Prosecution Insights
Prosecution Insights
Technology areas: Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals • Chemistry & Materials
43 pending office actions • 33 art units • 43 examiners • 0 of 43 (0%) have an AI response strategy ready • 123 patents granted in the last 365 days
City University of Hong Kong has 43 pending office actions in the Chemistry & Materials technology area. These actions are distributed across 33 distinct art units, showing a very high level of technical diversity. This spread across 33 art units indicates that the university's research spans a vast array of specialized chemical and material classifications.
The portfolio involves 43 distinct examiners. LAM, ALEX W is the busiest examiner with 1 pending action. This ratio of 43 actions to 43 examiners means every single pending action is being handled by a different individual. This is a remarkable lack of examiner concentration for a portfolio of this size, as no examiner is managing more than 1 case.
With 43 pending actions and 43 examiners across 33 art units, the university faces an extremely fragmented prosecution environment. Every interaction at the patent office is with a new examiner, which prevents the university from leveraging previous experiences with specific personnel. Practitioners must be prepared to navigate 43 different examination styles across the broad technical range of the 33 art units involved.
Based on the USPTO statutory response window for each pending office action. 12 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. 12 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 | 6 (14%) |
| §103 only | 11 (26%) |
| §102 only | 1 (2%) |
| §112 only | 2 (5%) |
| Double-patenting + other | 1 (2%) |
| Multi-statute (no §101) | 22 (51%) |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAM, ALEX W | 1 | 91.6% | +2.1% |
| FURTADO, WINSTON RAHUL | 1 | 19.4% | +23.4% |
| TRINH, THANH TRUC | 1 | 22.1% | +10.8% |
| FAYE, MAMADOU | 1 | 78.8% | +6.5% |
| SAFAIPOUR, BOBBAK | 1 | 86.1% | +10.9% |
| MALAMUD, DEBORAH LESLIE | 1 | 78.2% | +9.6% |
| WOLF, DARREN E | 1 | 85.0% | +15.2% |
| WOLFSON, ETHAN NOAH | 1 | 85.7% | +50.0% |
| HORGER, KIM S. | 1 | 70.7% | +20.0% |
| TALBERT, ERIC MICHAEL | 1 | 22.0% | +57.3% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18162927 | METHODS FOR TREATING AMBLYOPIA | ESPINOSA, CLAUDIA EDILMA | 149d overdue |
| 17457044 | Method and System for Predicting a Synergistic Effect | WISE, OLIVIA M. | 147d overdue |
| 17504483 | SELF-COMPENSATED FUNCTIONAL PHOTOACOUSTIC MICROSCOPY | HOFFPAUIR, ANDREW ELI | 31d overdue |
| 18331209 | PHASE-CONTROLLABLE SYNTHESIS OF TRANSITION METAL DICHALCOGENIDE MONOLAYER CRYSTALS | BRATLAND JR, KENNETH A | 14d |
| 18785193 | METHOD OF MAKING FLAT POTASSIUM-INTERCALATED METALLIC TRANSITION METAL CHALCOGEN NANOARRAYS | HERNANDEZ-KENNEY, JOSE | 22d |
| 18452885 | Use of Histamine Antagonists and Glucocorticoid for Treating and Preventing Neurodegenerative Diseases | SZNAIDMAN, MARCOS L | 34d |
| 18457426 | Sweat Extraction and Monitoring System | GLOVER, NELSON ALEXANDER | 83d |
| 19271878 | SYNCHRONIZATION METHOD FOR WIRELESS POWER TRANSFER SYSTEM BY DETECTING VOLTAGE TRANSIENT USING A SENSOR INDUCTOR | LAM, ALEX W | — |
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 7 ordered by deadline are shown.
