USPTO Examiner CHOU WILLIAM B - Art Unit 3795

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
18994630ENDOSCOPE AUXILIARY EXAMINATION SYSTEM, METHOD, APPARATUS, AND STORAGE MEDIUMJanuary 2025October 2025Allow910NoNo
18751115ENDOSCOPIC TISSUE INVERSION AND RESECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF RESECTING TISSUEJune 2024January 2025Allow711NoNo
18534752Controlled Motion CapsuleDecember 2023January 2026Allow2600NoNo
18288181ENDOSCOPE HAVING POWER TRANSMISSION UNITOctober 2023September 2024Allow1010NoNo
18151898Optical Bulb for Surgical Instrument PortJanuary 2023October 2025Allow3300NoNo
18052998ENDOSCOPE NOSEPIECE AND ENDOSCOPE NOSEPIECE DISPOSAL METHODNovember 2022March 2026Abandon4010NoNo
17825515Controlled Motion CapsuleMay 2022September 2023Allow1611YesNo
17662251ACTUATOR DEVICES AND SYSTEMSMay 2022January 2025Allow3310NoNo
17662182MEDICAL ROBOTIC SYSTEMMay 2022August 2025Allow4041NoYes
17679080Creating Surgical Annotations Using Anatomy IdentificationFebruary 2022March 2025Allow3640NoNo
17588638ENDOSCOPE ASSEMBLY AND ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM HAVING THE SAMEJanuary 2022October 2024Allow3330YesNo
17584486INTEGRATED MULTI-FUNCTIONAL ENDOSCOPIC TOOLJanuary 2022March 2025Abandon3780NoNo
17584479INTEGRATED MULTI-FUNCTIONAL ENDOSCOPIC TOOLJanuary 2022September 2025Allow43100YesNo
17519509FULL ROTATIONAL ARTICULATION LAPAROSCOPENovember 2021August 2023Abandon2220YesNo
17490774SLOTTED IMAGING PROBESeptember 2021January 2025Abandon4010NoNo
17476040SYSTEM FOR DETECTING THE LOCATION OF AN ENDOSCOPIC DEVICE DURING A MEDICAL PROCEDURESeptember 2021March 2026Allow5431YesNo
17468770LAPAROSCOPIC VIEW DIRECT MOTION CONTROL OF MIRRORED ENDOLUMINAL DEVICESeptember 2021May 2025Abandon4410NoNo
17462487ENDOSCOPE DEVICE AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHODAugust 2021May 2025Abandon4420YesNo
17435318APPARATUSES AND METHODS INVOLVING MULTI-MODAL IMAGING OF A SAMPLEAugust 2021March 2026Allow5531NoNo
17401264HYBRID APPARATUS FOR FLUID SUPPLY FOR ENDOSCOPIC IRRIGATION AND LENS CLEANINGAugust 2021March 2022Allow810NoNo
17386156HANDHELD SURGICAL HANDLE ASSEMBLY, SURGICAL ADAPTERS FOR USE BETWEEN SURGICAL HANDLE ASSEMBLY AND SURGICAL END EFFECTORS, AND METHODS OF USEJuly 2021March 2024Allow3210NoNo
17374391WIRE BIASING GUIDE FOR A MEDICAL DEVICEJuly 2021May 2025Abandon4620YesNo
17361122Display Monitor Control of a Telesurgical ToolJune 2021November 2024Abandon4001NoNo
17328229SYSTEM FOR OBTAINING CLEAR ENDOSCOPE IMAGESMay 2021September 2025Allow5140YesNo
17244390INTERACTIVE DISPLAY FOR SURGERY WITH MOTHER AND DAUGHTER VIDEO FEEDSApril 2021March 2024Allow3510NoNo
17238544NEEDLE HOLDER FOR ENDOSCOPE, SUTURE SET, AND SUTURE SYSTEMApril 2021November 2023Allow3110YesNo
17198286MEDICAL IMAGING APPARATUS WITH ROTATABLE MANIPULATION RINGMarch 2021September 2023Allow3010NoNo
17184380SMALL GAUGE SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH ADJUSTABLE SUPPORTFebruary 2021January 2024Allow3420NoNo
17179677MEDICAL DEVICES AND METHODS INCORPORATING FRUSTRATED TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION FOR ENERGY-EFFICIENT SEALING AND CUTTING OF TISSUE USING LIGHT ENERGYFebruary 2021June 2023Allow2810NoNo
17179359ENDOSCOPE WITH TREATMENT TOOL DELIVERY PORT AND ELEVATORFebruary 2021February 2026Allow6031YesNo
17177399INTEGRATED MULTI-FUNCTIONAL ENDOSCOPIC TOOLFebruary 2021September 2021Allow720NoNo
17173323VIDEO PROCESSING APPARATUSFebruary 2021September 2021Allow700NoNo
17168300INTEGRATED MULTI-FUNCTIONAL ENDOSCOPIC TOOLFebruary 2021September 2021Allow720NoNo
17145584MEDICAL DEVICES AND METHODS INCORPORATING FRUSTRATED TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION FOR ENERGY-EFFICIENT SEALING AND CUTTING OF TISSUE USING LIGHT ENERGYJanuary 2021June 2023Allow2910NoNo
