Last updated: July 11, 2026

Application No. 18/707,291

Untitled Application

Unknown

Filed

3700

Priority

Nov 15, 2021 — provisional 63/279,352 +1 more

Examiner

ZIEGLER, ABIGAIL M

Art Unit

3794

Tech Center

Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.

Assignee

Intuitive Surgical Operations Inc.

OA Round

1 (Non-Final)

This examiner grants 44% of cases after interview

— +50.9% interview lift. A telephonic interview to clarify the technical implementation could significantly improve the outcome.

Based on 99 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Examiner Intelligence

ZIEGLER, ABIGAIL M View full profile →

Grants 44% of resolved cases

Career Allowance Rate

44 granted / 99 resolved

-15.6% vs TC avg

Strong +51% interview lift

Without

With

+50.9%

Interview Lift

resolved cases with interview

Typical timeline

4y 0m

Avg Prosecution

30 currently pending

Career history

142

Total Applications

across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§103

90.5%

+50.5% vs TC avg

§102

3.7%

-36.3% vs TC avg

§112

2.5%

-37.5% vs TC avg

Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 99 resolved cases

Prosecution Timeline

3700

Application Filed

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

16/844,571

Patent 12582463

ABLATION CATHETER TIP WITH FLEXIBLE ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY

5y 11m to grant Granted Mar 24, 2026

17/461,813

Patent 12551269

Displaying Indications of Mutual Distances Among Electrodes of a Flexible Ablation Catheter

4y 5m to grant Granted Feb 17, 2026

17/034,117

Patent 12533180

MEDICAL DEVICE

5y 4m to grant Granted Jan 27, 2026

18/345,851

Patent 12527624

ANTENNA SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF USE

2y 6m to grant Granted Jan 20, 2026

17/615,476

Patent 12465417

Electrosurgical Electrodes, Electrosurgical Tools, and Methods of Making Electrosurgical Electrodes

3y 11m to grant Granted Nov 11, 2025

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

44%

Grant Probability

95%

With Interview (+50.9%)

4y 0m

Median Time to Grant

Low

PTA Risk

Based on 99 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.