Last updated: July 15, 2026

Application No. 18/872,062

MEDICAL IMAGING DEVICE, METHOD FOR OPERATING SAME, AND METHOD OF MEDICAL IMAGING

Non-Final OA

Filed

Dec 05, 2024

Priority

Jun 10, 2022 — DE 10 2022 114 606.5 +1 more

Examiner

SHARPLESS, CHRISTEN ALICIA

Art Unit

Tech Center

Assignee

Karl Storz SE & Co. KG

OA Round

1 (Non-Final)

This examiner grants 49% of cases after interview

— +26.7% interview lift. A telephonic interview to clarify the technical implementation could significantly improve the outcome.

Based on 110 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Examiner Intelligence

SHARPLESS, CHRISTEN ALICIA View full profile →

Grants 49% of resolved cases

Career Allowance Rate

54 granted / 110 resolved

-10.9% vs TC avg

Strong +27% interview lift

Without

With

+26.7%

Interview Lift

resolved cases with interview

Typical timeline

3y 3m

Avg Prosecution

26 currently pending

Career history

143

Total Applications

across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§103

95.1%

+55.1% vs TC avg

§102

2.6%

-37.4% vs TC avg

§112

1.5%

-38.5% vs TC avg

Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 110 resolved cases

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 05, 2024

Application Filed

Jun 05, 2026

Non-Final Rejection mailed (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

17/399,198

Patent 12629012

METHOD FOR OPERATING THE HEATING SYSTEM OF AN ENDOSCOPE, HEATING SYSTEM OF AN ENDOSCOPE, AND ENDOSCOPE SYSTEM

4y 9m to grant Granted May 19, 2026

17/421,578

Patent 12605050

ENDOSCOPIC DEVICE AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF

4y 9m to grant Granted Apr 21, 2026

17/765,449

Patent 12599287

SELF-LOCKING DEVICE OF ENDOSCOPE

4y 0m to grant Granted Apr 14, 2026

17/182,714

Patent 12588800

ENDOSCOPE TREATMENT TOOL

5y 1m to grant Granted Mar 31, 2026

18/326,960

Patent 12575722

METHOD OF VISIBLE LIGHT AND FLUORESCENCE IMAGING WITH REDUCED CHROMATIC ABERRATION

2y 9m to grant Granted Mar 17, 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

49%

Grant Probability

76%

With Interview (+26.7%)

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

Median Time to Grant

Low

PTA Risk

Based on 110 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.