17138034SURGICAL VISUALIZATION SYSTEMSDecember 2020August 2023Abandon3210NoNo
17131951ENDOSCOPE REPROCESSOR AND BOTTLEDecember 2020July 2024Allow4320NoNo
17113078ENDOBRONCHIAL TUBE WITH INTEGRATED IMAGE SENSORDecember 2020July 2023Abandon3110NoNo
17107459SIGNAL TRANSMISSION COMPONENTS FOR USE WITH MEDICAL DEVICESNovember 2020November 2023Allow3510NoNo
17069719TUNABLE COLOR-TEMPERATURE WHITE LIGHT SOURCEOctober 2020July 2025Abandon5740YesNo
17039856OVERALL ENDOSCOPIC CONTROL SYSTEMSeptember 2020January 2024Allow3920NoNo
17038152MEDICAL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING MEDICAL SYSTEMSeptember 2020May 2024Allow4311YesNo
17039497INCREASED RESOLUTION AND DYNAMIC RANGE CAPTURE UNIT IN A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT AND METHODSeptember 2020August 2025Allow5950YesNo
16982048BIOLOGICAL IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, METHOD, NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM AND BIOLOGICAL IMAGE PROCESSING SYSTEMSeptember 2020February 2026Allow6051YesNo
16991615RECEIVING DEVICE AND RECEIVING METHODAugust 2020March 2024Abandon4301NoNo
16986281SIGNAL PROCESSING APPARATUSAugust 2020August 2023Allow3630YesNo
16960856IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHODJuly 2020January 2025Allow5530NoNo
16918635ENDOSCOPE HAVING AN OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE WITH EMERGENCE PORTION AND OBJECTIVE BEAM SPLITTERJuly 2020March 2024Allow4520NoNo
16913686PATIENT INTRODUCER FOR A ROBOTIC SYSTEMJune 2020October 2025Allow6051YesNo
16955237IN-VIVO INSERTABLE DEVICES HAVING FAIL-SAFE EVACUATIONJune 2020August 2023Abandon3820NoNo
16903690MEDICAL HANDLING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A HANDLING DEVICEJune 2020March 2024Allow4530NoNo
16889745WIRELESS ENDOSCOPIC CAMERAJune 2020March 2022Allow2110YesNo
16881286MEDICAL SYSTEM AND OPERATION METHOD OF MEDICAL SYSTEMMay 2020October 2021Allow1700NoNo
16859867DISPLAY MONITOR CONTROL OF A TELESURGICAL TOOLApril 2020March 2021Allow1110YesNo
16841468SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING AN INSTRUMENT USING SHAPE SENSORSApril 2020February 2021Allow1010NoNo
16836874DEVICE AND METHODS OF IMPROVING LAPAROSCOPIC SURGERYMarch 2020October 2023Allow4330NoNo
16818018UNIVERSAL LARYNGOSCOPE BLADE FOR BOTH CONVENTIONAL HANDLES AND FIBER-ILLUMINATED HANDLESMarch 2020August 2024Allow5440NoNo
16817618SURGICAL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DISPLAYING INFORMATION IN THE SAMEMarch 2020March 2025Allow6031NoNo
16805306SMALL GAUGE SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH ADJUSTABLE SUPPORTFebruary 2020November 2020Allow810NoNo
16782664IMAGING SYSTEM FOR ENDOSCOPEFebruary 2020February 2023Allow3650YesNo
16773798HANDHELD SURGICAL HANDLE ASSEMBLY, SURGICAL ADAPTERS FOR USE BETWEEN SURGICAL HANDLE ASSEMBLY AND SURGICAL END EFFECTORS, AND METHODS OF USEJanuary 2020March 2021Allow1420NoNo
16630134SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SWITCHING CONTROL BETWEEN MULTIPLE INSTRUMENT ARMSJanuary 2020August 2025Allow6060YesNo
16621888SURGICAL SYSTEM AND SURGICAL IMAGING DEVICEDecember 2019July 2022Allow3120NoNo
16697471FLEXIBLE TUBE INSERTION SUPPORT APPARATUS, FLEXIBLE TUBE INSERTION APPARATUS, AND FLEXIBLE TUBE INSERTION METHODNovember 2019August 2023Allow4511YesNo
16687549SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TISSUE CONTACT DETECTION AND FOR AUTO-EXPOSURE AND ILLUMINATION CONTROLNovember 2019December 2021Allow2520YesNo
16673185INTERACTIVE DISPLAY FOR SURGERY WITH MOTHER AND DAUGHTER VIDEO FEEDSNovember 2019March 2021Allow1610NoNo
16663129TWO-PART ENDOSCOPE SURGICAL DEVICEOctober 2019January 2023Allow3910NoNo
