USPTO Examiner MATTHEWS CHRISTINE HOPKINS - Art Unit 3791

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
18799971Hydrotherapy cupAugust 2024January 2025Allow620NoNo
18652845Volute Shell-type Massage Structure and Volute Shell-type MassagerMay 2024September 2024Allow520YesNo
18567766MEDICAL ADULT TOYDecember 2023March 2025Allow1640NoNo
18384015Device For Providing Multiple Types Of Therapy To A UserOctober 2023October 2024Allow1131YesNo
18324983AUTOMATED GENERATION OF CONTROL SIGNALS FOR SEXUAL STIMULATION DEVICESMay 2023February 2024Allow910NoNo
18188838SYSTEM, APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING DEVICES BASED ON ACCUMULATION OF INPUTMarch 2023December 2023Allow810NoNo
18183948AUTOMATED GENERATION OF CONTROL SIGNALS FOR SEXUAL STIMULATION DEVICESMarch 2023July 2023Allow400YesNo
18178549CONTROL OF SEXUAL STIMULATION DEVICES USING ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHYMarch 2023July 2023Allow500YesNo
18160674SENSORY GAMMA STIMULATION THERAPY IMPROVES SLEEP QUALITY AND MAINTAINS FUNCTIONAL ABILITY IN ALZHEIMERS DISEASE PATIENTSJanuary 2023September 2024Abandon2130YesNo
18159082Male Continence DeviceJanuary 2023October 2023Allow920NoNo
18080558BRAINWAVE ENTRAINMENT USING VIRTUAL OBJECTS AND GAMIFICATIONDecember 2022June 2023Allow600YesNo
17970299AUTOMATED GENERATION OF CONTROL SIGNALS FOR SEXUAL STIMULATION DEVICESOctober 2022March 2023Allow500NoNo
17947062FLUIDIZED BRACHYTHERAPY SYSTEM AND METHODSeptember 2022November 2023Allow1421YesNo
17819953METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING DEVICESAugust 2022August 2023Allow1220NoNo
17818247METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR VAGINAL THERAPEUTIC DEVICE FITTINGAugust 2022April 2025Abandon3230NoNo
17818186MEDICAL DEVICE STABILIZING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USEAugust 2022August 2024Allow2410NoNo
17871298WEARABLE MASSAGERJuly 2022July 2023Allow1230NoNo
17870767MASSAGING DEVICEJuly 2022June 2023Allow1120NoNo
17812602SYSTEM, APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A DEVICE BASED ON DISTANCEJuly 2022November 2024Allow2861YesNo
17811053Treatment Using Individualized Transcranial Magnetic StimulationJuly 2022March 2023Allow810NoNo
17855882MINNIMALLY INVASIVE DEVICE FOR TREATING CHRONIC HEART FAILUREJuly 2022November 2024Abandon2810NoNo
17839426CONTROL OF SEXUAL STIMULATION DEVICES USING ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHYJune 2022November 2022Allow500YesNo
17835632SYSTEM, APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING DEVICES USING AN ALARMJune 2022June 2023Allow1220YesNo
17835265SYSTEM, APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING DEVICES BASED ON ACCUMULATION OF INPUTJune 2022February 2023Allow821NoNo
17742271METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR QUANTITATIVE COLORIMETRIC CAPNOMETRYMay 2022July 2024Allow2630NoNo
17737968AUTOMATED GENERATION OF CONTROL SIGNALS FOR SEXUAL STIMULATION DEVICESMay 2022October 2022Allow610NoNo
17737974AUTOMATED GENERATION OF INITIAL STIMULATION PROFILE FOR SEXUAL STIMULATION DEVICESMay 2022November 2022Allow600NoNo
17726359APPARATUS, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRESENTATION MANAGEMENT OF MEDIA CONTENTApril 2022June 2024Allow2610NoNo
17717917INTERACTIVE SEX TOY WITH SENSORY FEEDBACKApril 2022November 2023Allow1950NoNo
17700263DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR NON-INVASIVE CHRONIC PAIN THERAPYMarch 2022June 2025Abandon3920NoNo
17694258PORTABLE TRANSCUTANEOUS MAGNETIC STIMULATOR AND SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF USE THEREOFMarch 2022March 2025Allow3620NoNo
17654058ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE NEURO STIMULATION SYSTEMMarch 2022July 2023Allow1621NoNo
