Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.
| Application Number | Title | Filing Date | Disposal Date | Disposition | Time (months) | Office Actions | Restrictions | Interview | Appeal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17125320 | MEDICAL INSTRUMENT WITH SHAFT ACTUATING HANDLE CONFIGURED TO ACCEPT STYLET | December 2020 | July 2024 | Abandon | 43 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17102491 | BIOPSY NEEDLE ASSEMBLY AND METHOD | November 2020 | December 2024 | Abandon | 49 | 3 | 0 | No | No |
| 17096985 | DIAGNOSTIC MEASUREMENT DEVICES AND METHODS | November 2020 | March 2023 | Abandon | 28 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17089461 | SKIN BIOPSY DEVICE | November 2020 | July 2023 | Allow | 32 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17089632 | TISSUE ACQUISITION HELIX DEVICE | November 2020 | May 2024 | Allow | 42 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 17086113 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF SWALLOWING DISORDERS WITH GAMIFICATION | October 2020 | September 2024 | Allow | 47 | 4 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16949401 | NEEDLE BIOPSY DEVICE | October 2020 | August 2023 | Abandon | 34 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 17082387 | Biopsy System with a Core Collector that Remains Radially Centered in an Outer Cannula While Severing a Tissue Sample | October 2020 | December 2023 | Allow | 38 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17069422 | MEDICAL DEVICE FOR CONCURRENT COLLECTION OF MULTIPLE TISSUE SAMPLES | October 2020 | June 2024 | Allow | 44 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 17041046 | FOLLICULAR CONTENT STORAGE | September 2020 | February 2024 | Abandon | 41 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 17016529 | Rotary Oblique-Cutting Biopsy Needle | September 2020 | June 2023 | Abandon | 34 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 17001796 | High Sensitivity Movement Disorder Treatment Device or System | August 2020 | September 2022 | Allow | 25 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16968540 | NEEDLE TIPS, NEEDLES FOR TISSUE COLLECTION, METHODS OF FABRICATION, AND METHODS OF USE | August 2020 | December 2022 | Abandon | 28 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16902579 | Device for Biological Cell Collection and Method of Use | June 2020 | November 2024 | Allow | 53 | 7 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16866274 | Shape Sensing Biopsy Needle | May 2020 | September 2023 | Allow | 40 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16854287 | UNIT FOR COLLECTING BLOOD | April 2020 | May 2024 | Abandon | 49 | 5 | 0 | No | No |
| 16853016 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR OBTAINING ADENOMYOSIS AND OTHER BIOPSY SAMPLES | April 2020 | July 2023 | Allow | 38 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 16849538 | MEDICAL TESTING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USE | April 2020 | April 2024 | Allow | 48 | 5 | 0 | Yes | Yes |
| 16645779 | SENSOR ENABLED WOUND THERAPY DRESSINGS AND SYSTEMS IMPLEMENTING CYBERSECURITY | March 2020 | February 2023 | Allow | 35 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16810997 | CYTOLOGY SAMPLING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF UTILIZING THE SAME | March 2020 | September 2022 | Allow | 31 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 16644291 | Steerable Catheter with Portions of Different Stiffness | March 2020 | July 2023 | Abandon | 40 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 16789617 | MARKER DELIVERY DEVICE WITH STERILE GUIDE | February 2020 | March 2024 | Allow | 49 | 4 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16633888 | MAGNETIC ROBOT | January 2020 | January 2023 | Allow | 35 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16630062 | SYSTEM FOR MEASURING THE ELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE IN HUMAN TISSUES | January 2020 | August 2023 | Abandon | 43 | 4 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16731025 | VIDEO-BASED FALL RISK ASSESSMENT SYSTEM | December 2019 | April 2025 | Abandon | 60 | 6 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16618362 | SENSOR APPLICATOR ASSEMBLY FOR CONTINUOUS GLUCOSE MONITORING SYSTEM | December 2019 | September 2021 | Allow | 22 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 16611477 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR COLLECTING GASTROINTESTINAL SAMPLES | November 2019 | May 2023 | Allow | 42 | 4 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16670047 | DEVICE AND PROCESS FOR ELECTRICAL IMPEDANCE TOMOGRAPHY (EIT) WITH IDENTIFICATION OF A HEART REGION | October 2019 | September 2024 | Abandon | 59 | 6 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16591802 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DETECTING SLEEP DISORDERS | October 2019 | February 2023 | Allow | 41 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 16495933 | Sensing System for Pericardial Access | September 2019 | July 2022 | Abandon | 34 | 4 | 0 | No | Yes |