16661649GUIDED SETUP FOR TELEOPERATED MEDICAL DEVICEOctober 2019June 2021Allow1910NoNo
16590268TWO-PART ENDOSCOPE SURGICAL DEVICEOctober 2019January 2023Allow4010NoNo
16499029Monitoring Apparatus, Monitoring Bougie, and Monitoring SystemSeptember 2019March 2023Abandon4201NoNo
16494478FLEXIBLE ENDOSCOPE, AND ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM EQUIPPED WITH SAMESeptember 2019October 2022Allow3710NoNo
16494006SURGICAL CONTROLLING DEVICE, CONTROL METHOD, AND SURGICAL SYSTEMSeptember 2019August 2022Allow3520NoNo
16548593ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM, PROCESSOR DEVICE, AND METHOD FOR OPERATING ENDOSCOPE SYSTEMAugust 2019October 2021Allow2610YesNo
16547530ENDOSCOPE ADAPTOR, SURGICAL SYSTEM INCLUDING THE SAME, AND METHOD OF ATTACHING ENDOSCOPE TO ROBOT ARM THROUGH THE SAMEAugust 2019December 2022Allow4010NoNo
16486503MEDICAL OBSERVATION SYSTEM, APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME, AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAMEAugust 2019June 2022Allow3410NoNo
16533866Endoscope Manipulator and Method for Controlling the SameAugust 2019December 2022Allow4110NoNo
16528171ILLUMINATED ENDOSCOPIC PEDICLE PROBE WITH REPLACEABLE TIPJuly 2019November 2020Allow1510NoNo
16518640ENDOSCOPE WITH INTEGRATED MEASUREMENT OF DISTANCE TO OBJECTS OF INTERESTJuly 2019October 2022Allow3910NoNo
16503403SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RECENTERING INPUT CONTROLSJuly 2019October 2021Allow2710YesNo
16455191SYSTEM FOR DETECTING THE LOCATION OF AN ENDOSCOPIC DEVICE DURING A MEDICAL PROCEDUREJune 2019June 2021Allow2320NoNo
16428952CONTROL SYSTEM FOR CAPSULE ENDOSCOPEMay 2019December 2022Allow4311NoNo
16425612Durable Flexible Circuit AssemblyMay 2019November 2020Allow1810NoNo
16409561METHOD FOR OPERATING A VISUALIZATION SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING ENDOSCOPIC IMAGESMay 2019January 2021Allow2010NoNo
16384949ENDOSCOPEApril 2019December 2021Allow3220YesNo
16378472CAPSULE ENDOSCOPIC RECEIVING DEVICE, CAPSULE ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM INCLUDING THE SAME, AND OPERATING METHOD OF CAPSULE ENDOSCOPIC RECEIVING DEVICEApril 2019December 2022Allow4421NoNo
16371582SPACE-OPTIMIZED VISUALIZATION CATHETER WITH CAMERA TRAIN HOLDERApril 2019January 2020Abandon1000NoNo
16369803ENDOBRONCHIAL TUBE WITH INTEGRATED IMAGE SENSORMarch 2019November 2020Allow2010NoNo
16333639FLEXIBLE PORTION SHAPE ESTIMATING DEVICE AND ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM HAVING THE SAMEMarch 2019September 2023Allow5431NoNo
16354444ROBOTIC SURGICAL SYSTEMS WITH MECHANISMS FOR SCALING CAMERA MAGNIFICATION ACCORDING TO PROXIMITY OF SURGICAL TOOL TO TISSUEMarch 2019November 2024Allow6060YesNo
16288261REMOTE MANIPULATOR SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A REMOTE MANIPULATOR SYSTEMFebruary 2019March 2022Allow3710YesNo
16283844ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAMEFebruary 2019June 2021Allow2710YesNo
16281194CAMERA CONTROLFebruary 2019March 2022Allow3710NoNo
16269253MEDICAL MANIPUPLATOR SYSTEMFebruary 2019September 2022Allow4311NoNo
16321913PHOTOGRAPHING SYSTEM, PHOTOGRAPHING METHOD AND CONTROL DEVICEJanuary 2019August 2021Abandon3110NoNo
16245647DATA RECEPTION DEVICE, CAPSULE ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM, DATA RECEPTION METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUMJanuary 2019January 2021Abandon2410NoNo
16316747SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DISPLAYING AN INSTRUMENT NAVIGATOR IN A TELEOPERATIONAL SYSTEMJanuary 2019January 2026Allow6081YesYes
16238981MEDICAL DEVICE HOLDING APPARATUSJanuary 2019May 2022Allow4100NoNo
16234175HYPERSPECTRAL IMAGING IN A LIGHT DEFICIENT ENVIRONMENTDecember 2018June 2023Allow5431YesNo