17686516MODULAR FIELD MANIPULATION APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAMEMarch 2022July 2023Allow1751YesNo
17649455EXTENDABLE PENILE IMPLANTJanuary 2022January 2025Allow3641NoNo
17649226IMPLANT FIXATION DEVICES AND METHODS OF USING THE SAMEJanuary 2022August 2024Allow3020NoNo
17574540BRAINWAVE ENTRAINMENT USING VIRTUAL OBJECTS AND GAMIFICATIONJanuary 2022August 2022Allow700YesNo
17646856Systems and Methods for Clinical NeuronavigationJanuary 2022September 2024Allow3220NoNo
17555098INTRAVAGINAL SUPPORT DEVICES AND METHODSDecember 2021May 2024Allow2910NoNo
17529221RESTORATIVE APPARATUS WITH METHOD FOR MALE TISSUE GROWTHNovember 2021September 2022Allow1020NoNo
17521354APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING A SHAPE OF A JUNCTION BETWEEN A BLADDER AND URETHRANovember 2021April 2025Allow4121YesNo
17497299OCULAR POSITIONING SYSTEM FOR USE WITH MAGNETIC TREATMENT APPARATUSOctober 2021March 2024Allow2910NoNo
17491436SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A THERMOREGULATED ENVIRONMENTSeptember 2021January 2025Allow3921NoNo
17488954SIGNAL TAG DETECTION COMPONENTS, DEVICES, AND SYSTEMSSeptember 2021January 2025Allow4030NoNo
17598279Device for magnetic stimulationSeptember 2021April 2023Allow1820YesNo
17481318FLOWER-SHAPED MASSAGER HAVING TRANSPARENT HOUSINGSeptember 2021June 2025Abandon4510NoNo
17470004Telescopic Impact Sperm CollectorSeptember 2021May 2025Abandon4410NoNo
17400578MICRO COILS SUITABLE FOR MAGNETIC NEURAL STIMULATIONAugust 2021December 2024Allow4010NoNo
17398983INTRALUMINAL RETRACTORAugust 2021March 2025Abandon4310NoNo
17393224Water-Jetting Sexual StimulatorAugust 2021April 2025Allow4420NoNo
17355258APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TREATMENT OF MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL CONDITIONS AND DISORDERS WITH ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDSJune 2021March 2024Abandon3320YesNo
17350748TRANSCRANIAL MAGNETIC STIMULATION TREATMENT MONITORING AND NOTIFICATIONJune 2021February 2025Abandon4410NoNo
17347313DEVICES AND METHODS FOR SPHINCTER REINFORCEMENTJune 2021February 2024Abandon3210NoNo
17327375NEONATAL INCUBATOR HUMIDIFIER SYSTEMMay 2021July 2023Allow2610NoNo
17293013OSSEOINTEGRATING INTERFACE FOR COUPLING OF BONE CONDUCTION DEVICEMay 2021May 2025Allow4921YesNo
17235328ROD-SHAPED BODYApril 2021September 2024Abandon4110NoNo
17233602TRANSCUTANEOUS ELECTRICAL MUSCLE STIMULATION DEVICE FOR THE TREATMENT OF PREMATURE EJACULATION OR ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION, AND METHODS OF USE THEREOFApril 2021July 2022Allow1530YesNo
17233588APPARATUS FOR TREATING GERDApril 2021August 2021Allow410NoNo
17231264REAL TIME DOSIMETRY OF ULTRASOUND IMAGING PROBEApril 2021May 2025Abandon4940NoNo
17227565PRESSURE FIELD STIMULATOR HAVING A CUP INTEGRATED WITH A SHEATHApril 2021November 2024Abandon4310NoNo
17227575APPARATUS FOR TREATING GERDApril 2021March 2024Allow3620NoNo
17221660COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR ENHANCING SPERM FUNCTIONApril 2021November 2022Abandon2010NoNo
17214142DEVICE FOR MANAGING MALE URINARY INCONTINENCE AND REDUCING ERECTILE DYSFUNCTIONMarch 2021April 2021Allow100NoNo
17211877APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING FLOW IN A BODILY ORGANMarch 2021March 2025Abandon4811NoNo
17211872APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING FLOW IN A BODILY ORGANMarch 2021March 2025Abandon4811NoNo
17279202TRANSCRANIAL MAGNETIC STIMULATION (TMS) POSITIONING AND NAVIGATION METHOD FOR TMS TREATMENTMarch 2021November 2024Abandon4410NoNo
17207471TISSUE MARKING DEVICE AND METHOD OF USEMarch 2021October 2023Allow3020YesNo
17204328INTRAOSSEOUS ACCESS DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODSMarch 2021January 2024Allow3421NoNo
