Last updated: May 29, 2026

Application No. 18/540,074

ENDOSCOPY IN REVERSIBLY ALTERED ANATOMY

Non-Final OA

Filed

Dec 14, 2023

Priority

Dec 15, 2022 — provisional 63/387,537 +1 more

Examiner

FAIRCHILD, AARON BENJAMIN

Art Unit

3795

Tech Center

3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing

Assignee

Olympus Corporation

OA Round

1 (Non-Final)

Interview Optional

— +20.6% interview lift. Interview already conducted in this application's prosecution history. This examiner has a 79% grant rate with +20.6% interview lift. Since an interview has already been tried, recommend written response with narrowed claims based on precedent claim evolution patterns.

Based on 636 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Examiner Intelligence

FAIRCHILD, AARON BENJAMIN View full profile →

Grants 79% — above average

Career Allowance Rate

503 granted / 636 resolved

+9.1% vs TC avg

Strong +21% interview lift

Without

With

+20.6%

Interview Lift

resolved cases with interview

Typical timeline

2y 11m

Avg Prosecution

21 currently pending

Career history

654

Total Applications

across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101

0.2%

-39.8% vs TC avg

§103

51.6%

+11.6% vs TC avg

§102

20.5%

-19.5% vs TC avg

§112

26.0%

-14.0% vs TC avg

Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 636 resolved cases

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 14, 2023

Application Filed

Mar 20, 2026

Examiner Interview (Telephonic)

Mar 25, 2026

Non-Final Rejection mailed (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

18/177,755

Patent 12635855

MEDICAL DETECTION ATTACHMENT AND MEDICAL ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM

3y 2m to grant Granted May 26, 2026

18/201,534

Patent 12635861

ATTACHMENT MECHANISM FOR USING AN ENDOSCOPE WITH A SURGICAL ROBOT

3y 0m to grant Granted May 26, 2026

18/385,524

Patent 12635852

ENDOSCOPE

2y 6m to grant Granted May 26, 2026

18/489,362

Patent 12635860

ANTI-BUCKLING DEVICES AND METHODS FOR SURGICAL SYSTEM

2y 7m to grant Granted May 26, 2026

17/846,581

Patent 12616205

SILVER-ION-IMPREGNATED CHANNEL FOR ENDOSCOPE, ENDOSCOPE INCLUDING SILVER-ION-IMPREGNATED CHANNEL, AND METHODS OF CLEANING AND REPROCESSING SUCH ENDOSCOPE

3y 10m to grant Granted May 05, 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

79%

Grant Probability

99%

With Interview (+20.6%)

2y 11m (~5m remaining)

Median Time to Grant

Low

PTA Risk

Based on 636 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.