USPTO Examiner MCDONALD JAMES F - Art Unit 3797

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
18444380WEARABLE ULTRASOUND DEVICEFebruary 2024October 2025Abandon2001NoNo
18436597ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DIAGNOSING ULTRASOUND PROBEFebruary 2024February 2026Abandon2420YesNo
18293092ELECTRONIC ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM FOR ATTENUATING NOISE IN ULTRASOUND IMAGES USING FILTER PROCESSING AND PULSE DURATION ADJUSTMENTJanuary 2024July 2025Allow1710YesNo
18397826COMPUTING DEVICE AND METHODS OF IMPLEMENTING AN ULTRASOUND SYTEM FOR GUIDING INSTRUMENT INSERTIONDecember 2023August 2025Allow2021YesNo
18508398Vein Scanner with Housing Configured for Single-Handed Lifting and UseNovember 2023June 2025Allow1910NoNo
18501559ACOUSTIC SHOCK WAVE OR PRESSURE PULSE TREATMENT AND METHODS OF USE FOR BRAIN FUNGAL INFECTIONNovember 2023January 2026Abandon2710NoNo
18480563METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPTIMIZING A PROJECTED VEIN IMAGE AND IDENTIFYING VEIN LOCATIONS USING VEIN SCANNEROctober 2023June 2025Allow2010NoNo
18477995ULTRASOUND PROBE, ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, AND MANUFACTURING METHOD OF ULTRASOUND PROBESeptember 2023July 2025Allow2210YesNo
18472327ULTRASOUND, PHOTOACOUSTIC, AND VISCOELASTIC IMAGING SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CERVICAL ANALYSIS TO ASSESS RISK OF PRETERM DELIVERYSeptember 2023March 2025Allow1810NoNo
18282212ULTRASONIC PROBE COMPRISING CONNECTORS AND COUPLERS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SAMESeptember 2023January 2026Allow2920YesNo
18461026SELECTIVE PHOTOACOUSTIC SAMPLING FOR BLOOD PRESSURE PREDICTIONSeptember 2023February 2026Allow3020YesNo
18235217IPSILATERAL ULCER AND PRE-ULCER DETECTION METHOD AND APPARATUSAugust 2023January 2025Allow1710NoNo
18140195Systems and Methods for Determining Tissue Inflammation Levels of the Eye from Blood Vessel CharacteristicsApril 2023January 2026Allow3301YesNo
17817211METHOD AND SYSTEM OF PULSE-ECHO ULTRASOUND IMAGING USING PSEUDO-RANDOM SPARSE ARRAYSAugust 2022December 2024Abandon2821NoNo
17869748ULTRASOUND ENDOSCOPEJuly 2022July 2024Abandon2420NoNo
17696675Medical System and Method for Monitoring Medical Device Insertion and Illumination PatternsMarch 2022June 2025Allow3920YesNo
17630244DATA PROCESSING METHOD FOR ULTRASONIC IMAGING SYSTEM, ULTRASONIC IMAGING SYSTEM AND STORAGE MEDIUMJanuary 2022December 2024Abandon3521NoNo
17583473Phase Change Insert for Ultrasound Imaging ProbeJanuary 2022November 2025Allow4651YesNo
17580916DETECTING PATHOLOGIES USING AN ULTRASOUND PROBEJanuary 2022December 2025Abandon4741NoNo
17575716ULTRASOUND IMAGING APPARATUS AND ULTRASOUND IMAGING METHODJanuary 2022February 2026Abandon4941NoNo
17575141System and Method for Displaying Position of Ultrasound Probe Using Diastasis 3D ImagingJanuary 2022September 2024Allow3221YesNo
17568405ULTRASOUND SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING ULTRASOUND SYSTEMJanuary 2022December 2025Abandon4841NoNo
17545428ULTRASONIC PROBE HOLDER WITH ABUTMENT PROTRUSIONS AND VIBRATOR FOR ULTRASONIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MEASURING ELASTICITY OF TISSUEDecember 2021September 2023Allow2100NoNo
17488722Functional ultrasound imaging of the brain using deep learning and sparse dataSeptember 2021August 2024Allow3420YesNo
17486913RESPIRATORY VARIATION IN INTERNAL JUGULAR VEIN DIAMETER AS A METHOD FOR ESTIMATING PATIENT'S VOLUME STATUS AND VENTRICULAR FUNCTIONSeptember 2021July 2024Abandon3420YesNo
17401024METHOD FOR DETERMINING VENTRICLE CONTRACTILITY INDEPENDENTLY OF LOADAugust 2021June 2024Allow3420YesNo
17397486System and Method for Generating Virtual Blood Vessel Representations in Mixed RealityAugust 2021July 2024Allow3531NoYes
17423318VASCULAR TREATMENT SYSTEMS AND DEVICES INCLUDING INTRAVASCULAR IMAGING CAPABILITIESJuly 2021March 2025Abandon4410NoNo
17359453METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IDENTIFYING A TENDON IN ULTRASOUND IMAGING DATA AND VERIFYING SUCH IDENTITY IN LIVE DEPLOYMENTJune 2021November 2024Allow4131YesNo
17239323GUIDING INSTRUMENT INSERTIONApril 2021December 2023Allow3221YesNo
17236930METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ULTRASOUND IMAGING WITH PULSE-INVERSION SCHEME AND RETROSPECTIVE TRANSMIT TECHNIQUESApril 2021May 2025Allow4841YesNo
17227416BREAST SCREENING EQUIPMENTApril 2021March 2024Abandon3540NoNo
17223143Vein Scanner with Limited Photodiode FOV Moving Synchronously with Scanned Laser LightApril 2021February 2025Allow4711YesNo
17222387METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR AN INVASIVE DEPLOYABLE DEVICE USING A SHAPE MEMORY MATERIAL TO RECONFIGURE TRANSDUCER ELEMENTS IN RESPONSE TO STIMULIApril 2021December 2025Allow5631YesNo
17220000MEDICAL IMAGING DEVICE SUCH AS A TEE PROBE FOR UV DISINFECTION AND A DESIGN METHODApril 2021October 2025Abandon5441YesNo
17205482System And Method For Anatomically Aligned Multi-Planar Reconstruction Views For Ultrasound Imaging Using A Geometrical ModelMarch 2021August 2025Allow5361YesNo
17212042ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DIAGNOSING ULTRASOUND PROBEMarch 2021November 2023Allow3120YesNo
17192005METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY DETECTING AN ULTRASOUND IMAGE VIEW AND FOCUS TO PROVIDE MEASUREMENT SUITABILITY FEEDBACKMarch 2021September 2024Allow4340YesNo
17190180ULTRASOUND IMAGE GENERATION APPARATUS, ULTRASOUND IMAGE GENERATION PROGRAM, AND ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSIS APPARATUSMarch 2021August 2024Abandon4240NoNo
17165325ULTRASOUND IMAGING APPARATUS FOR BIPLANE IMAGING AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOFFebruary 2021September 2025Allow5651YesNo
17154415ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, ULTRASOUND PROBE SWITCHING METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUMJanuary 2021September 2024Abandon4440YesNo
17258478ELECTRICAL WIRE CONNECTION IN ULTRASOUND IMAGING DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODSJanuary 2021June 2025Allow5461YesNo
17251130Method and Apparatus for Ultrasound Imaging with Improved BeamformingDecember 2020March 2025Abandon5110NoNo
17031786METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CONFIGURING AN ULTRASOUND SYSTEM WITH IMAGING PARAMETER VALUESSeptember 2020February 2025Abandon5231YesNo
17027675TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT METHOD AND MEASUREMENT DEVICESeptember 2020March 2024Abandon4221NoNo
16967929ULTRASOUND BLOOD-FLOW MONITORINGAugust 2020July 2024Allow4740YesNo
16986681ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS AND OPERATING METHOD THEREOF FOR DISPLAYING ULTRASOUND ELASTICITY IMAGESAugust 2020July 2024Allow4740YesNo
16963553GUIDED-TRANSCRANIAL ULTRASOUND IMAGING USING NEURAL NETWORKS AND ASSOCIATED DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODSJuly 2020June 2024Abandon4740YesNo
16898635ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS AND PROGRAMJune 2020June 2024Abandon4840NoNo
15930290METHODS FOR FORMING AN INVASIVE DEPLOYABLE TRANSDUCER USING SHAPE MEMORY POLYMERMay 2020September 2024Allow5240YesNo
16848244Medical Analyzer Using Mixed Model InversionsApril 2020March 2024Allow4721NoNo
16753887COHERENCE GATED PHOTOACOUSTIC REMOTE SENSING (CG-PARS)April 2020September 2024Abandon5330YesNo
16646103SYSTEM, METHOD, AND APPARATUS FOR TEMPERATURE ASYMMETRY MEASUREMENT OF BODY PARTSMarch 2020January 2026Allow6041NoNo
16631760SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR POSITIONING AN INTRACRANIAL DEVICE USING BRAIN ACTIVITYJanuary 2020January 2025Abandon6031NoNo
16708493TRACKING SYSTEM AND MARKER DEVICE TO BE TRACKED BY THE TRACKING SYSTEMDecember 2019December 2023Allow4940NoNo
16691388THERMAL FIELD SCANNERNovember 2019October 2024Abandon5940NoNo
16612767DEVICE FOR DETERMINING A PARAMETER FOR DIAGNOSING HYDROCEPHALUS AND OTHER DISORDERS OF INTRACRANIAL PRESSURENovember 2019January 2025Allow6030YesNo
16495593ANNULAR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT CONTROLLER FOR INTRALUMINAL ULTRASOUND IMAGING DEVICESeptember 2019August 2024Allow5950YesNo
16428716SENSOR INTERFACE DEVICE PROVIDING DIGITAL PROCESSING OF INTRAVASCULAR FLOW AND PRESSURE DATAMay 2019August 2024Allow6030YesNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner MCDONALD, JAMES F.