17276504METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MULTI-CHANNEL SIMULTANEOUSLY HIGH POWER MAGNETIC COIL DRIVERMarch 2021November 2023Allow3240YesNo
17196929APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SEXUAL STIMULATIONMarch 2021May 2023Abandon2610NoNo
17190340MALE AND FEMALE SEXUAL AID WITH WIRELESS CAPABILITIESMarch 2021September 2022Allow1800YesNo
17272713ULTRASOUND-GUIDED RETE TESTIS INJECTION/ASPIRATION DEVICEMarch 2021December 2024Allow4611YesNo
17268537SYSTEM FOR INDUCING AN ELECTRIC FIELD IN A CONDUCTING MEDIUM, ESPECIALLY FOR MEDICAL APPLICATIONSFebruary 2021September 2022Allow1920YesNo
17172239METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXTRACORPOREAL SUPPORT OF PREMATURE FETUSFebruary 2021April 2024Allow3830YesNo
17166447STIMULATION DEVICE HAVING A PRESSURE FIELD STIMULATOR AND A ROLLER MASSAGERFebruary 2021September 2024Abandon4310NoNo
17163280METHOD FOR PREPARING FOR BRACHYTHERAPY, BRACHYTHERAPY METHOD, AND BRACHYTHERAPY SYSTEMJanuary 2021April 2025Abandon5120YesNo
17156200DATA ACQUISITION AND ANALYSIS OF HUMAN SEXUAL RESPONSE USING A PERSONAL MASSAGING DEVICEJanuary 2021February 2023Allow2410NoNo
17143167ELECTROMAGNETIC PHYSIOTHERAPY APPARATUS OF CONCEPTION AND GOVERNOR VESSELS AND PHYSIOTHERAPY METHOD OF CONCEPTION AND GOVERNOR VESSELSJanuary 2021October 2024Abandon4501NoNo
17143716TREATMENT USING INDIVIDUALIZED TRANSCRANIAL MAGNETIC STIMULATIONJanuary 2021August 2023Allow3110NoNo
17131658MAGNETIC ACUPOINT MASSAGE INSOLE FOR CONDITIONING CHRONIC DISEASESDecember 2020November 2024Abandon4620NoNo
17111833MAGNETIC NERVE STIMULATORDecember 2020June 2022Allow1821YesNo
17110769NEGATIVE PRESSURE PROTECTION SYSTEMDecember 2020August 2024Abandon4510NoNo
17102462VIBRATING EGG FOR SEXUAL STIMULATIONNovember 2020July 2022Allow2020YesNo
17100725ALTERNATING HIGH FREQUENCY AND LOW FREQUENCY DUTY CYCLES FOR MUSCLE STIMULATIONNovember 2020November 2023Allow3620YesNo
17095112DETERMINATION APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING THE POSE AND SHAPE OF AN INTRODUCTION ELEMENTNovember 2020January 2025Abandon5030NoNo
17054098STIMULATION AND TREATMENT DEVICENovember 2020January 2025Abandon5020YesNo
16949466Spectroscopic System and Method ThereforOctober 2020July 2023Allow3321NoNo
17080815CURRENT-BASED RF DRIVER FOR PULSED ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD APPLICATOR SYSTEMSOctober 2020July 2023Allow3340YesNo
17050342MAGNETIC EMISSION DEVICE FOR NON-INVASIVE CEREBRAL MAGNETIC STIMULATIONOctober 2020November 2021Allow1310NoNo
17076376PERSONAL MASSAGEROctober 2020July 2022Allow2100NoNo
17067648SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING MUTUAL PENILE STIMULATIONOctober 2020March 2023Allow2921YesNo
17066416MEDICAL DEVICE STABILIZING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USEOctober 2020April 2022Allow1800NoNo
17060265SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETER MONITORINGOctober 2020August 2022Allow2310NoNo
17044046SURGICAL CLIPSeptember 2020March 2024Allow4220NoNo
17035751METHOD FOR MEASURING CONCENTRATION OF SUBSTANCE IN BLOODSeptember 2020April 2022Allow1800NoNo
17033852COMPACT PORTABLE ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD AND ION EMITTER APPARATUSSeptember 2020September 2022Abandon2311NoNo
17041618CENTRAL NERVE MAGNETIC STIMULATION DEVICE AND HEALTHCARE OR MEDICAL INSTRUMENT HAVING SAMESeptember 2020June 2022Allow2120YesNo
17041110SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MULTILANE VASCULATURESeptember 2020July 2025Allow5741YesNo
17040434IRRADIATION PLANNING DEVICE, IRRADIATION PLANNING METHOD, AND CHARGED PARTICLE IRRADIATION SYSTEMSeptember 2020April 2024Abandon4301NoNo
17024098Aromatherapy Blanket AssemblySeptember 2020September 2021Allow1200NoNo
16979953DEVICE, METHOD, AND KIT FOR PERIHEPATIC PACKINGSeptember 2020August 2024Abandon4811NoNo