| 16571226 | Method for measuring exercise | September 2019 | August 2022 | Allow | 35 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16493584 | VARIABLE STIFFNESS NEEDLE | September 2019 | July 2023 | Abandon | 46 | 6 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16493043 | AIRWAY SIZING APPARATUS | September 2019 | March 2023 | Abandon | 42 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 16486299 | JAW ASSEMBLY FOR SURGICAL TOOL AND BIOPSY SAMPLE COLLECTION MEMBER | August 2019 | July 2024 | Abandon | 59 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16483951 | POSITION DETECTION BASED ON TISSUE DISCRIMINATION | August 2019 | March 2022 | Allow | 31 | 2 | 0 | Yes | Yes |
| 16530925 | Systems and Methods for Performing Neurophysiologic Monitoring | August 2019 | August 2022 | Allow | 36 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16481401 | CUTTING BIOPSY INSTRUMENT | July 2019 | October 2021 | Allow | 27 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16508899 | STIMULATOR HANDPIECE FOR AN EVOKED POTENTIAL MONITORING SYSTEM | July 2019 | July 2022 | Allow | 36 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16505629 | Mobile Control Using Gait Cadence | July 2019 | August 2022 | Allow | 37 | 6 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16475732 | CORE BIOPSY SYSTEM FOR STORAGE AND PRESERVATION OF MULTIPLE TISSUE SAMPLES | July 2019 | November 2022 | Allow | 41 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16445389 | TISSUE SAMPLE HOLDER WITH ENHANCED FLUID MANAGEMENT | June 2019 | August 2021 | Allow | 26 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16469046 | TREATMENT OF A DISEASE OF THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT WITH AN IL-1 INHIBITOR | June 2019 | June 2023 | Abandon | 49 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 16435244 | MONITORING COMPLIANCE USING VENOUS REFILL DETECTION | June 2019 | January 2023 | Abandon | 43 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16467462 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR EXTRACTION AND COLLECTION OF TISSUE SAMPLES | June 2019 | September 2022 | Allow | 40 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16419247 | SAMPLE RETRIEVAL KIT AND SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF | May 2019 | December 2022 | Abandon | 43 | 0 | 1 | No | No |
| 16345505 | A DEVICE COMPRISING A BLOOD PRESSURE SENSOR AND A METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE DEVICE | April 2019 | February 2022 | Allow | 34 | 3 | 0 | No | Yes |
| 16396258 | INTERNAL ANATOMICAL FORCE MEASUREMENT | April 2019 | October 2024 | Abandon | 60 | 5 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16372720 | MEASUREMENT DEVICE, SHAPE ESTIMATION DEVICE, MEASUREMENT METHOD, SHAPE ESTIMATION METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY RECORDING MEDIUM RECORDING PROGRAM | April 2019 | June 2022 | Allow | 39 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16361736 | HYSTEROSCOPIC TISSUE BIOPSY DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS | March 2019 | December 2022 | Abandon | 44 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 16356412 | DEVICE FOR MEASURING AN AORTIC VALVE ANNULUS IN AN EXPANDED CONDITION | March 2019 | April 2022 | Allow | 37 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16354637 | BIOPSY DEVICE | March 2019 | May 2023 | Allow | 50 | 4 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16352096 | Calibration of an Inertial Measurement Unit for Improving the Accuracy of a Biomechanical Skeleton | March 2019 | August 2023 | Allow | 54 | 4 | 1 | No | No |
| 16285938 | DETECTION OF CONCUSSION USING CRANIAL ACCELEROMETRY | February 2019 | July 2024 | Abandon | 60 | 8 | 0 | Yes | Yes |
| 16279384 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COORDINATED LASER DELIVERY AND IMAGING | February 2019 | December 2020 | Allow | 22 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 16325689 | Systems and Methods for Assessment of Ocular Cyclotorsion | February 2019 | December 2022 | Allow | 46 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16271883 | Steerable Shape Sensing Biopsy Needle | February 2019 | April 2022 | Allow | 38 | 0 | 1 | No | No |
| 16322932 | BREAST SIZE (VOLUME) MEASUREMENT APPARATUS | February 2019 | October 2022 | Abandon | 44 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16258966 | RADIOFREQUENCY DETECTION AND IDENTIFICATION OF PRESSURE SENSING CATHETERS | January 2019 | September 2021 | Allow | 31 | 5 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16321201 | ULTRASOUND SYSTEM FRONT-END CIRCUIT WITH PULSERS AND LINEAR AMPLIFIERS FOR AN ARRAY TRANSDUCER | January 2019 | March 2022 | Allow | 37 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16320611 | DENERVATION CATHETER | January 2019 | December 2023 | Allow | 59 | 4 | 0 | No | No |