Strategic Value of Filing an Appeal

Total Appeal Filings
1
Allowed After Appeal Filing
0
(0.0%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
1
(100.0%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
11.3%
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, 0.0% 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

Filing a Notice of Appeal shows limited benefit. Consider other strategies like interviews or amendments before appealing.

Examiner MCDONALD, JAMES F - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner MCDONALD, JAMES F works in Art Unit 3797 and has examined 37 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 62.2%, this examiner allows applications at a lower rate than most examiners at the USPTO. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 47 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner MCDONALD, JAMES F's allowance rate of 62.2% places them in the 22% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner is less likely to allow applications than most examiners at the USPTO.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by MCDONALD, JAMES F receive 3.22 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 90% 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 MCDONALD, JAMES F is 47 months. This places the examiner in the 10% 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 +36.5% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by MCDONALD, JAMES F. This interview benefit is in the 84% 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, 23.1% 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 18.2% 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.

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 100.0% of appeals filed. This is in the 100% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 100.0% 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, 0.0% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 7% 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 49% 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 51% 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:

  • Prepare for rigorous examination: With a below-average allowance rate, ensure your application has strong written description and enablement support. Consider filing a continuation if you need to add new matter.
  • 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 RCE after final rejection: This examiner rarely enters after-final amendments. Budget for an RCE in your prosecution strategy if you receive a final rejection.
  • 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.
  • 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.