Appeals Overview

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

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
6
Examiner Affirmed
6
(100.0%)
Examiner Reversed
0
(0.0%)
Reversal Percentile
19.5%
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
20
Allowed After Appeal Filing
4
(20.0%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
16
(80.0%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
23.4%
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, 20.0% 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.

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 MATTHEWS, CHRISTINE HOPKINS - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner MATTHEWS, CHRISTINE HOPKINS works in Art Unit 3791 and has examined 535 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 79.8%, this examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 31 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner MATTHEWS, CHRISTINE HOPKINS's allowance rate of 79.8% places them in the 42% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by MATTHEWS, CHRISTINE HOPKINS receive 2.04 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 67% 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, CHRISTINE HOPKINS is 31 months. This places the examiner in the 39% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly slower than average with this examiner.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a +16.9% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by MATTHEWS, CHRISTINE HOPKINS. This interview benefit is in the 62% 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, 25.6% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 31% 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 55.0% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 77% 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.

Pre-Appeal Conference Effectiveness

When applicants request a pre-appeal conference (PAC) with this examiner, 33.3% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 32% percentile among all examiners. Note: Pre-appeal conferences show below-average success with this examiner. Consider whether your arguments are strong enough to warrant a PAC request.

Appeal Withdrawal and Reconsideration

This examiner withdraws rejections or reopens prosecution in 68.4% of appeals filed. This is in the 49% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 69.2% 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, 38.1% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 35% 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 2.4% of allowed cases (in the 80% 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 0.9% of allowed cases (in the 56% 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:

  • Consider after-final amendments: This examiner frequently enters after-final amendments. If you can clearly overcome rejections with claim amendments, file an after-final amendment before resorting to an RCE.
  • 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.