USPTO Examiner COLLINS SEAN W - Art Unit 3794

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
19007288Electrosurgical Device with Illumination and Smoke Evacuation FeaturesDecember 2024July 2025Allow610YesNo
18819958ELECTROCAUTERY RHIZOTOMY USING WANDING OF ENERGIZED ELECTROCAUTERY PROBEAugust 2024November 2025Allow1540YesNo
18818398ELECTROCAUTERY RHIZOTOMY USING WANDING OF ENERGIZED ELECTROCAUTERY PROBEAugust 2024August 2025Abandon1120NoNo
18753828SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS FOR ABLATION USING SURGICAL CLAMPSJune 2024October 2025Allow1600NoNo
18748667MOTOR SPEED CONTROL CIRCUITS FOR SURGICAL SYSTEMSJune 2024October 2025Allow1600NoNo
18748528LIGHTED ELECTROCAUTERY BLADE ASSEMBLY FOR HANDHELD ELECTROSURGICAL INSTRUMENTJune 2024August 2025Allow1410NoNo
18747645SYSTEMS FOR INCISING TISSUEJune 2024September 2024Allow300YesNo
18655919AN ELECTROSURGICAL INSTRUMENTMay 2024October 2025Abandon1810NoNo
18636602SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC ACTIVATION USING RADIO FREQUENCY SENSORApril 2024October 2025Allow1810NoNo
18630653PULSED FIELD ELECTROPORATION SYSTEMS AND METHODSApril 2024August 2025Allow1600YesNo
18623681PULSED FIELD ELECTROPORATION SYSTEMS AND METHODSApril 2024July 2024Allow410NoNo
18616916PULSED FIELD ELECTROPORATION SYSTEMS AND METHODSMarch 2024June 2024Allow200NoNo
18437094SYSTEMS, APPARATUSES, AND METHODS FOR PROTECTING ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS FROM HIGH POWER NOISE INDUCED BY HIGH VOLTAGE PULSESFebruary 2024February 2025Allow1310NoNo
18426764ELECTROSURGERY BLADE AND ELECTROSURGERY BLADE ASSEMBLYJanuary 2024October 2025Allow2110NoNo
18416522SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DELIVERING MODULATED RADIOFREQUENCY POWER TO TREAT TISSUEJanuary 2024July 2025Allow1810YesNo
18415010SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TATTOO REMOVAL USING AN APPLIED ELECTRIC FIELDJanuary 2024January 2026Allow2430NoNo
18408388ELECTROSURGICAL GENERATOR CONTROL SYSTEMJanuary 2024October 2025Allow2110NoNo
18390759SYSTEMS FOR INCISING TISSUEDecember 2023May 2024Allow510YesNo
18517738ABLATION CATHETER TIP WITH FLEXIBLE ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRYNovember 2023July 2025Allow2030YesNo
18495559ELECTROSURGICAL CUTTING INSTRUMENTOctober 2023March 2025Allow1620NoNo
18495471METHOD OF PERFORMING A SURGICAL PROCEDUREOctober 2023July 2025Abandon2110NoNo
18383786ELECTROSURGICAL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATION THEREOFOctober 2023January 2026Allow2710NoNo
18468916EVALUATION OF CONSUMED ENERGY IN ELECTROSURGICAL SYSTEMSSeptember 2023July 2024Allow1010NoNo
18277828PUNCTURING DEVICEAugust 2023January 2026Allow2910NoNo
18234621ARTHROSCOPIC DEVICES AND METHODSAugust 2023September 2025Allow2510NoNo
18350189Apparatus and Methods to Modulate Bladder FunctionJuly 2023August 2024Allow1410NoNo
18341895PLEATED OR FOLDED CATHETER-MOUNTED BALLOONJune 2023May 2025Allow2330YesNo
18339054HIGH-VOLTAGE ANALOG CIRCUIT PULSER AND PULSE GENERATOR DISCHARGE CIRCUITJune 2023April 2024Allow1010NoNo
18211997METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR BLOCKING NEURAL ACTIVITY IN AN ORGAN OF A SUBJECT, PREFERABLY IN THE SMALL INTESTINE OR THE DUODENUMJune 2023August 2025Allow2600YesNo
18323740LAPAROSCOPIC ULTRAPOLAR ELECTROSURGERY DEVICEMay 2023December 2024Allow1910NoNo
18321625HIGH-VOLTAGE CIRCUIT PULSERMay 2023May 2024Allow1110NoNo
18316855VISUAL DETECTION OF ELECTROCAUTERY ARCINGMay 2023August 2024Allow1610NoNo
18252576POWER SUPPLY DEVICE AND ABLATION SYSTEMMay 2023October 2025Allow2910NoNo
18315151RADIOFREQUENCY PERFORATION APPARATUSMay 2023January 2026Allow3220NoNo
18035965PUNCTURING DEVICEMay 2023January 2026Allow3310YesNo
