Technology areas: Chemistry & Materials • Medical Devices & Mechanical Engineering
56 pending office actions • 24 art units • 48 examiners • 0 of 56 (0%) have an AI response strategy ready • 153 patents granted in the last 365 days
Altria Client Services LLC has 61 pending office actions in Medical Devices & Mechanical Engineering. The matters involve 52 distinct examiners and 26 distinct art units. The portfolio therefore has broad examiner dispersion and repeated activity across technical units, creating a need for structured coordination rather than isolated docket handling.
SPARKS, RUSSELL E is the busiest examiner, with 3 pending matters. This concentration is useful for targeted review, but it does not replace broader management across the 52 examiner relationships. Counsel should maintain technical consistency across the 26 art-unit assignments while adapting claim arguments and interview planning to individual examiners.
Based on the USPTO statutory response window for each pending office action. 11 of the docket's apps have a known mailing date; the rest are excluded from the tile counts.
Every pending office action with a known statutory deadline, placed on a days-until-due axis. Dots left of Today are overdue; the further right, the more runway. Cases that share a deadline window stack vertically. 11 of the docket's apps have a known mailing date.
Difficulty is derived from the rejection statutes on the most recent pending office action. §101-driven and multi-statute cases are graded Hard; §112-only and obviousness-type double-patenting cases are graded Easy; everything else is Medium. "Unknown" means we have not yet parsed a statute for that office action.
| Bucket | Cases |
|---|---|
| §101 + other | 1 (2%) |
| §103 only | 23 (41%) |
| §102 only | 1 (2%) |
| §112 only | 3 (5%) |
| Double-patenting only | 3 (5%) |
| Double-patenting + other | 9 (16%) |
| Multi-statute (no §101) | 15 (27%) |
| No statute on record | 1 (2%) |
How the docket's pending cases split across USPTO tech-center bands.
Manual office-action response work runs about 10 hours per case. The time-saved bands below show what IP Author's prosecution pipeline typically delivers — a conservative 20% on the low end, 35% in the middle, 50% on the high end.
| Examiner | Apps on this docket | Allow rate | Interview lift |
|---|---|---|---|
| SPARKS, RUSSELL E | 3 | 64.1% | +14.0% |
| TRAVERS, MATTHEW P | 2 | 63.3% | +43.3% |
| TRAN, THIEN S | 2 | 71.9% | +24.0% |
| YAARY, ERIC | 2 | 73.8% | +2.5% |
| DODSON, JUSTIN C | 2 | 46.7% | +36.1% |
| BELYAEV, YANA | 2 | 58.3% | +31.5% |
| SAMUELS, LAWRENCE H | 2 | 56.3% | +37.4% |
| WEEKS, GLORIA R | 1 | 70.4% | +12.4% |
| WITTENSCHLAEGER, THOMAS M | 1 | 71.6% | +11.7% |
| DELEO, VICTORIA LYNN | 1 | 41.4% | -44.4% |
Multi-statute / §101-driven matters, or cases in front of an examiner with an allow rate under 30%. The top 8 ordered by deadline are shown.
| App # | Title | Examiner | Due in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18808394 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, APPARATUSES, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA FOR VALIDATING ENCODED INFORMATION | HAYLES, ASHFORD S | 25d overdue |
| 18620414 | SYSTEMS FOR GENERATING A LIQUID AEROSOL | VO, TU A | 40d |
| 18959984 | CONTAINER WITH FLEXIBLE WALL LOCKING MECHANISM | PAL, PRINCE | 42d |
| 18669148 | METHOD OF MAKING AEROSOL-GENERATING ARTICLE WITH POROUS BODY AND AEROSOL-FORMING SUBSTRATE | TRAN, THIEN S | 60d |
| 19307283 | METHOD OF FORMING ASSEMBLED PACKAGE WITH FIRST RIDGE OF FIRST TRAY FORMING PART OF OUTER SURFACE OF ASSEMBLED PACKAGE | WITTENSCHLAEGER, THOMAS M | — |
| 18975172 | BEAD FEED UNIT AND METHOD | KUMAR, RAKESH | — |
| 18971770 | INSERT WITH BASE AND UPPER BRIM | ORTIZ, RAFAEL ALFREDO | — |
| 18968285 | METHODS AND PRODUCTS FOR PRODUCT TRACING AND AUTHENTICATION USING CONDUCTIVE INKS | OUELLETTE, JONATHAN P | — |
Cases in front of an examiner whose interview lift is 10 percentage points or more — i.e. interviewed cases historically resolve more favorably than non-interviewed ones. The top 8 ordered by deadline are shown.
