USPTO Examiner SHENG CHAO - Art Unit 3797

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
19257653VASCULAR ACCESS METHODSJuly 2025March 2026Allow920YesNo
19092143Biological Fluid Information Acquisition ApparatusMarch 2025March 2026Allow1100NoNo
19044191Magnetic Signature Imprinting SystemFebruary 2025February 2026Allow1300NoNo
18957268ANCHOR CONFIGURATIONS FOR AN ARRAY OF ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCERSNovember 2024November 2025Allow1200NoNo
18843919ULTRASOUND TREATMENT DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAMESeptember 2024December 2025Abandon1510NoNo
18820998DEVICES, APPARATUSES AND SYSTEMS FOR MEASURING TEMPERATURE OF AN ABTT TERMINUSAugust 2024March 2026Allow1810YesNo
18816783SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMAGE MONITORINGAugust 2024February 2026Allow1710NoNo
18809619ROBOTIC NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEMAugust 2024January 2026Allow1710NoNo
18733527SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING POSITION OF A STEERABLE ASSEMBLY WITHIN TISSUE OF AN ANIMAL BODYJune 2024December 2024Allow700YesNo
18667088SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IDENTIFYING AND LOCATING REFLECTORS USING ORTHOGONAL SEQUENCES OF REFLECTOR SWITCHINGMay 2024October 2025Allow1711NoNo
18642032GAMMA RAY PROBE CAPABLE OF BEING INSERTED INTO HUMAN BODY AND GAMMA RAY DETECTION APPARATUS USING SAMEApril 2024May 2025Allow1300NoNo
18641600CORRELATING BACKGROUND SOUNDS TO FETAL HEART RATESApril 2024November 2025Allow1800YesNo
18639245DISCRIMINATION OF TISSUES USING A FAST INFRARED PROBEApril 2024December 2024Allow800NoNo
18635576Tracker For A Surgical Navigation SystemApril 2024July 2025Allow1520YesNo
18634570CALIBRATIONLESS REFERENCE MARKER SYSTEMApril 2024May 2025Allow1300NoNo
18623878GUIDED ULTRASOUND IMAGING SYSTEMSApril 2024March 2026Allow2310YesNo
18619663Ultrasound ProbeMarch 2024August 2025Allow1610NoNo
18615582METHOD FOR PROVIDING THE INFORMATION FOR DIAGNOSING OF NONALCOHOLIC STEATOHEPATITISMarch 2024August 2025Allow1710YesNo
18610455METHOD FOR RECORDING PROBE MOVEMENTMarch 2024December 2024Allow900YesNo
18609274SYSTEM FOR A SURVEILLANCE MARKER IN ROBOTIC-ASSISTED SURGERYMarch 2024April 2025Allow1310YesNo
18601891SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES FOR DEVELOPING PATIENT-SPECIFIC SPINAL IMPLANTS, TREATMENTS, OPERATIONS, AND/OR PROCEDURESMarch 2024November 2024Allow800NoNo
18601860SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MEDICAL IMAGE ANALYSISMarch 2024December 2024Allow910YesNo
18594379Methods and Systems For Performing Computer Assisted SurgeryMarch 2024January 2026Allow2212NoNo
18593339Multi-Mode Rolling-Encoded UltrasoundMarch 2024February 2026Allow2310YesNo
18686081MARKER FOR TRACKING OBJECTS IN MEDICAL PROCEDURESFebruary 2024September 2025Allow1900NoNo
18438549SURGICAL ROBOTIC AUTOMATION WITH TRACKING MARKERSFebruary 2024February 2025Allow1210YesNo
18437958ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUSFebruary 2024September 2025Allow1910NoNo
18435905SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SPECULAR REFLECTION DETECTION AND REDUCTIONFebruary 2024April 2025Allow1410YesNo
18426089NEUROMODULATION TECHNIQUESJanuary 2024January 2025Allow1110NoNo
18414698BODY MOUNTABLE ROBOTJanuary 2024April 2025Allow1510YesNo
18407290SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATED BLADDER MEASUREMENTJanuary 2024June 2025Allow1710NoNo
18404746EXAMINATION SYSTEM AND EXAMINATION METHOD THEREOFJanuary 2024August 2025Allow1920YesNo
18545184SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES FOR DEVELOPING PATIENT-SPECIFIC SPINAL IMPLANTS, TREATMENTS, OPERATIONS, AND/OR PROCEDURESDecember 2023October 2025Allow2230YesNo
18532017INVENTORY SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RETAINED SURGICAL ITEM DETECTIONDecember 2023August 2025Allow2110YesNo
18526412SURGICAL ROBOTIC SYSTEM WITH RETRACTORDecember 2023October 2024Allow1010YesNo
18565588DEVICE FOR LOCATING A BLOOD VESSELNovember 2023October 2025Abandon2310NoNo
18389313DEVICES FOR MEASURING TEMPERATURE OF AN ABTT TERMINUSNovember 2023June 2024Allow700YesNo
