USPTO Examiner FANG MICHAEL YIMING - Art Unit 3798

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
17117731CLOSED-LOOP TOOL CONTROL FOR ORTHOPEDIC SURGICAL PROCEDURESDecember 2020January 2025Abandon4930YesNo
17101254MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUSNovember 2020January 2025Allow5030YesNo
17080467Adaptive Selection of Ultrasound FrequencyOctober 2020October 2023Allow3620YesNo
17079274ULTRASOUND IMAGING METHOD AND ULTRASOUND IMAGING DEVICEOctober 2020June 2025Abandon5560YesNo
17079118IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND IMAGE PROCESSING PROGRAMOctober 2020March 2025Allow5341YesNo
17039062DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR IMAGING WITHIN A BODY LUMENSeptember 2020January 2024Allow4051YesNo
17030026Probe ShieldSeptember 2020March 2025Allow5471YesYes
17025622MULTI-FREQUENCY MAPPING CATHETER AND METHOD OF MAPPINGSeptember 2020October 2023Allow3740YesNo
16979964BREAST ULTRASOUND WORKFLOW APPLICATIONSeptember 2020September 2024Allow4851YesNo
16964249A method for Preparing an Insertion Site for a Cannula on a Skin of a Patient, a Skin Cover Unit Therefore and Its UseJuly 2020December 2023Allow4150YesNo
16922204ENDOVASCULAR OCCLUSION DEVICE AND METHOD OF USEJuly 2020July 2024Abandon4940YesNo
16905873ULTRASONIC ENDOSCOPE AND MANUFACTURING METHOD OF ULTRASONIC ENDOSCOPEJune 2020April 2024Allow4641YesNo
16894421Pattern Interference Radiation Force (PIRF) neural stimulatorsJune 2020August 2024Allow5020NoNo
16879519DUAL LAYER ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCERMay 2020August 2024Abandon5160YesNo
16641671ABLATION CATHETER, CATHETER ARRANGEMENT AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING ABLATIVE TREATMENTFebruary 2020May 2024Abandon5160YesNo
16795220IDENTIFICATION OF RESPIRATORY PHASES IN A MEDICAL PROCEDUREFebruary 2020July 2024Abandon5260YesNo
16631802RF Based Monitoring Of User ActivityJanuary 2020February 2025Allow6070YesNo
16625104METHOD FOR PROCESSING ULTRASONIC IMAGEDecember 2019June 2024Abandon5440YesNo
16623974ASSEMBLY FOR IMAGING AND/OR TREATING BRAIN TISSUEDecember 2019May 2024Allow5350NoNo
16662595INTRALUMINAL ULTRASOUND NAVIGATION GUIDANCE AND ASSOCIATED DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODSOctober 2019October 2024Allow6070YesNo
16565219Ultrasound Transducer Array Architecture And Method of ManufactureSeptember 2019June 2024Allow5750YesYes
16477060STRETCHABLE ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCER DEVICESJuly 2019March 2025Allow6071YesNo
16475675LOCALIZED MAGNETIC FIELD GENERATORJuly 2019January 2025Allow6061YesNo
16369783MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS APPARATUS, MEDICAL IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHODMarch 2019February 2024Abandon5970NoNo
16336544ELECTRICAL GROUNDING FOR IMAGING ASSEMBLY AND ASSOCIATED INTRALUMINAL DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODSMarch 2019December 2023Allow5760YesNo
16267833SURGICAL ROBOT PLATFORMFebruary 2019May 2024Abandon6040NoNo
16266442System and Method for a Wearable Vital Signs MonitorFebruary 2019January 2024Allow6030NoNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner FANG, MICHAEL YIMING.

Strategic Value of Filing an Appeal

Total Appeal Filings
2
Allowed After Appeal Filing
0
(0.0%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
2
(100.0%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
11.4%
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 FANG, MICHAEL YIMING - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner FANG, MICHAEL YIMING works in Art Unit 3798 and has examined 27 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 66.7%, this examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 53 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner FANG, MICHAEL YIMING's allowance rate of 66.7% places them in the 30% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by FANG, MICHAEL YIMING receive 4.93 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 98% 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 FANG, MICHAEL YIMING is 53 months. This places the examiner in the 5% 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 +8.2% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by FANG, MICHAEL YIMING. This interview benefit is in the 38% 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, 13.2% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 10% 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 12.9% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 15% 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.

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 54% 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.
  • 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.