| App # | Title | Examiner | Due in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19270740 | METHOD OF IDENTIFYING A CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP | FURTADO, WINSTON RAHUL | — |
| 19219029 | PEROVSKITE SOLAR CELL AND ITS PREPARATION | TRINH, THANH TRUC | — |
| 19032524 | Classification of Cognitively Normal Condition, Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease Based on Convolutional Neural Networks with Attention Mechanism | SAFAIPOUR, BOBBAK | — |
| 18914303 | Single-Sideband Generator Based on Optical Delay Line | WOLF, DARREN E | — |
| 18910186 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RAILWAY FOREIGN OBJECT DETECTION | WOLFSON, ETHAN NOAH | — |
| 18884162 | ULTRA-TOUGH, HIGH-STRENGTH TRANSPARENT PROTECTIVE LAYERS ON FLEXIBLE DISPLAY GLASS AND PREPARATION METHOD THEREOF | HORGER, KIM S. | — |
| 18806743 | PORTABLE AND FILTER-FREE SINGLE-PASS AIR DISINFECTION SYSTEM FOR DISINFECTION OF CONTAMINATED AIRFLOW OR BIOAEROSOLS | TALBERT, ERIC MICHAEL | — |
| Art Unit | Apps |
|---|---|
| 3791 | 2 |
| 2836 | 1 |
| 3687 | 1 |
| 1726 | 1 |
| 2634 | 1 |
| 2673 | 1 |
| 1784 | 1 |
| 1717 | 1 |
| 1759 | 1 |
| 2664 | 1 |
| App # | Title | Examiner | Art Unit | Statutes | Status | Due in | AI | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19271878 | SYNCHRONIZATION METHOD FOR WIRELESS POWER TRANSFER SYSTEM BY DETECTING VOLTAGE TRANSIENT USING A SENSOR INDUCTOR | LAM, ALEX W | 2836 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jul 17, 2025 |
| 19270740 | METHOD OF IDENTIFYING A CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP | FURTADO, WINSTON RAHUL | 3687 | §101§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jul 16, 2025 |
| 19219029 | PEROVSKITE SOLAR CELL AND ITS PREPARATION | TRINH, THANH TRUC | 1726 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | May 27, 2025 |
| 19172810 | Method of Forming Bismuth Chalcogenide Film, Terahertz Detector Having Such a Film and Method of Forming Such a Detector | FAYE, MAMADOU | — | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Apr 08, 2025 |
| 19032524 | Classification of Cognitively Normal Condition, Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease Based on Convolutional Neural Networks with Attention Mechanism | SAFAIPOUR, BOBBAK | — | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jan 21, 2025 |
| 18919442 | SELF-POWERED ELECTROACUPUNCTURE NEEDLES AND APPLICATIONS THEREOF | MALAMUD, DEBORAH LESLIE | — | §102 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Oct 18, 2024 |
| 18914303 | Single-Sideband Generator Based on Optical Delay Line | WOLF, DARREN E | 2634 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Oct 14, 2024 |
| 18910186 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RAILWAY FOREIGN OBJECT DETECTION | WOLFSON, ETHAN NOAH | 2673 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Oct 09, 2024 |
| 18884162 | ULTRA-TOUGH, HIGH-STRENGTH TRANSPARENT PROTECTIVE LAYERS ON FLEXIBLE DISPLAY GLASS AND PREPARATION METHOD THEREOF | HORGER, KIM S. | 1784 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 13, 2024 |
| 18806743 | PORTABLE AND FILTER-FREE SINGLE-PASS AIR DISINFECTION SYSTEM FOR DISINFECTION OF CONTAMINATED AIRFLOW OR BIOAEROSOLS | TALBERT, ERIC MICHAEL | — | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Aug 16, 2024 |
