Prosecution Insights
Prosecution Insights
Technology area: Medical Devices & Mechanical Engineering
123 pending office actions • 32 art units • 96 examiners • 0 of 123 (0%) have an AI response strategy ready • 306 patents granted in the last 365 days
Cilag GmbH International maintains an active patent portfolio in the Medical Devices & Mechanical Engineering technology area, with 124 pending office actions. This volume of activity reflects a consistent effort to protect its mechanical and medical innovations. These 124 actions are spread across 98 distinct examiners, which indicates that the company's applications are subject to a broad range of examination styles.
The portfolio is distributed across 26 distinct art units. This suggests that the company's research and development span multiple specialized fields within medical devices and mechanical engineering. Practitioners must be prepared to handle the 124 pending office actions by understanding the specific technical requirements of these 26 different art units.
LONG, ROBERT FRANKLIN is the busiest examiner for Cilag GmbH International, with 6 pending office actions. While this is the highest concentration for any single examiner, it is a small fraction of the 124 pending office actions overall. The involvement of 98 distinct examiners shows that the portfolio's prosecution is largely decentralized, meaning that the company's overall success is not tied to the decisions of just a few USPTO employees.
Based on the USPTO statutory response window for each pending office action. 34 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. 34 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 only | 5 (4%) |
| §101 + other | 9 (7%) |
| §103 only | 32 (26%) |
| §102 only | 5 (4%) |
| §112 only | 10 (8%) |
| Double-patenting only | 4 (3%) |
| Double-patenting + other | 7 (6%) |
| Multi-statute (no §101) | 48 (39%) |
| No statute on record | 3 (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| LONG, ROBERT FRANKLIN | 6 | 72.2% | +20.3% |
| COLLINS, SEAN W | 4 | 74.5% | +26.6% |
| OUYANG, BO | 4 | 60.5% | +9.1% |
| HODGE, LINDA J | 3 | 87.6% | +26.9% |
| SEIF, DARIUSH | 3 | 70.6% | +6.1% |
| GIULIANI, THOMAS ANTHONY | 3 | 76.5% | +37.3% |
| WEEKS, GLORIA R | 2 | 70.4% | +12.4% |
| LOPEZ, MICHELLE | 2 | 81.9% | +11.6% |
| FERRERO, EDUARDO R | 2 | 61.9% | +43.4% |
| MENDEZ, KATHERINE H | 2 | 66.9% | +33.6% |
Cases in front of an examiner with an allow rate of 80%+ where the difficulty is Easy or Medium. The top 2 ordered by deadline are shown.
| App # | Title | Examiner | Due in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18650562 | SURGICAL STAPLER WITH FIRING LOCKOUT FEATURE COUPLED TO END EFFECTOR KNIFE | HODGE, LINDA J | 21d |
| 19396924 | SURGICAL STAPLER WITH TOGGLING DISTAL TIP | HODGE, LINDA J | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17958244 | PATIENT DATA SHARING | SZUMNY, JONATHON A | 141d overdue |
| 17958231 | CONDITIONAL PATIENT CONSENT | MORICE DE VARGAS, SARA JESSICA | 60d overdue |
| 18954186 | METHOD FOR MULTI-SYSTEM INTERACTION | NGUYEN, TRAN N | 45d overdue |
| 18960117 | ADAPTATION OF DATA PIPELINES FOR SURGICAL SYSTEMS | VAN DUZER, ALEXIS KIM | 43d overdue |
| 18398534 | ELECTROSURGICAL RETURN ELECTRODE PLUG | GOOD, SAMANTHA M | 10d overdue |
| 18479461 | SMART PACKAGING SYSTEMS WITH NONVOLATILE RESILIENT STORE | EVANS, TRISTAN ISAAC | 4d overdue |
| 18954178 | VISUALIZATION OF EFFECTS OF DEVICE MOVEMENTS IN AN OPERATING ROOM | TANG, BRYANT | 8d |
