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Note: Petitions show below-average success regarding this examiner's actions. Ensure you have a strong procedural basis before filing.

Examiner Cooperation and Flexibility

Examiner's Amendments: This examiner makes examiner's amendments in 0.0% of allowed cases (in the 43% 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 4.3% of allowed cases (in the 76% 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.

Prosecution Strategy Recommendations

Based on the statistical analysis of this examiner's prosecution patterns, here are tailored strategic recommendations:

  • 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.

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.