| 18785193 | METHOD OF MAKING FLAT POTASSIUM-INTERCALATED METALLIC TRANSITION METAL CHALCOGEN NANOARRAYS | HERNANDEZ-KENNEY, JOSE | 1717 | §102§103§112Other | Final Rejection | 22d | Pending | Jul 26, 2024 |
| 18660303 | MICRONEEDLE PATCH AND METHOD OF FABRICATION THEREOF | DARB, HAMZA A. | — | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | May 10, 2024 |
| 18657038 | METHOD FOR PREPARING POLYMER FILM AND POLYMER FILM PREPARED BY THE METHOD | ROLLAND, ALEX A | 1759 | §103 | Non-Final OA | 39d | Pending | May 07, 2024 |
| 18650149 | METHODS OF TAGGING RNA MOLECULES ASSOCIATED WITH EPIGENETICALLY MODIFIED CHROMATIN IN LIVING CELLS | SAIDHA, TEKCHAND | — | §112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Apr 30, 2024 |
| 18648538 | DENDRITE-FREE ZINC-BASED FLOW BATTERY WITH HIGH AREAL CAPACITY | BERMUDEZ, CHARLENE | — | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Apr 29, 2024 |
| 18646105 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR WATERMARKING IMAGES, AND METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETECTING A WATERMARK IN AN IMAGE | WELLS, HEATH E | 2664 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Apr 25, 2024 |
| 18633494 | 3D/4D ADDITIVE-SUBTRACTIVE MANUFACTURING OF CERAMIC/GLASS COMPONENTS IN 3C PRODUCTS | DAIGLER, CHRISTOPHER PAUL | 1741 | §103§112DP | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Apr 11, 2024 |
| 18602132 | METHODS FOR TREATING CYTOKINE STORM ASSOCIATED WITH ACINETOBACTER BAUMANNII INFECTIONS | CHAO, ALLEN | 1622 | §103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Mar 12, 2024 |
| 18592571 | ARTIFICIAL BONE IMPLANTS WITH NANOSCAFFOLD FOR SELF-TRIGGERED OSTEOGENIC DIFFERENTIATION OF STEM CELLS | PURDY, KYLE A | 1611 | §103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Mar 01, 2024 |
| 18414414 | PORTABLE CONDENSATION-FREE TEMPERATURE-ADJUSTABLE RADIANT COOLING BOARD SYSTEM | LANE, DEVON | 3763 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jan 16, 2024 |
| 18399594 | A 4D-PRINTED HUMIDITY AND MAGNETIC DUAL RESPONSIVE ACTUATOR | PATEL, RONAK C | 1788 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 28, 2023 |
| 18525903 | 3D LIQUID DIODE AND PERMEABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICES BASED ON THE SAME | ANTISKAY, BRIAN MICHAEL | 3794 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 01, 2023 |
| 18522053 | DEFECT-RICH MOS2 MONOLAYER, METHODS FOR PRODUCING THE SAME AND USES THEREOF | MCCLURE, CHRISTINA D | — | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 28, 2023 |
| 18490124 | VISUAL DETERMINATION OF PRESENCE AND/OR QUANTIFICATION OF ONE OR MORE SPECIES IN A SAMPLE SOLUTION | BEISNER, WILLIAM H | 1799 | §103§112 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Oct 19, 2023 |
| 18485454 | AUTONOMOUS SELF-HEALABLE AND MECHANICALLY ROBUST HYDROGEL AND TRIBOELECTRIC NANOGENERATOR COMPRISING THE SAME | CAI, WENWEN | 1763 | §102§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Oct 12, 2023 |
| 18468736 | HIGH-VOLTAGE LITHIUM-ION BATTERY WITH A WIDE ELECTROCHEMICAL WINDOW OF POLYMER ELECTROLYTES | KHANAL, ARTI | 1746 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 17, 2023 |
| 18457426 | Sweat Extraction and Monitoring System | GLOVER, NELSON ALEXANDER | 3791 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | 83d | Pending | Aug 29, 2023 |
