Last updated: July 17, 2026

Application No. 18/507,986

HEART VALVE SEALING DEVICES AND DELIVERY DEVICES THEREFOR

Non-Final OA

Filed

Nov 13, 2023

Priority

Apr 18, 2017 — provisional 62/486,835 +6 more

Examiner

GHERBI, SUZETTE JAIME J

Art Unit

3774

Tech Center

3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing

Assignee

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation

OA Round

1 (Non-Final)

Interview Optional

— +8.7% interview lift. Interview lift (+8.7%) is below the 15.0% threshold. A written response is recommended.

Based on 1380 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Examiner Intelligence

GHERBI, SUZETTE JAIME J View full profile →

Grants 85% — above average

Career Allowance Rate

1173 granted / 1380 resolved

+15.0% vs TC avg

Moderate +9% lift

Without

With

+8.7%

Interview Lift

resolved cases with interview

Typical timeline

2y 5m

Avg Prosecution

21 currently pending

Career history

1410

Total Applications

across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101

0.8%

-39.2% vs TC avg

§103

49.4%

+9.4% vs TC avg

§102

13.3%

-26.7% vs TC avg

§112

4.6%

-35.4% vs TC avg

Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1380 resolved cases

Prosecution Timeline

Nov 13, 2023

Application Filed

May 26, 2026

Non-Final Rejection mailed (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

18/118,236

Patent 12667458

TAPERED PROSTHETIC HEART VALVES WITH VALVULAR STRUCTURES FORMING TAPERED FLOW CHANNELS

3y 3m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026

18/041,622

Patent 12661226

Method of Delivering a Transcutaneous Dual Valve Replacement Device to a Patient and Device Therefor

3y 4m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026

17/935,560

Patent 12653674

TISSUE CLAMPING DEVICES

3y 8m to grant Granted Jun 16, 2026

17/864,507

Patent 12648843

PROSTHETIC IMPLANTS HAVING SHELLS WITH FLEXIBLE NEEDLE STOP PATCHES MADE OF TWO OR MORE LAYERS OF TEXTILE MATERIAL

3y 11m to grant Granted Jun 09, 2026

18/042,022

Patent 12642655

VALVE CLAMPING DEVICE WITH ADJUSTABLE BEARING FORCE AND VALVE CLAMPING SYSTEM

3y 3m to grant Granted Jun 02, 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.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2

Expected OA Rounds

85%

Grant Probability

94%

With Interview (+8.7%)

2y 5m (~0m remaining)

Median Time to Grant

Low

PTA Risk

Based on 1380 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.