| 19031366 | CANNULA ASSEMBLY | KAMIKAWA, TRACY L | 9d |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19220486 | DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR DETECTING TISSUE AND FOREIGN OBJECTS DURING A SURGICAL OPERATION | LOPEZ, MICHELLE | 12d |
| 18967177 | SURGICAL TOOL WITH MANUAL CONTROL OF END EFFECTOR JAWS | FERRERO, EDUARDO R | 15d |
| 18650562 | SURGICAL STAPLER WITH FIRING LOCKOUT FEATURE COUPLED TO END EFFECTOR KNIFE | HODGE, LINDA J | 21d |
| 18642985 | SURGICAL STAPLER WITH TISSUE ENGAGEMENT FEATURES AROUND TISSUE CONTAINMENT PIN | LONG, ROBERT FRANKLIN | 23d |
| 18379790 | METHOD OF ASSEMBLING A STAPLE CARTRIDGE | LONG, ROBERT FRANKLIN | 29d |
| 18757966 | SURGICAL SYSTEM COUPLABLE WITH STAPLE CARTRIDGE AND RADIO FREQUENCY CARTRIDGE, AND METHOD OF USING SAME | WEEKS, GLORIA R | 42d |
| 19254341 | SURGICAL STAPLER BUTTRESS WITH VARIABLE LENGTH FEATURE | WEEKS, GLORIA R | 46d |
| 19419453 | LINEAR SURGICAL STAPLER | HODGE, LINDA J | — |
| Art Unit | Apps |
|---|---|
| 3794 | 29 |
| 3731 | 25 |
| 3771 | 23 |
| 3686 | 4 |
| 3687 | 3 |
| 3681 | 3 |
| 3795 | 3 |
| 3796 | 2 |
| 3682 | 2 |
| 3685 | 2 |
| App # | Title | Examiner | Art Unit | Statutes | Status | Due in | AI | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19463301 | SURGICAL STAPLE BUTTRESS WITH INTEGRAL ADHESIVE FOR RELEASABLY ATTACHING TO A SURGICAL STAPLER | IMAM, TANZIM | 3731 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jan 29, 2026 |
| 19419453 | LINEAR SURGICAL STAPLER | HODGE, LINDA J | 3731 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 15, 2025 |
| 19396924 | SURGICAL STAPLER WITH TOGGLING DISTAL TIP | HODGE, LINDA J | 3731 | §102§103§112DP | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 21, 2025 |
| 19296161 | ROBOTICALLY POWERED SURGICAL DEVICE WITH MANUALLY-ACTUATABLE REVERSING SYSTEM | KOTIS, JOSHUA G | 3731 | §103Other | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Aug 11, 2025 |
| 19283713 | CLAMPING ASSEMBLY FOR LINEAR SURGICAL STAPLER | LONG, ROBERT FRANKLIN | 3731 | §103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Jul 29, 2025 |
| 19281107 | ROBOTICALLY-CONTROLLED END EFFECTOR | TECCO, ANDREW M | 3731 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jul 25, 2025 |
| 19278347 | METHOD FOR PRODUCING A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING A SMART ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | CHUKWURAH, NATHANIEL C | 3731 | §101Other | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jul 23, 2025 |
| 19254341 | SURGICAL STAPLER BUTTRESS WITH VARIABLE LENGTH FEATURE | WEEKS, GLORIA R | 3731 | §103 | Final Rejection | 46d | Pending | Jun 30, 2025 |
| 19243228 | UTERINE MANIPULATOR WITH ROBOTICALLY DRIVEN COLPOTOMY CUP | TON, MARTIN TRUYEN | 3771 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 19, 2025 |
| 19239291 | STAPLE CARTRIDGE COMPRISING A POWER MANAGEMENT CIRCUIT | SEIF, DARIUSH | 3731 | §112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 16, 2025 |
| 19225396 | HOT DEVICE INDICATION OF VIDEO DISPLAY | VIRK, ADIL PARTAP S | 3798 | §101§103§112Other | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Jun 02, 2025 |
| 19220486 | DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR DETECTING TISSUE AND FOREIGN OBJECTS DURING A SURGICAL OPERATION | LOPEZ, MICHELLE | 3731 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | 12d | Pending | May 28, 2025 |
| 19216185 | COMPUTER IMPLEMENTED INTERACTIVE SURGICAL SYSTEMS | COLLINS, SEAN W | 3794 | §102§103DP | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | May 22, 2025 |