| 18452885 | Use of Histamine Antagonists and Glucocorticoid for Treating and Preventing Neurodegenerative Diseases | SZNAIDMAN, MARCOS L | 1628 | §102§103 | Final Rejection | 34d | Pending | Aug 21, 2023 |
| 18451132 | RECHARGEABLE AQUEOUS Zn||IS FLOW BATTERY SYSTEM | ABELSON, EVAN MATVEY | 1721 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Aug 17, 2023 |
| 18358899 | HIGH PHASE-PURITY GROWTH OF 1T'-TRANSITION METAL DICHALCOGENIDE MONOLAYERS | PENNY, TABATHA L | 1712 | §103 | Non-Final OA | 30d overdue | Pending | Jul 25, 2023 |
| 18331209 | PHASE-CONTROLLABLE SYNTHESIS OF TRANSITION METAL DICHALCOGENIDE MONOLAYER CRYSTALS | BRATLAND JR, KENNETH A | 1714 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | 14d | Pending | Jun 08, 2023 |
| 18316201 | METHOD OF ALTERING DEGREE OF CURVATURE OF A MOLECULAR CATALYST FOR HIGHER CATALYTIC ACTIVITY | MARROQUIN, DOUGLAS C | 1723 | §103 | Final Rejection | 86d | Pending | May 11, 2023 |
| 18193640 | HIGH CAPACITY, HIGH ENERGY DENSITY AND HIGH POWER REVERSIBLE Li-Cl2 BATTERY SYSTEM | MARTIN, MATTHEW T | 1728 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Mar 31, 2023 |
| 18188527 | ONE-POT PATHOGEN DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REAL-TIME LATERAL FLOW ASSAY | LI, BAO Q | 1671 | §112 | Non-Final OA | 3d overdue | Pending | Mar 23, 2023 |
| 18170621 | DEEP LEARNING BASED OBJECT IDENTIFICATION AND/OR CLASSIFICATION | YANG, JIANXUN | 2662 | §103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Feb 17, 2023 |
| 18162927 | METHODS FOR TREATING AMBLYOPIA | ESPINOSA, CLAUDIA EDILMA | 1654 | §103§112 | Final Rejection | 149d overdue | Pending | Feb 01, 2023 |
| 18070429 | METHOD AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR PERFORMING ROBUST LOW-RANK MATRIX RECOVERY VIA HYBRID ORDINARY-WELSCH FUNCTION | LAROCQUE, EMILY E | — | §101§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 28, 2022 |
| 17992232 | PREDICTION OF INDOOR BIOAEROSOL CONCENTRATIONS FROM INDOOR AIR QUALITY SENSOR DATA BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE MODELS | LEE, MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER | 2128 | §101§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 22, 2022 |
| 17883619 | MACHINE LEARING BASED METHOD OF SCREENING POTENTIAL DRUG CANDIDATE, AND A METHOD THEREOF | PULLIAM, JOSEPH CONSTANTINE | 1687 | §101§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Aug 09, 2022 |
| 17809433 | SINGLE-ATOMICALLY DISPERSED METAL / UNCONVENTIONAL-PHASE TRANSITION-METAL DICHALCOGENIDE NANOSHEET HYBRIDS AND METHODS OF PREPARATION AND USE THEREOF | KEELING, ALEXANDER W | 1795 | §103 | Final Rejection | 4d overdue | Pending | Jun 28, 2022 |
| 17727047 | OPTOELECTRONIC SYSTEM AND PHOTODETECTOR FOR OPTOELECTRONIC SYSTEM | HRNJIC, ADIN | 2817 | §103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Apr 22, 2022 |
| 17457044 | Method and System for Predicting a Synergistic Effect | WISE, OLIVIA M. | 1685 | §101§103§112 | Final Rejection | 147d overdue | Pending | Dec 01, 2021 |
| 17504483 | SELF-COMPENSATED FUNCTIONAL PHOTOACOUSTIC MICROSCOPY | HOFFPAUIR, ANDREW ELI | 3791 | §101§112 | Non-Final OA | 31d overdue | Pending | Oct 18, 2021 |
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