| 16252772 | MULTI-FUNCTION DERMATOLOGICAL BIOPSY INSTRUMENT | January 2019 | November 2021 | Allow | 34 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 16247265 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EVALUATING THE INTEGRITY OF A UTERINE CAVITY | January 2019 | March 2022 | Allow | 38 | 2 | 0 | No | Yes |
| 16233309 | Transport System for Biopsy Device | December 2018 | February 2022 | Allow | 38 | 0 | 1 | No | No |
| 16232594 | MEASUREMENT DEVICE FOR ASSESSING KNEE MOVEMENT | December 2018 | June 2021 | Abandon | 30 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16309730 | FREE RADICAL CONSUMPTION SPEED INFORMATION ACQUISITION METHOD AND NASH DETERMINATION METHOD | December 2018 | July 2022 | Allow | 43 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 16219509 | PHOTOACOUSTIC GUIDE SUPPORT SYSTEM AND PHOTOACOUSTIC GUIDE SUPPORT METHOD | December 2018 | August 2021 | Abandon | 32 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16214928 | THERMOGRAPHIC DEVICE FOR MEASUREMENT OF DIFFERENTIAL TEMPERATURES IN TISSUE | December 2018 | April 2022 | Allow | 41 | 3 | 0 | No | No |
| 16307981 | MEASUREMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CHARACTERIZING TISSUE | December 2018 | April 2022 | Abandon | 40 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16307995 | GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE FOR DISPLAYING GUIDANCE INFORMATION IN A PLURALITY OF MODES DURING AN IMAGE-GUIDED PROCEDURE | December 2018 | November 2022 | Allow | 47 | 4 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16211603 | NOVELTY IN BIOPSY VALVE CAP HOLE EMBODIMENT | December 2018 | November 2022 | Abandon | 47 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16212100 | FRICTIONAL TISSUE SAMPLING AND COLLECTION METHOD AND DEVICE | December 2018 | May 2022 | Abandon | 41 | 4 | 0 | No | No |
| 16208814 | BIOPSY DEVICE WITH APPLIED IMAGING | December 2018 | March 2022 | Allow | 40 | 3 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 16305282 | PLIANT BIOPSY NEEDLE SYSTEM | November 2018 | January 2024 | Abandon | 60 | 8 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16194563 | Ingestible Medical Device | November 2018 | September 2024 | Abandon | 60 | 4 | 1 | Yes | No |
| 16195343 | INTRAOSSEOUS NEEDLE SETS | November 2018 | April 2021 | Allow | 29 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16188864 | Accelerometer | November 2018 | October 2020 | Allow | 23 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 16180391 | BIOPSY DEVICE | November 2018 | November 2021 | Allow | 36 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16095342 | SYSTEMS AND METHOD FOR SKIN ANALYSIS USING ELECTRONIC DEVICES | October 2018 | April 2023 | Allow | 54 | 4 | 0 | No | No |
| 16094551 | PROTOCOL AND SIGNATURES FOR THE MULTIMODAL PHYSIOLOGICAL STIMULATION AND ASSESSMENT OF TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY | October 2018 | October 2021 | Abandon | 36 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16107620 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AN INCREASED GYROSCOPIC RATE SENSOR | August 2018 | September 2021 | Abandon | 37 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 16102283 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF TAKING AND COLLECTING TISSUE CORES FOR TREATMENT | August 2018 | November 2021 | Allow | 39 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 16042515 | MECHANISMS FOR IMPROVING THE STIFFNESS TRANSITION ACROSS A DISSIMILAR METAL WELD JOINT | July 2018 | June 2021 | Allow | 34 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 16029251 | Medical Tool for Reduced Force Penetration for Vascular Access | July 2018 | December 2021 | Abandon | 41 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 16018415 | FRACTURE INDEX DETERMINATION SYSTEM AND METHOD AND STORAGE MEDIUM | June 2018 | September 2024 | Abandon | 60 | 5 | 0 | No | No |
| 16009956 | REMOTE CONTROL SWITCH FOR A LASER SYSTEM | June 2018 | April 2021 | Allow | 34 | 1 | 0 | No | No |
| 15776910 | CONFORMABLE BIOMECHANICAL FORCE SENSOR AND METHOD OF FABRICATION | May 2018 | December 2022 | Abandon | 55 | 6 | 0 | No | No |
| 15767139 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR QUANTIFIABLE SHAVE BIOPSY | April 2018 | January 2022 | Abandon | 46 | 4 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 15925652 | PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND WORKOUT MONITOR | March 2018 | November 2020 | Allow | 32 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 15902781 | BIOPSY DEVICE | February 2018 | August 2023 | Allow | 60 | 6 | 0 | No | Yes |