16211855ENDOSCOPE AND TREATMENT INSTRUMENT WITH LUBRICANT ELECTRODEPOSITIONDecember 2018October 2020Allow2210NoNo
16210079BODY-INSERTABLE APPARATUS, TRANSMISSION METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUMDecember 2018December 2021Allow3610YesNo
16192916ENDOSCOPE DEVICE AND ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM WITH DEFORMING INSERTION PORTION WIRENovember 2018August 2021Allow3310NoNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner CHOU, WILLIAM B.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
1
Examiner Affirmed
1
(100.0%)
Examiner Reversed
0
(0.0%)
Reversal Percentile
21.1%
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
15
Allowed After Appeal Filing
1
(6.7%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
14
(93.3%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
12.2%
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, 6.7% 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 CHOU, WILLIAM B - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner CHOU, WILLIAM B works in Art Unit 3795 and has examined 262 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 83.2%, this examiner has an above-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 37 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner CHOU, WILLIAM B's allowance rate of 83.2% places them in the 57% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has an above-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by CHOU, WILLIAM B receive 2.22 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 61% 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 CHOU, WILLIAM B 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 +12.9% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by CHOU, WILLIAM B. This interview benefit is in the 50% percentile among all examiners. Recommendation: Interviews provide a below-average benefit with this examiner.

Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Effectiveness

When applicants file an RCE with this examiner, 29.0% 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 46.2% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 70% 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, 200.0% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 100% 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 90.0% of appeals filed. This is in the 83% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 55.6% occur early in the appeal process (after Notice of Appeal but before Appeal Brief). Strategic Insight: This examiner frequently reconsiders rejections during the appeal process compared to other examiners. Per MPEP § 1207.01, all appeals must go through a mandatory appeal conference. Filing a Notice of Appeal may prompt favorable reconsideration even before you file an Appeal Brief.

Petition Practice

When applicants file petitions regarding this examiner's actions, 36.4% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 25% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Note: Petitions are rarely granted regarding this examiner's actions compared to other examiners. Ensure you have a strong procedural basis before filing a petition, as the Technology Center Director typically upholds this examiner's decisions.

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 0.9% of allowed cases (in the 60% 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:

  • 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.
  • Appeal filing as negotiation tool: This examiner frequently reconsiders rejections during the appeal process. Filing a Notice of Appeal may prompt favorable reconsideration during the mandatory appeal conference.

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.