Last updated: July 17, 2026

Application No. 18/924,326

FLEXIBLE ELONGATE DEVICES HAVING ARTICULABLE BODY PORTION SUPPORT STRUCTURES

Non-Final OA

Filed

Oct 23, 2024

Priority

Oct 24, 2023 — provisional 63/592,865

Examiner

LONDON, STEPHEN FLOYD

Art Unit

3795

Tech Center

3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing

Assignee

Intuitive Surgical Operations Inc.

OA Round

1 (Non-Final)

Interview Optional

— +39.1% interview lift. Examiner has a relatively high allowance rate (69%); +39.1% interview lift. A written response may suffice.

Based on 222 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Examiner Intelligence

LONDON, STEPHEN FLOYD View full profile →

Grants 69% — above average

Career Allowance Rate

153 granted / 222 resolved

-1.1% vs TC avg

Strong +39% interview lift

Without

With

+39.1%

Interview Lift

resolved cases with interview

Typical timeline

3y 1m

Avg Prosecution

27 currently pending

Career history

249

Total Applications

across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101

0.9%

-39.1% vs TC avg

§103

58.0%

+18.0% vs TC avg

§102

16.0%

-24.0% vs TC avg

§112

14.1%

-25.9% vs TC avg

Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 222 resolved cases

Prosecution Timeline

Oct 23, 2024

Application Filed

May 19, 2026

Non-Final Rejection mailed (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

18/773,249

Patent 12678028

REVERSAL SYSTEM FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT

1y 12m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026

18/736,568

Patent 12660990

LENS MODULE

2y 0m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026

18/139,366

Patent 12653381

ENDOSCOPE DEVICE WITH OFF AXIS VIEW

3y 1m to grant Granted Jun 16, 2026

18/513,627

Patent 12648687

Method and Apparatus of Adaptive Leakage Reduction for Processor used in a Capsule Endoscope

2y 6m to grant Granted Jun 09, 2026

17/772,818

Patent 12635853

ENDOSCOPE APPARATUS

4y 0m to grant Granted May 26, 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

69%

Grant Probability

99%

With Interview (+39.1%)

3y 1m (~1y 4m remaining)

Median Time to Grant

Low

PTA Risk

Based on 222 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.