Last updated: August 17, 2026

Application No. 19/014,666

DRIVE MECHANISMS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS

Non-Final OA

Filed

Jan 09, 2025

Priority

Feb 07, 2024 — provisional 63/550,842

Examiner

PAPE, ALYSSA MORGAN

Art Unit

Tech Center

Assignee

Covidien L.P.

OA Round

1 (Non-Final)

This examiner grants 29% of cases after interview

— +50.0% interview lift. A telephonic interview to clarify the technical implementation could significantly improve the outcome.

Based on 24 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Examiner Intelligence

PAPE, ALYSSA MORGAN View full profile →

Grants only 29% of cases

Career Allowance Rate

7 granted / 24 resolved

-30.8% vs TC avg

Strong +50% interview lift

Without

With

+50.0%

Interview Lift

resolved cases with interview

Typical timeline

3y 6m

Avg Prosecution

39 currently pending

Career history

Total Applications

across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101

1.1%

-38.9% vs TC avg

§103

57.5%

+17.5% vs TC avg

§102

23.8%

-16.2% vs TC avg

§112

11.3%

-28.7% vs TC avg

Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 24 resolved cases

Prosecution Timeline

Jan 09, 2025

Application Filed

Jul 31, 2026

Non-Final Rejection mailed (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

17/849,419

Patent 12642693

Self-Sealing Connector for Gel Pads

3y 11m to grant Granted Jun 02, 2026

17/504,879

Patent 12558150

INTEGRATED SENSORS FOR ENERGY TOOLS

4y 4m to grant Granted Feb 24, 2026

17/577,089

Patent 12539065

INPUT CIRCUITRY FOR RECEIVING ELECTRODE SIGNALS, A BIOPOTENTIAL SIGNAL SENSOR SYSTEM, A NEURAL PROBE, AND A METHOD FOR AMPLIFYING ELECTRODE SIGNALS

4y 0m to grant Granted Feb 03, 2026

17/645,818

Patent 12369829

ELECTRIC APPARATUS AND ITS MANUFACTURING METHOD

3y 7m to grant Granted Jul 29, 2025

17/569,345

Patent 12318131

REDUCED SIZE FORCE SENSOR

3y 5m to grant Granted Jun 03, 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

29%

Grant Probability

79%

With Interview (+50.0%)

3y 6m (~1y 11m remaining)

Median Time to Grant

Low

PTA Risk

Based on 24 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.