18310498APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR COOLING AND/OR HEATING AN ORGANMay 2023April 2024Allow1110NoNo
18136754ELECTROSURGICAL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING AN ELECTRODE TYPE OF A NEUTRAL ELECTRODEApril 2023January 2026Allow3310NoNo
18136371SURGICAL TOOL AND HANDHELD ELECTROSURGICAL INSTRUMENT, AND METHOD FOR RECOGNIZING A SURGICAL TOOLApril 2023February 2026Allow3410YesNo
18131130CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR CONTROLLING AN ENERGY MODULE OUTPUTApril 2023August 2024Allow1600NoNo
18295416MULTIPLE PULSE WIDTH TRAINS TO ENHANCE ABLATION HOMOGENEITY IN HIGHLY ORIENTED CELLULAR SUBSTRATESApril 2023October 2025Allow3000YesNo
18129262FORCEPS WITH LINEAR TRIGGER KICKOUT MECHANISMMarch 2023December 2023Allow800NoNo
18247323METHODS AND SYSTEMS OF VARIABLE ASPIRATION CONTROL IN SURGICAL PROCEDURESMarch 2023January 2024Allow1010NoNo
18044299Electrosurgical Devices, Methods of Use, and Methods of ManufactureMarch 2023June 2025Allow2800NoNo
18100093ENERGY TREATMENT TOOLJanuary 2023September 2025Allow3200NoNo
18017228SMOG SUCTION STRUCTURE FOR ELECTROSURGICAL HANDPIECEJanuary 2023December 2025Allow3510NoNo
18093480POWER MODULATED ENDOMETRIAL LINING TISSUE ABLATIONJanuary 2023November 2023Allow1000YesNo
18083287RESISTANCE LEVEL COMMUNICATION PROTOCOLDecember 2022June 2025Allow3000NoNo
18080556ELECTROSURGICAL DEVICE FOR CUTTING TISSUEDecember 2022November 2023Allow1100YesNo
18073778DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TISSUE IDENTIFICATIONDecember 2022October 2025Allow3510YesNo
17928362HIGH-FREQUENCY ENERGY TRANSFER DEVICENovember 2022December 2025Allow3710NoNo
17925292MULTIFUNCTIONAL SURGICAL INSTRUMENTNovember 2022August 2025Allow3350YesNo
17986673SYSTEMS, APPARATUSES, AND METHODS FOR PROTECTING ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS FROM HIGH POWER NOISE INDUCED BY HIGH VOLTAGE PULSESNovember 2022November 2023Allow1200YesNo
17982153TATTOO REMOVAL USING A LIQUID-GAS MIXTURE WITH PLASMA GAS BUBBLESNovember 2022April 2024Allow1710NoNo
18050418SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATIC ACTIVATION USING RADIO FREQUENCY SENSOROctober 2022April 2024Allow1810NoNo
17995819SURGICAL ROBOT SYSTEM WITH OPERATOR CONFIGURABLE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PARAMETERSOctober 2022June 2025Allow3300NoNo
17960289SALINE CONTACT WITH ELECTRODESOctober 2022July 2025Allow3310NoNo
17953559ANTI-BACKDRIVE MECHANISM FOR VESSEL SEALING INSTRUMENTSeptember 2022November 2025Allow3710NoNo
17935401METHODS FOR INCISING TISSUESeptember 2022November 2023Allow1410NoNo
17931013SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TATTOO REMOVAL USING COLD PLASMASeptember 2022January 2026Abandon4010NoNo
17929430TWO-STAGE ELECTROSURGICAL DEVICE FOR VESSEL SEALINGSeptember 2022December 2023Allow1610YesNo
17870453GENERATOR WITH REGENERATION DEVICEJuly 2022May 2023Allow900YesNo
17810756DEVICES AND METHODS FOR TREATMENT OF HEART FAILURE BY SPLANCHNIC NERVE ABLATIONJuly 2022February 2026Allow4420NoNo
17850174Catheters, Catheter Systems, and Methods for Ablating a Tissue RegionJune 2022September 2025Allow3810YesNo
17845647ABLATION PROBES INCLUDING FLEXIBLE CIRCUITS FOR HEATING AND SENSINGJune 2022December 2025Allow4220YesNo
17844265APPLYING ABLATION SIGNALS TO BOTH SIDES OF TISSUEJune 2022August 2025Allow3710NoNo
17844536ELECTRICAL ISOLATION OF ELECTROSURGICAL INSTRUMENTSJune 2022December 2024Allow3010NoNo
17742516MULTIPLEXED HAND SWITCHES FOR USE WITH ELECTROSURGICAL GENERATORSMay 2022September 2025Allow4120YesNo
17734592DUAL AXLE ROBOTIC END EFFECTORMay 2022September 2023Allow1710NoNo
