Last updated: July 17, 2026

Application No. 18/817,446

IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, LIVING BODY OBSERVATION SYSTEM, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD

Non-Final OA

Filed

Aug 28, 2024

Priority

Mar 04, 2022 — continuation of PCTJP2022009331

Examiner

DOUGHERTY, SEAN PATRICK

Art Unit

Tech Center

Assignee

Olympus Corporation

OA Round

1 (Non-Final)

Interview Optional

— +14.9% interview lift. Interview lift (+14.9%) is below the 15.0% threshold. A written response is recommended.

Based on 953 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Examiner Intelligence

DOUGHERTY, SEAN PATRICK View full profile →

Grants 75% — above average

Career Allowance Rate

715 granted / 953 resolved

+15.0% vs TC avg

Moderate +15% lift

Without

With

+14.9%

Interview Lift

resolved cases with interview

Typical timeline

3y 6m

Avg Prosecution

42 currently pending

Career history

1008

Total Applications

across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101

3.5%

-36.5% vs TC avg

§103

62.4%

+22.4% vs TC avg

§102

22.3%

-17.7% vs TC avg

§112

8.5%

-31.5% vs TC avg

Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 953 resolved cases

Prosecution Timeline

Aug 28, 2024

Application Filed

May 27, 2026

Non-Final Rejection mailed (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

18/080,078

Patent 12678145

CORE NEEDLE BIOPSY DEVICE FOR COLLECTING MULTIPLE SAMPLES IN A SINGLE INSERTION

3y 7m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026

18/206,746

Patent 12678599

MEDICAL GUIDEWIRES FOR TORTUOUS VESSELS

3y 1m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026

17/986,383

Patent 12672932

ANATOMICAL MEASUREMENT IN A SURGICAL SYSTEM

3y 7m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026

17/797,326

Patent 12667703

FLEXIBLE SECURE CONNECTION OF MULTIPLE GUIDEWIRES

3y 11m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026

17/457,844

Patent 12661484

GUIDEWIRE WITH CONDUCTIVE ELEMENT

4y 6m to grant Granted Jun 23, 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

75%

Grant Probability

90%

With Interview (+14.9%)

3y 6m (~1y 8m remaining)

Median Time to Grant

Low

PTA Risk

Based on 953 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.