| 19211913 | SURGICAL SYSTEM WITH AUGMENTED REALITY DISPLAY | VO, TUNG T | 2425 | §103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | May 19, 2025 |
| 19194539 | TISSUE CUSHION ADJUNCTS FOR SURGICAL STAPLER END EFFECTOR | FERRERO, EDUARDO R | 3731 | §103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Apr 30, 2025 |
| 19191395 | HANDPIECE AND BLADE CONFIGURATIONS FOR ULTRASONIC SURGICAL INSTRUMENT | MENDEZ, KATHERINE H | 3771 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Apr 28, 2025 |
| 19097142 | SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH LOCKING ARTICULATION DRIVE WHEEL | OU, JING RUI | 3771 | §112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Apr 01, 2025 |
| 19095778 | USER INTERFACE FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH COMBINATION ENERGY MODALITY END-EFFECTOR | COLLINS, SEAN W | 3794 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Mar 31, 2025 |
| 19093403 | IMPLANTABLE ADJUNCT HAVING A FILM ATTACHMENT | SEIF, DARIUSH | 3731 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Mar 28, 2025 |
| 19111455 | TROCAR ASSEMBLY | LABRANCHE, BROOKE N | 3771 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Mar 13, 2025 |
| 19111435 | TROCAR INCLUDING CANNULA | GEIGER, RACHAEL L | 3771 | §102§103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Mar 13, 2025 |
| 19049408 | MONOPOLAR SHIELD CURRENT MONITORING SYSTEMS AND METHODS | STUMPFOLL, DANA LYNN | 3794 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Feb 10, 2025 |
| 19034841 | COMBINATION ULTRASONIC AND ELECTROSURGICAL INSTRUMENT HAVING CURVED ULTRASONIC BLADE | VAHDAT, KHADIJEH A | 3794 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jan 23, 2025 |
| 19031366 | CANNULA ASSEMBLY | KAMIKAWA, TRACY L | 3775 | §102§103 | Final Rejection | 9d | Pending | Jan 18, 2025 |
| 19027741 | SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SOFT STOP | LOPEZ, MICHELLE | 3731 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jan 17, 2025 |
| 19022795 | SURGICAL TOOL END EFFECTORS WITH ALIGNMENT ARMS | HOLTZCLAW, MICHAEL T. | 3796 | DP | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jan 15, 2025 |
| 19014571 | BACKPLANE CONNECTOR ATTACHMENT MECHANISM FOR MODULAR ENERGY SYSTEM | SASSERATH, ELISA MARIE | 2841 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jan 09, 2025 |
| 19011759 | MOTOR CONTROL OF SURGICAL STAPLER WITH CONTROLLED IMPACT AT END OF FIRING STROKE | AHMED, MASUD | 3731 | DP | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jan 07, 2025 |
| 18999350 | COMBINATION ULTRASONIC AND ELECTROSURGICAL INSTRUMENT HAVING ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS WITH SHARED RETURN PATH | VAHDAT, KHADIJEH A | 3794 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 23, 2024 |
| 18999349 | CAPACITIVE COUPLED RETURN PATH PAD WITH SEPARABLE ARRAY ELEMENTS | GIULIANI, THOMAS ANTHONY | 3794 | §102§103§112Other | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 23, 2024 |
| 18985692 | ROBOTIC SURGICAL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF SYNCHRONIZING GRASPER WITH SURGICAL INSTRUMENT | RIVERS, LINDSEY RAE | 3771 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 18, 2024 |
| 18975122 | SUPPLYING ELECTRICAL ENERGY TO ELECTROSURGICAL INSTRUMENTS | GIULIANI, THOMAS ANTHONY | 3794 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 10, 2024 |
| 18967177 | SURGICAL TOOL WITH MANUAL CONTROL OF END EFFECTOR JAWS | FERRERO, EDUARDO R | 3731 | §103 | Final Rejection | 15d | Pending | Dec 03, 2024 |