17724906SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EVALUATING NEUROMODULATION THERAPY VIA HEMODYNAMIC RESPONSESApril 2022April 2024Allow2410YesNo
17716020Transvascular Electrosurgical Devices and Systems and Methods of using the sameApril 2022June 2025Allow3840YesNo
17710421ELECTROSURGERY BLADE AND ELECTROSURGERY BLADE ASSEMBLYMarch 2022November 2023Allow2020NoNo
17685851INTERFACE JOINT FOR AN ELECTROSURGICAL APPARATUSMarch 2022January 2024Allow2310NoNo
17651115ANTI-STICK COATINGS INCLUDING FLUOROPHORESFebruary 2022January 2026Allow4711YesNo
17592867HIGH-FREQUENCY FORCEPSFebruary 2022May 2023Allow1620YesNo
17585953ESTIMATION OF TISSUE THICKNESSJanuary 2022November 2023Allow2110NoNo
17647219SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TREATING THE BLADDER WITH CONDENSABLE VAPORJanuary 2022July 2023Allow1910YesNo
17561925Apparatus and Methods to Modulate Bladder FunctionDecember 2021March 2023Allow1510NoNo
17558339APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ELECTROSURGERYDecember 2021May 2025Allow4110YesNo
17619518Electrosurgical Device with Illumination and Smoke Evacuation FeaturesDecember 2021March 2025Allow3901NoNo
17614902BIOCOMPATIBLE METAL DEVICES FOR DELIVERING ABLATIVE ENERGYNovember 2021October 2025Allow4711NoNo
17535742METHODS FOR MODULATING TEMPORAL INFRASTRUCTURE OF PULSED ELECTRIC FIELDSNovember 2021August 2025Allow4520NoNo
17506480MEDICAL DEVICE WITH CONTACT FORCE SENSING TIPOctober 2021August 2024Allow3430NoNo
17465578DEVICES AND METHODS FOR TREATMENT OF HEART FAILURE BY SPLANCHNIC NERVE ABLATIONSeptember 2021April 2022Allow810YesNo
17410125SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HARMONIC CONTROL OF DUAL-OUTPUT GENERATORSAugust 2021June 2023Allow2210YesNo
17391133ELECTROSURGICAL INSTRUMENTAugust 2021January 2024Allow3010NoNo
17306000TWO-STAGE ELECTROSURGICAL DEVICE FOR VESSEL SEALINGJuly 2021February 2025Allow4320NoNo
17378107SYSTEMS, APPARATUSES, AND METHODS FOR PROTECTING ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS FROM HIGH POWER NOISE INDUCED BY HIGH VOLTAGE PULSESJuly 2021April 2022Abandon910YesNo
17378100SYSTEMS, APPARATUSES, AND METHODS FOR PROTECTING ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS FROM HIGH POWER NOISE INDUCED BY HIGH VOLTAGE PULSESJuly 2021February 2023Allow1930YesNo
17375247DEVICES AND METHODS FOR CREATING CONTINUOUS LESIONSJuly 2021July 2023Allow2410NoNo
17304829CURRENT GENERATOR FOR A MEDICAL TREATMENT SYSTEMJune 2021February 2025Allow4411YesNo
17354036UNIVERSAL SURGICAL FOOTSWITCH TOGGLINGJune 2021October 2024Allow4010NoNo
17336991ELECTROSURGICAL DEVICES WITH A SINGLE CONDUCTIVE TUBULAR ELEMENT FOR ACCESSING ANATOMICAL STRUCTURESJune 2021May 2025Allow4730YesNo
17319743METHOD OF SENSING PARTICULATE FROM SMOKE EVACUATED FROM A PATIENT, ADJUSTING THE PUMP SPEED BASED ON THE SENSED INFORMATION, AND COMMUNICATING THE FUNCTIONAL PARAMETERS OF THE SYSTEM TO THE HUBMay 2021March 2024Allow3420NoNo
17319740METHOD OF SENSING PARTICULATE FROM SMOKE EVACUATED FROM A PATIENT, ADJUSTING THE PUMP SPEED BASED ON THE SENSED INFORMATION, AND COMMUNICATING THE FUNCTIONAL PARAMETERS OF THE SYSTEM TO THE HUBMay 2021March 2024Allow3420NoNo
17317219ADJUSTABLE ELECTROSURGICAL PENCIL WITH SLIDABLE VENT TUBEMay 2021August 2023Allow2710YesNo
17290882ELECTRODE ASSEMBLY FOR IMPROVED ELECTRIC FIELD DISTRIBUTIONMay 2021October 2024Allow4210YesNo
17239017PLEATED OR FOLDED CATHETER-MOUNTED BALLOONApril 2021March 2023Allow2210NoNo
17250965SYSTEMS FOR INCISING TISSUEApril 2021September 2022Allow1730YesNo
17208929WIRELESSLY CONTROLLED BIPOLAR SURGICAL CAUTERY APPARATUSMarch 2021November 2023Allow3110YesNo
17203884COMPUTER IMPLEMENTED INTERACTIVE SURGICAL SYSTEMSMarch 2021February 2025Allow4750NoNo