18389170ENHANCED SEQUENTIAL IMAGE DATA GENERATION TECHNIQUESNovember 2023February 2026Allow2710YesNo
18288777METHOD AND DEVICE FOR GENERATING AN UNCERTAINTY MAP FOR GUIDED PERCUTANEOUS PROCEDURESOctober 2023February 2026Allow2711YesNo
18288355VOLUMETRIC FILTER OF FLUOROSCOPIC SWEEP VIDEOOctober 2023May 2025Allow1910NoNo
18488021ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD OF ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUSOctober 2023September 2025Allow2310NoNo
18553195SURGICAL NAVIGATIONSeptember 2023November 2025Allow2610YesNo
18470505SURGICAL ROBOTIC AUTOMATION WITH TRACKING MARKERSSeptember 2023November 2024Allow1420NoNo
18367588Intravascular Measurement And Data Collections SystemsSeptember 2023August 2024Allow1110YesNo
18460876POSITION DETERMINATION SYSTEM, MEDICAL IMAGING SYSTEM, METHOD FOR POSITION DETERMINATION AND REFERENCE ARRANGEMENTSeptember 2023October 2025Allow2510NoNo
18234440MRI Compatible Interventional Medical Devices and Related MethodsAugust 2023January 2026Allow2910YesNo
18264568CARTILAGE DEGENERATION ANALYSIS DEVICE, DEVICE FOR DIAGNOSING OR AIDING DIAGNOSIS WHICH CONTAINS SAME, METHOD FOR DETERMINING DEGREE OF DEGENERATION OF CARTILAGE, AND METHOD FOR EVALUATING DRUG EFFICACY OF TEST SUBSTANCEAugust 2023November 2025Allow2710YesNo
18257218ROBOT-ASSISTED TELE-ECHOGRAPHY PROBEJune 2023August 2025Allow2610NoNo
18202965OPTICAL RESPIRATION RATE DETECTION DEVICE CAPABLE OF DETERMINING DENOISING RANGEMay 2023June 2024Allow1210YesNo
18142817Systems For Performing Computer Assisted SurgeryMay 2023December 2023Allow700NoNo
18308762METHOD FOR A SURVEILLANCE MARKER IN ROBOTIC-ASSISTED SURGERYApril 2023December 2023Allow700NoNo
18139722SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE DISCRIMINATION OF TISSUES USING A FAST INFRARED CANCER PROBEApril 2023November 2023Allow700NoNo
18130973Adaptive Positioning TechnologyApril 2023March 2025Allow2421YesNo
18176751APPARATUS FOR RECORDING PROBE MOVEMENTMarch 2023November 2025Allow3211YesNo
18004455MAGNETIC RESONANCE HARDWARE-CONTRIBUTED ATTENUATION IN POSITRON EMISSION TOMOGRAPHYJanuary 2023June 2025Allow2900YesNo
18094206SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EVALUATING TISSUE OF A SUBJECTJanuary 2023June 2024Allow1810YesNo
18091912METHOD FOR DELINEATING AND LINKING/CORRELATING OPPOSING MARGINS OF A PATHOLOGY SPECIMEN AND IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT REMAINING IN VIVO MARGINSDecember 2022January 2025Allow2500NoNo
18091019Penetrative Medical Access Devices, and Related Methods and SystemsDecember 2022January 2026Allow3610NoNo
18083565AUGMENTED REALITY SOFT TISSUE BIOPSY AND SURGERY SYSTEMDecember 2022April 2025Allow2800NoNo
18080098SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TRACKING SURGICAL INSTRUMENTSDecember 2022September 2025Allow3320NoNo
18010018ULTRASOUND TRANSDUCER PROBE BASED ANALOG TO DIGITAL CONVERSION FOR CONTINUOUS WAVE DOPPLER, AND ASSOCIATED DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODSDecember 2022November 2024Allow2310NoNo
18001489Multi-Focusing Device for Each Ultrasonic Depth Including Micro-Machined Ultrasonic Transducer Array and Method of Operating SameDecember 2022March 2025Allow2710NoNo
18073816MICRODEVICE AND REGISTRATION APPARATUSDecember 2022April 2025Allow2921NoNo
17993184INTRAOPERATIVE RADIATION PROBE SYSTEM WITH RADIATION-ORIENTATION MAPPINGNovember 2022August 2024Allow2110YesNo
18057497APPARATUS FOR RECORDING PROBE MOVEMENTNovember 2022December 2023Allow1310YesNo
17986647Medical Probes and Methods of UseNovember 2022June 2025Allow3130NoNo
18054792SYSTEMS FOR A TRIPLE IMAGING HYBRID PROBENovember 2022March 2025Allow2820YesNo
17923962MECHANICAL SHEAR WAVE GENERATION FOR ULTRASONIC ELASTOGRAPHYNovember 2022March 2025Allow2820NoNo
17923274OPERATOR-INDEPENDENT HISTOTRIPSY DEVICENovember 2022August 2025Allow3411NoNo
17921413PROVIDING AN INDICATION REGARDING THE AFFLICTION OF A PATIENT WITH AN INFECTIOUS RESPIRATORY DISEASE BASED ON MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING DATAOctober 2022July 2025Allow3210YesNo
18046573MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE POSITION OF AT LEAST ONE COIL IN A MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGINGOctober 2022August 2024Allow2210NoNo