| 15886293 | DEVICE FOR NEEDLE BIOPSY WITH INTEGRATED NEEDLE PROTECTION | February 2018 | December 2021 | Allow | 47 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 15885097 | BIOPSY DEVICE AND METHOD | January 2018 | June 2020 | Allow | 29 | 6 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 15871707 | PERCUTANEOUS INSTRUMENTS, AND MATERIALS, CONSTRUCTION AND METHODS OF USE | January 2018 | February 2023 | Abandon | 60 | 4 | 1 | No | No |
| 15868148 | Method and Apparatus for Hysteroscopy and Endometrial Biopsy | January 2018 | June 2019 | Allow | 17 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 15862915 | SYSTEMS, DEVICES AND METHODS FOR TISSUE REMOVAL AND ANALYSIS | January 2018 | March 2021 | Allow | 38 | 1 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 15741263 | INTRAVASCULAR DEVICES SYSTEMS AND METHODS WITH A SOLID CORE PROXIMAL SECTION AND A SLOTTED TUBULAR DISTAL SECTION | December 2017 | April 2021 | Abandon | 39 | 2 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 15837605 | DEVICE FOR SHAPING A GUIDEWIRE | December 2017 | January 2020 | Allow | 25 | 2 | 0 | No | No |
| 15798969 | METHODS FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF SJ�GREN'S SYNDROM3 | October 2017 | July 2020 | Allow | 33 | 2 | 1 | No | No |
| 15566859 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A VALVE OF A PORTABLE MEDICAL DEVICE | October 2017 | February 2021 | Allow | 40 | 3 | 0 | Yes | No |
| 15715033 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR AIRWAY MEASUREMENT | September 2017 | September 2020 | Allow | 36 | 0 | 0 | No | No |
| 15707539 | APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING BIOLOGICAL INFORMATION | September 2017 | July 2020 | Abandon | 34 | 6 | 0 | Yes | No |
This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner TOWA, RENE T.
With a 40.0% reversal rate, the PTAB reverses the examiner's rejections in a meaningful percentage of cases. This reversal rate is above the USPTO average, indicating that appeals have better success here than typical.
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, 26.5% 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.
✓ 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 TOWA, RENE T works in Art Unit 3791 and has examined 238 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 63.9%, this examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 44 months.
Examiner TOWA, RENE T's allowance rate of 63.9% places them in the 26% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications.
On average, applications examined by TOWA, RENE T receive 3.56 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 93% percentile for office actions issued. This examiner issues more office actions than most examiners, which may indicate thorough examination or difficulty in reaching agreement with applicants.
The median time to disposition (half-life) for applications examined by TOWA, RENE T is 44 months. This places the examiner in the 16% percentile for prosecution speed. Applications take longer to reach final disposition with this examiner compared to most others.
Conducting an examiner interview provides a +0.2% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by TOWA, RENE T. This interview benefit is in the 19% percentile among all examiners. Note: Interviews show limited statistical benefit with this examiner compared to others, though they may still be valuable for clarifying issues.
When applicants file an RCE with this examiner, 14.1% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 11% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Insight: RCEs show lower effectiveness with this examiner compared to others. Consider whether a continuation application might be more strategic, especially if you need to add new matter or significantly broaden claims.
This examiner enters after-final amendments leading to allowance in 16.9% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 21% 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, 53.8% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 48% 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.
This examiner withdraws rejections or reopens prosecution in 55.6% of appeals filed. This is in the 28% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 52.0% 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.
When applicants file petitions regarding this examiner's actions, 60.0% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 62% 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's Amendments: This examiner makes examiner's amendments in 4.2% of allowed cases (in the 84% 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 0.0% 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).
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.