Appeals Overview

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

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
7
Examiner Affirmed
5
(71.4%)
Examiner Reversed
2
(28.6%)
Reversal Percentile
45.6%
Lower than average

What This Means

With a 28.6% reversal rate, the PTAB affirms the examiner's rejections in the vast majority 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
20
Allowed After Appeal Filing
7
(35.0%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
13
(65.0%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
57.8%
Higher 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, 35.0% of applications that filed an appeal were subsequently allowed. This appeal filing benefit rate is above the USPTO average, suggesting that filing an appeal can be an effective strategy for prompting 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 is strategically valuable. The act of filing often prompts favorable reconsideration during the mandatory appeal conference.

Examiner COLLINS, SEAN W - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner COLLINS, SEAN W works in Art Unit 3794 and has examined 260 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 74.2%, this examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 44 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner COLLINS, SEAN W's allowance rate of 74.2% places them in the 39% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by COLLINS, SEAN W receive 2.78 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 81% 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.

Prosecution Timeline

The median time to disposition (half-life) for applications examined by COLLINS, SEAN W 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.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a +31.2% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by COLLINS, SEAN W. This interview benefit is in the 79% percentile among all examiners. Recommendation: Interviews are highly effective with this examiner and should be strongly considered as a prosecution strategy. Per MPEP § 713.10, interviews are available at any time before the Notice of Allowance is mailed or jurisdiction transfers to the PTAB.

Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Effectiveness

When applicants file an RCE with this examiner, 21.2% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 24% 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.

After-Final Amendment Practice

This examiner enters after-final amendments leading to allowance in 31.6% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 46% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: This examiner shows below-average receptiveness to after-final amendments. You may need to file an RCE or appeal rather than relying on after-final amendment entry.

Pre-Appeal Conference Effectiveness

When applicants request a pre-appeal conference (PAC) with this examiner, 40.0% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 38% 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 63.2% of appeals filed. This is in the 42% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 25.0% 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.

Petition Practice

When applicants file petitions regarding this examiner's actions, 41.0% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 32% 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 48% 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 0.0% of allowed cases (in the 50% 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:

  • Expect multiple rounds of prosecution: This examiner issues more office actions than average. Address potential issues proactively in your initial response and consider requesting an interview early in prosecution.
  • Prioritize examiner interviews: Interviews are highly effective with this examiner. Request an interview after the first office action to clarify issues and potentially expedite allowance.
  • Plan for extended prosecution: Applications take longer than average with this examiner. Factor this into your continuation strategy and client communications.

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.