179960943-D ULTRASOUND CORONAROGRAPHY, A NON-IONIZING AND NON-INVASIVE TECHNOLOGY FOR MULTI-SCALE ANATOMICAL AND FUNCTIONAL IMAGING OF CORONARY CIRCULATIONOctober 2022May 2025Allow3110YesNo
17916438SPLINT DEVICE FOR GUIDED SURGICAL ROBOTSeptember 2022September 2025Allow3610YesNo
17955120Magnetic Signature Imprinting SystemSeptember 2022September 2024Allow2400YesNo
17906867SALVAGE DEVICE AND METHOD FOR LOCALIZING AND REMOVING A BREAST TISSUE MARKER CLIP AT SURGERY AFTER A FAILED SPECIMEN RADIOGRAMSeptember 2022September 2025Abandon3630NoNo
17823366ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS, AND PROCESSOR FOR ULTRASOUND DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUSAugust 2022June 2024Allow2110NoNo
17823479Methods and Systems for Evaluating Echo Data Contemporaneous with an Electrodiagnostic StudyAugust 2022September 2025Allow3610NoNo
17801852OPTICAL MEASUREMENT METHOD, OPTICAL MEASUREMENT APPARATUS, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUMAugust 2022April 2024Allow2000NoNo
17822127ANCHOR CONFIGURATIONS FOR AN ARRAY OF ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCERSAugust 2022August 2024Allow2410NoNo
17822116DIFFERENTIAL RECEIVE AT AN ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCERAugust 2022November 2024Allow2710NoNo
17891522Method to Non-Invasively Assess Elevated Left Ventricular End-Diastolic PressureAugust 2022October 2025Allow3811YesNo
17819380NON-INVASIVE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRACKING BONESAugust 2022January 2024Allow1710NoNo
17868282SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USE WITH MRI-GUIDED FOCUSED ULTRASOUNDJuly 2022October 2024Allow2711YesNo
17793082ELECTRICAL WIRE CONNECTION IN INTRALUMINAL ULTRASOUND IMAGING DEVICES AND SYSTEMJuly 2022January 2025Allow3030YesNo
17863813MARKER DELIVERY DEVICE WITH PUSH ROD HAVING ACTUATION FEATURESJuly 2022July 2025Allow3721YesNo
17810471SYSTEMS FOR IDENTIFYING AND LOCATING REFLECTORS USING ORTHOGONAL SEQUENCES OF REFLECTOR SWITCHINGJuly 2022March 2024Allow2010YesNo
17841663APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PASSIVE MARKERS LOCALIZATION WITHIN A BODYJune 2022October 2024Allow2801NoNo
17783621KIT FOR A FIDUCIAL MARKER-BASED REGISTRATION OF PREINTERVENTIONAL IMAGE DATA TO AN INTRA-INTERVENTIONAL SCENEJune 2022September 2024Abandon2710NoNo
17746911FIBER-COUPLED BROADBAND LIGHT SOURCEMay 2022April 2024Allow2320YesNo
17775695POINT-OF-CARE ULTRASOUND (POCUS) SCAN ASSISTANCE AND ASSOCIATED DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODSMay 2022August 2024Allow2810NoNo
17772803A Breast Tissue Marker and Localization SystemApril 2022September 2025Abandon4130NoNo
17772391SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING POSITION OF A STEERABLE ASSEMBLY WITHIN TISSUE OF AN ANIMAL BODYApril 2022February 2024Allow2200YesNo
17660026COIL ASSEMBLY AND MAGNETIC RESONANCE SYSTEMApril 2022October 2024Allow3010NoNo
17770687METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING AN OPTIMAL POSITION OF A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT RELATIVE TO A PATIENT'S BONE TRACKERApril 2022March 2025Allow3420YesNo
17724487MULTIMODALITY ID MARKERS FOR DELINEATING THE POSITION OF A REGION OF INTEREST (ROI) WITHIN A BODYApril 2022May 2025Allow3730YesNo
17722948NEUROMODULATION TECHNIQUESApril 2022September 2023Allow1700NoNo
17721575APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ROBOTIC PROCEDURES WITH MAGNETIZABLE TOOLSApril 2022December 2024Allow3230YesNo
17768531IMAGING AND THERAPY INTEGRATED TRANSDUCER AND ULTRASOUND SYSTEM COMPRISING SAMEApril 2022September 2024Allow2910YesNo
17762018Non-Metallic Ultrasound-Detectable MarkersMarch 2022July 2025Allow4030YesNo
17690134IRRADIATION PARAMETER SELECTION APPARATUS AND USAGE METHOD THEREOF AND CONTROL SYSTEM COMPRISING THE APPARATUS AND USAGE METHOD THEREOFMarch 2022May 2025Abandon3810NoNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner SHENG, CHAO.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
2
Examiner Affirmed
1
(50.0%)
Examiner Reversed
1
(50.0%)
Reversal Percentile
79.8%
Higher than average

