Last updated: July 17, 2026

Application No. 18/540,996

AREA-SELECTIVE DEPOSITION USING DIAZIRINES OR DIAZO COMPOUNDS AS OVERLAYER

Non-Final OA

Filed

Dec 15, 2023

Examiner

WASHINGTON, BRITNEY NICOLE

Art Unit

Tech Center

Assignee

International Business Machines Corporation

OA Round

1 (Non-Final)

Interview Optional

— +19.1% interview lift. Examiner has a relatively high allowance rate (83%); +19.1% interview lift. A written response may suffice.

Based on 60 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Examiner Intelligence

WASHINGTON, BRITNEY NICOLE View full profile →

Grants 83% — above average

Career Allowance Rate

50 granted / 60 resolved

+23.3% vs TC avg

Strong +19% interview lift

Without

With

+19.1%

Interview Lift

resolved cases with interview

Typical timeline

3y 4m

Avg Prosecution

25 currently pending

Career history

Total Applications

across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§103

74.5%

+34.5% vs TC avg

§102

23.5%

-16.5% vs TC avg

§112

0.7%

-39.3% vs TC avg

Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 60 resolved cases

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 15, 2023

Application Filed

May 21, 2026

Non-Final Rejection mailed (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

18/051,674

Patent 12678790

SENSOR HAVING AN ACTIVE SURFACE

3y 8m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026

17/924,159

Patent 12655378

CELL CULTURE CONTAINER, FIXING TOOL, OBSERVATION DEVICE, MICROSCOPE AND OBSERVATION METHOD

3y 7m to grant Granted Jun 16, 2026

17/758,531

Patent 12643102

METHOD OF PROFILING A SAMPLE COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF CELLS AND A SYSTEM FOR PERFORMING THE SAME

3y 11m to grant Granted Jun 02, 2026

17/916,000

Patent 12636648

LIQUID HANDLING DEVICE

3y 8m to grant Granted May 26, 2026

17/793,713

Patent 12611669

Microfluidic device and methods for using such device

3y 9m to grant Granted Apr 28, 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

83%

Grant Probability

99%

With Interview (+19.1%)

3y 4m (~9m remaining)

Median Time to Grant

Low

PTA Risk

Based on 60 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.