| App # | Title | Examiner | Due in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18669148 | METHOD OF MAKING AEROSOL-GENERATING ARTICLE WITH POROUS BODY AND AEROSOL-FORMING SUBSTRATE | TRAN, THIEN S | 60d |
| 18306368 | HEAT-NOT-BURN DEVICE AND FLAVOR CARRIER | BELYAEV, YANA | 70d |
| 19320215 | METHOD OF ASSEMBLING PACKAGED PRODUCT INCLUDING FILLING FIRST COMPARTMENT WITH FIRST SET OF POUCHES TO BE CONSUMED IN EXPECTED DURATION OF TIME | WEEKS, GLORIA R | — |
| 19307283 | METHOD OF FORMING ASSEMBLED PACKAGE WITH FIRST RIDGE OF FIRST TRAY FORMING PART OF OUTER SURFACE OF ASSEMBLED PACKAGE | WITTENSCHLAEGER, THOMAS M | — |
| 19280597 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING A HEATER ASSEMBLY FOR A NICOTINE POD ASSEMBLY | TRAVERS, MATTHEW P | — |
| 19273799 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING A HEATER ASSEMBLY FOR A NON-NICOTINE POD ASSEMBLY | TRAVERS, MATTHEW P | — |
| 18765654 | METHOD OF MAKING NICOTINE E-VAPING SECTION WITH AIR PASSAGE FOR ALLOWING AIRFLOW TO ENTER RESERVOIR | SPARKS, RUSSELL E | — |
| 18731897 | ASSEMBLY WITH CAPILLARY MEDIUM DEFINING DUCT THAT ABUTS SURFACE OF AIR IMPINGEMENT STRUCTURE | TRAN, THIEN S | — |
| Art Unit | Apps |
|---|---|
| 3761 | 14 |
| 1755 | 8 |
| 1747 | 5 |
| 3731 | 4 |
| 3725 | 2 |
| 3735 | 2 |
| 1663 | 2 |
| 1615 | 2 |
| 1662 | 1 |
| 3651 | 1 |
| App # | Title | Examiner | Art Unit | Statutes | Status | Due in | AI | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19320215 | METHOD OF ASSEMBLING PACKAGED PRODUCT INCLUDING FILLING FIRST COMPARTMENT WITH FIRST SET OF POUCHES TO BE CONSUMED IN EXPECTED DURATION OF TIME | WEEKS, GLORIA R | 3731 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 05, 2025 |
| 19307283 | METHOD OF FORMING ASSEMBLED PACKAGE WITH FIRST RIDGE OF FIRST TRAY FORMING PART OF OUTER SURFACE OF ASSEMBLED PACKAGE | WITTENSCHLAEGER, THOMAS M | 3731 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Aug 22, 2025 |
| 19280597 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING A HEATER ASSEMBLY FOR A NICOTINE POD ASSEMBLY | TRAVERS, MATTHEW P | 3725 | §102§103DP | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jul 25, 2025 |
| 19273799 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING A HEATER ASSEMBLY FOR A NON-NICOTINE POD ASSEMBLY | TRAVERS, MATTHEW P | 3725 | §102§103DP | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jul 18, 2025 |
| 19009709 | METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR MODULATING TRICHOME DENSITY AND FLAVOR MOLECULE SECRETION | DELEO, VICTORIA LYNN | 1662 | §112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jan 03, 2025 |
| 18975172 | BEAD FEED UNIT AND METHOD | KUMAR, RAKESH | 3651 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 10, 2024 |
| 18973711 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PACKAGING LOOSE PRODUCT | FERRERO, EDUARDO R | 3731 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 09, 2024 |
| 18971770 | INSERT WITH BASE AND UPPER BRIM | ORTIZ, RAFAEL ALFREDO | 3736 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 06, 2024 |
| 18968285 | METHODS AND PRODUCTS FOR PRODUCT TRACING AND AUTHENTICATION USING CONDUCTIVE INKS | OUELLETTE, JONATHAN P | 3629 | §102§103Other | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Dec 04, 2024 |
| 18959984 | CONTAINER WITH FLEXIBLE WALL LOCKING MECHANISM | PAL, PRINCE | 3735 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | 42d | Pending | Nov 26, 2024 |
| 18813927 | AIR INTAKE ASSEMBLY | KESSIE, JENNIFER A | 1747 | §103DP | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Aug 23, 2024 |