What This Means

With a 50.0% reversal rate, the PTAB reverses the examiner's rejections in a meaningful percentage of cases. This reversal rate is in the top 25% across the USPTO, indicating that appeals are more successful here than in most other areas.

Strategic Value of Filing an Appeal

Total Appeal Filings
7
Allowed After Appeal Filing
4
(57.1%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
3
(42.9%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
87.9%
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, 57.1% of applications that filed an appeal were subsequently allowed. This appeal filing benefit rate is in the top 25% across the USPTO, indicating that filing appeals is particularly effective here. The act of filing often prompts favorable reconsideration during the mandatory appeal conference.

Strategic Recommendations

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 is strategically valuable. The act of filing often prompts favorable reconsideration during the mandatory appeal conference.

Examiner SHENG, CHAO - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner SHENG, CHAO works in Art Unit 3797 and has examined 62 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 82.3%, this examiner has an above-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 44 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner SHENG, CHAO's allowance rate of 82.3% places them in the 55% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has an above-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by SHENG, CHAO receive 2.45 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 71% 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 SHENG, CHAO 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 +19.3% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by SHENG, CHAO. 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, 22.9% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 30% 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 21.7% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 28% 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, 100.0% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 78% 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 71.4% of appeals filed. This is in the 60% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 20.0% occur early in the appeal process (after Notice of Appeal but before Appeal Brief). Strategic Insight: This examiner shows above-average willingness to reconsider rejections during appeals. The mandatory appeal conference (MPEP § 1207.01) provides an opportunity for reconsideration.

Petition Practice

When applicants file petitions regarding this examiner's actions, 40.0% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 31% 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 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:

  • 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.
  • 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.