Last updated: July 17, 2026

Application No. 18/536,823

EXPANDABLE PROSTHETIC HEART VALVE FRAME WITH LEAFLET SUPPORT STRUTS

Non-Final OA

Filed

Dec 12, 2023

Priority

Jun 14, 2021 — provisional 63/210,448 +2 more

Examiner

STEWART, ALVIN J

Art Unit

3799

Tech Center

3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing

Assignee

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation

OA Round

1 (Non-Final)

Interview Optional

— +0.5% interview lift. Interview lift (+0.5%) is below the 15.0% threshold. A written response is recommended.

Based on 1103 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Examiner Intelligence

STEWART, ALVIN J View full profile →

Grants 82% — above average

Career Allowance Rate

908 granted / 1103 resolved

+12.3% vs TC avg

Minimal +0% lift

Without

With

+0.5%

Interview Lift

resolved cases with interview

Typical timeline

2y 10m

Avg Prosecution

27 currently pending

Career history

1128

Total Applications

across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101

0.5%

-39.5% vs TC avg

§103

58.4%

+18.4% vs TC avg

§102

24.6%

-15.4% vs TC avg

§112

5.3%

-34.7% vs TC avg

Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1103 resolved cases

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 12, 2023

Application Filed

Apr 08, 2026

Non-Final Rejection mailed (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

17/988,283

Patent 12678279

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DEPLOYING AND RETRIEVING A PROSTHESIS

3y 8m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026

18/159,982

Patent 12678284

ADJUSTABLE ANNULOPLASTY RING AND DELIVERY SYSTEM

3y 5m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026

18/179,769

Patent 12678304

MECHANICAL PROSTHETIC FOOT FOR MULTIPLE ACTIVITY LEVELS

3y 4m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026

17/502,018

Patent 12672958

SEALING MEMBER FOR PROSTHETIC HEART VALVE

4y 8m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026

17/918,810

Patent 12672961

Venous Valve Prosthesis

3y 8m to grant Granted Jul 07, 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

82%

Grant Probability

83%

With Interview (+0.5%)

2y 10m (~3m remaining)

Median Time to Grant

Low

PTA Risk

Based on 1103 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.