| 18808394 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, APPARATUSES, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA FOR VALIDATING ENCODED INFORMATION | HAYLES, ASHFORD S | 3627 | §101§102§103Other | Final Rejection | 25d overdue | Pending | Aug 19, 2024 |
| 18799358 | AEROSOL-GENERATING SYSTEMS WITH USAGE DETERMINATION | ROSARIO-APONTE, ALBA T | 3761 | §112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Aug 09, 2024 |
| 18782556 | CARTRIDGE WITH FIRST TUBE AND DILUTION AIR PASSAGE INTERSECTING AIR PASSAGE | NGUYEN, THANG H | 2831 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jul 24, 2024 |
| 18782164 | E-VAPOR DEVICES INCLUDING PRE-SEALED CARTRIDGES | NGUYEN, SONNY V | 1755 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jul 24, 2024 |
| 18780938 | COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR PRODUCING TOBACCO PLANTS AND PRODUCTS HAVING ALTERED ALKALOID LEVELS | KEOGH, MATTHEW R | 1663 | §102§103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Jul 23, 2024 |
| 18765654 | METHOD OF MAKING NICOTINE E-VAPING SECTION WITH AIR PASSAGE FOR ALLOWING AIRFLOW TO ENTER RESERVOIR | SPARKS, RUSSELL E | — | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jul 08, 2024 |
| 18757732 | AEROSOL-GENERATING SYSTEM COMPRISING A VIBRATABLE ELEMENT | TRAN, TIFFANY T | 3761 | §103§112Other | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 28, 2024 |
| 18750207 | METHOD OF FORMING POUCH BY ADHERING OXYGEN SCAVENGER TO POUCH MATERIAL | IGBOKWE, NICHOLAS E | 3731 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 21, 2024 |
| 18743548 | ELECTRONIC SMOKING ARTICLE | DELACRUZ, MADELEINE PAULINA | 1747 | DP | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 14, 2024 |
| 18731897 | ASSEMBLY WITH CAPILLARY MEDIUM DEFINING DUCT THAT ABUTS SURFACE OF AIR IMPINGEMENT STRUCTURE | TRAN, THIEN S | 3761 | §103DP | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Jun 03, 2024 |
| 18669148 | METHOD OF MAKING AEROSOL-GENERATING ARTICLE WITH POROUS BODY AND AEROSOL-FORMING SUBSTRATE | TRAN, THIEN S | 3761 | §102§103 | Final Rejection | 60d | Pending | May 20, 2024 |
| 18648926 | FLUID PERMEABLE HEATER ASSEMBLY AND CARTRIDGE FOR AN AEROSOL-GENERATING SYSTEM | WILL, KATHERINE A | 1747 | DP | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Apr 29, 2024 |
| 18625427 | ELECTRONIC SMOKING ARTICLE | PAUDEL, PRADEEP | 1749 | §103DP | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Apr 03, 2024 |
| 18620414 | SYSTEMS FOR GENERATING A LIQUID AEROSOL | VO, TU A | 3785 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | 40d | Pending | Mar 28, 2024 |
| 18591698 | HEATER AND WICK ASSEMBLY FOR AN AEROSOL GENERATING SYSTEM | CAMPBELL, THOR S | 3761 | §102DP | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Feb 29, 2024 |
| 18588258 | AEROSOL-GENERATING SYSTEM | TANINGCO, MARCUS H | 2884 | DP | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Feb 27, 2024 |
| 18444135 | MOBILE MULTI-FEATURE PRODUCT AUTHENTICATION | AZARIAN, SEYED H | 2675 | §102 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Feb 16, 2024 |
| 18432352 | SMOKING ARTICLE FILTER WITH FLAVORANT DELIVERY SYSTEM | YAARY, ERIC | 1755 | §103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Feb 05, 2024 |
| 18396145 | METHOD OF MAKING E-VAPING DEVICE WITH FIRST-SHAPED CAVITY AND SECOND-SHAPED CAVITY | CHABREYRIE, RODOLPHE ANDRE | 3761 | §102§103Other | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 26, 2023 |
| 18538654 | SUSCEPTOR FOR USE WITH AN INDUCTIVELY HEATED AEROSOL-GENERATING DEVICE OR SYSTEM | DODSON, JUSTIN C | 3761 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 13, 2023 |
| 18480639 | COMPRESSIBLE ROD FOR AN AEROSOL-GENERATING DEVICE | GRAY, LINDA LAMEY | 1745 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Oct 04, 2023 |
