Last updated: July 17, 2026

Application No. 18/433,250

Methods for Detecting Target Analytes

Non-Final OA

Filed

Feb 05, 2024

Priority

Jun 05, 2006 — provisional 60/811,064 +8 more

Examiner

WOOLWINE, SAMUEL C

Art Unit

Tech Center

Assignee

California Institute of Technology

OA Round

1 (Non-Final)

This examiner grants 61% of cases after interview

— +20.3% interview lift. A telephonic interview to clarify the technical implementation could significantly improve the outcome.

Based on 856 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Examiner Intelligence

WOOLWINE, SAMUEL C View full profile →

Grants 61% of resolved cases

Career Allowance Rate

522 granted / 856 resolved

+1.0% vs TC avg

Strong +20% interview lift

Without

With

+20.3%

Interview Lift

resolved cases with interview

Typical timeline

3y 7m

Avg Prosecution

40 currently pending

Career history

901

Total Applications

across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101

4.0%

-36.0% vs TC avg

§103

56.0%

+16.0% vs TC avg

§102

7.5%

-32.5% vs TC avg

§112

17.3%

-22.7% vs TC avg

Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 856 resolved cases

Prosecution Timeline

Feb 05, 2024

Application Filed

Jul 08, 2025

Response after Non-Final Action

May 20, 2026

Non-Final Rejection mailed (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

17/518,356

Patent 12680919

METHODS TO OBTAIN A BIOLOGICAL SAMPLE REPRESENTATIVE OF A PASSENGER CABIN ON AN AIRCRAFT AUTOMATICALLY FROM THE COLLECTOR DEVICE

4y 8m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026

17/932,895

Patent 12680922

SPATIAL-DEPENDENT ANALYSIS OF BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL FROM INTACT TISSUE SAMPLES

3y 10m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026

17/863,110

Patent 12662700

METHODS AND DEVICES FOR MEASURING DUPLEX UNWINDING OR STRAND EXCHANGE EFFICIENCY

3y 11m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026

17/916,140

Patent 12663371

METHOD OF DETECTING AN ANALYTE IN A MEDIUM COMPRISING A LIGHT SCATTERING CONSTITUENT

3y 8m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026

18/045,369

Patent 12655479

FAST AND ROBUST BI-FUNCTIONAL MUTANTS OF TAQ DNA POLYMERASE

3y 8m to grant Granted Jun 16, 2026

Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

Get a prosecution strategy drawn from examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.

Typically takes 5-10 seconds — AI-generated, attorney review required before filing

Prosecution Projections

1-2

Expected OA Rounds

61%

Grant Probability

81%

With Interview (+20.3%)

3y 7m (~1y 1m remaining)

Median Time to Grant

Low

PTA Risk

Based on 856 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.