| 18960107 | INFORMATION DISCRIMINATION FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS | LIN, JASON | 2117 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 26, 2024 |
| 18960094 | GEOFENCING FOR SURGICAL SYSTEMS | REICHERT, RACHELLE LEIGH | 3686 | §101§102§103§112DP | Final Rejection | 22d | Pending | Nov 26, 2024 |
| 18960117 | ADAPTATION OF DATA PIPELINES FOR SURGICAL SYSTEMS | VAN DUZER, ALEXIS KIM | 3682 | §102§103 | Final Rejection | 43d overdue | Pending | Nov 26, 2024 |
| 18954958 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN ENERGY MODULE OUTPUT | COLLINS, SEAN W | 3794 | §102§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 21, 2024 |
| 18954178 | VISUALIZATION OF EFFECTS OF DEVICE MOVEMENTS IN AN OPERATING ROOM | TANG, BRYANT | 3658 | §102§103 | Final Rejection | 8d | Pending | Nov 20, 2024 |
| 18954214 | DISPLAY OF COMPLEX AND CONFLICTING INTERRELATED DATA STREAMS | ABOUELELA, MAY A | 3687 | §101 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 20, 2024 |
| 18954228 | CONFLICTING DATA STREAMS IN MULTI-SYSTEM INTERACTION | HEIN, DEVIN C | 3686 | §101§102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 20, 2024 |
| 18954186 | METHOD FOR MULTI-SYSTEM INTERACTION | NGUYEN, TRAN N | 3685 | §101§102§103Other | Final Rejection | 45d overdue | Pending | Nov 20, 2024 |
| 18947970 | SWITCH ARRANGEMENTS FOR ULTRASONIC SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS | NGUYEN, TUAN VAN | 3771 | §102DPOther | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 14, 2024 |
| 18931414 | SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH MULTI-FUNCTION BUTTON | HOLWERDA, KATHLEEN SONNETT | 3771 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Oct 30, 2024 |
| 18923385 | HYPERSPECTRAL AND FLUORESCENCE IMAGING WITH TOPOLOGY LASER SCANNING IN A LIGHT DEFICIENT ENVIRONMENT | LE, PETER D | 2488 | §102§103DP | Final Rejection | 1d overdue | Pending | Oct 22, 2024 |
| 18899944 | SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH VARIABLE CLAMPING FORCE | MCGINNITY, JAMES RYAN | 3771 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 27, 2024 |
| 18898058 | ULTRASONIC SURGICAL BLADE FOR USE WITH ULTRASONIC SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS | MENDEZ, KATHERINE H | 3771 | DP | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 26, 2024 |
| 18896011 | METHODS FOR CONTROLLING TEMPERATURE IN ULTRASONIC DEVICE | SHOULDERS, ANNIE LEE | 3794 | DP | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Sep 25, 2024 |
| 18896233 | MULTI-LAYER ANTI-STICK COATING FOR SURGICAL TOOLS | DODDS, SCOTT | 1746 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 25, 2024 |
| 18894378 | SURGICAL HUB AND MODULAR DEVICE RESPONSE ADJUSTMENT BASED ON SITUATIONAL AWARENESS | SURYAWANSHI, SURESH | 2116 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 24, 2024 |
| 18827563 | REUSEABLE STOWAGE COVER FOR ROBOTIC SURGICAL SYSTEM | CIRULNICK, EMILY NICOLE | 3792 | §103§112 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Sep 06, 2024 |
IP Author helps IP teams respond to office actions faster with AI-generated responses, examiner analytics, and prosecution intelligence.
Start Free TrialCilag GmbH International has 123 pending office actions as of October 2026, spread across 32 art units and 96 examiners.
Robert Franklin Long has the most, with 6 of Cilag GmbH International's pending office actions.
Mostly Medical Devices & Mechanical Engineering (USPTO Tech Center 3700), based on where its pending office actions are examined.