| 18466420 | E-VAPOR DEVICE INCLUDING PUNCTURE DEVICE AND SEALED PACKET OF PRE-VAPOR FORMULATION | SPARKS, RUSSELL E | 1755 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 13, 2023 |
| 18456763 | CHEWABLE DISSOLVABLE NICOTINE TABLET | TCHERKASSKAYA, OLGA V | 1615 | §103§112DP | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Aug 28, 2023 |
| 18348529 | METHOD FOR OPERATING DEVICE USING MULTI-STAGE HEATING | DODSON, JUSTIN C | 3761 | §102§103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Jul 07, 2023 |
| 18328146 | LOW IGNITION PROPENSITY CIGARETTE PAPER AND MANUFACTURE THEREOF | YAARY, ERIC | 1755 | §103 | Final Rejection | 6d | Pending | Jun 02, 2023 |
| 18318196 | AEROSOL-GENERATING SYSTEM WITH ELECTRODES | RALIS, STEPHEN J | 3992 | Other | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | May 16, 2023 |
| 18306368 | HEAT-NOT-BURN DEVICE AND FLAVOR CARRIER | BELYAEV, YANA | 1755 | §103 | Final Rejection | 70d | Pending | Apr 25, 2023 |
| 18303563 | METHOD FOR MEASURING A VAPOR PRECURSOR LEVEL IN A CARTOMIZER OF AN ELECTRONIC VAPING DEVICE AND/OR AN ELECTRONIC VAPING DEVICE CONFIGURED TO PERFORM THE METHOD | TRAN-LE, THAO UYEN | 3761 | §102§103DP | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Apr 19, 2023 |
| 18178838 | CARTRIDGE WITH A CAPACITY SENSOR | SAMUELS, LAWRENCE H | 3761 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Mar 06, 2023 |
| 17781797 | Compositions and Methods for Producing Tobacco Plants and Products Having Altered Alkaloid Levels | KALLIS, RUSSELL | 1663 | §112 | Final Rejection | 19d | Pending | Dec 12, 2022 |
| 18053149 | ELECTRICAL CONTACT PADS WITH SURFACE DISCONTINUITIES AND POWER-RECEIVING UNITS AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES INCLUDING THE SAME | LOPEZ PAGAN, CARLOS EMILIO | 2834 | §103 | Final Rejection | 9d overdue | Pending | Nov 07, 2022 |
| 17982138 | HEAT-NOT-BURN (HNB) AEROSOL-GENERATING DEVICES AND CAPSULES HAVING ELECTRICAL CONTACT PADS WITH SURFACE DISCONTINUITIES | MOORE, STEPHANIE LYNN | 1747 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 07, 2022 |
| 17947345 | POWER CONTROL SYSTEM | KHLOK, BONITA | 3761 | §103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Sep 19, 2022 |
| 17947436 | HEAT-NOT-BURN (HNB) AEROSOL-GENERATING DEVICES AND CAPSULES | DIYAN, OLUWATOSIN OLUWATUMININ | 1755 | §103 | Final Rejection | 35d overdue | Pending | Sep 19, 2022 |
| 17939428 | LABEL FOR PACK | NORDMEYER, PATRICIA L | 1788 | §103Other | Non-Final OA | 41d | Pending | Sep 07, 2022 |
| 17847676 | METHODS AND MACHINES FOR POUCHING SMOKELESS TOBACCO AND TOBACCO SUBSTITUTE PRODUCTS | CULBERT, COURTNEY GUENTHER | 1747 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 23, 2022 |
| 17520938 | CONTROL OF TOTAL PARTICULATE MATTER PRODUCTION | SAMUELS, LAWRENCE H | 3761 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 08, 2021 |
| 17346628 | CIGARETTE WRAPPER WITH NOVEL PATTERN | BELYAEV, YANA | 1755 | §103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Jun 14, 2021 |
| 17223756 | SPRAY DRIED NICOTINE FOR INCLUSION IN ORAL PRODUCTS | TRAN, SUSAN T | 1615 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Apr 06, 2021 |
IP Author helps IP teams respond to office actions faster with AI-generated responses, examiner analytics, and prosecution intelligence.
Start Free TrialAltria Client Services LLC has 56 pending office actions as of October 2026, spread across 24 art units and 48 examiners.
Russell E Sparks has the most, with 3 of Altria Client Services LLC's pending office actions.
Mostly Medical Devices & Mechanical Engineering (USPTO Tech Center 3700), based on where its pending office actions are examined.
