Technology area: Medical Devices & Mechanical Engineering
157 pending office actions • 26 art units • 123 examiners • 0 of 157 (0%) have an AI response strategy ready • 289 patents granted in the last 365 days
Covidien L.P. has 161 pending office actions in Medical Devices & Mechanical Engineering. The docket spans 125 examiners and 27 art units, indicating broad examiner distribution within a relatively focused set of technical units.
CLARK, RYAN T is the busiest examiner, with 6 pending matters. That cluster merits direct examiner-level review, while the wider docket calls for art-unit coordination and consistent handling of recurring medical-device claim issues.
Based on the USPTO statutory response window for each pending office action. 37 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. 37 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 | 1 (1%) |
| §101 + other | 12 (8%) |
| §103 only | 60 (38%) |
| §102 only | 13 (8%) |
| §112 only | 1 (1%) |
| Double-patenting only | 5 (3%) |
| Double-patenting + other | 5 (3%) |
| Multi-statute (no §101) | 59 (38%) |
| No statute on record | 1 (1%) |
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 | 5 | 72.3% | +20.4% |
| POLAND, CHERIE MICHELLE | 4 | 59.6% | +33.2% |
| COLLINS, SEAN W | 3 | 74.7% | +26.2% |
| CLARK, RYAN T | 3 | 50.4% | +18.2% |
| HADDAD, MOUSSA MAHER | 3 | 26.7% | +33.0% |
| GROSS, JASON PATRICK | 3 | 64.0% | +43.3% |
| RUSSELL, SYDNEY REYES | 3 | 51.4% | +56.8% |
| OUYANG, BO | 3 | 60.7% | +8.8% |
| CHUKWURAH, NATHANIEL C | 2 | 84.9% | +10.9% |
| BYRD, BRIGID K | 2 | 71.4% | +46.4% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19478906 | ADAPTER ASSEMBLIES FOR SURGICAL DEVICE | CHUKWURAH, NATHANIEL C | — |
| 19168380 | SURGICAL STAPLING APPARATUS WITH LOCKOUT ASSEMBLIES | CHUKWURAH, NATHANIEL C | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18192273 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MISSED BREATH DETECTION AND INDICATION | AGAHI, PUYA | 156d overdue |
| 17299869 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING CABLE DRIVEN END EFFECTORS | BAIG, RUMAISA RASHID | 37d overdue |
| 18877132 | REAL-TIME STAPLING TISSUE PERFUSION ASSESSMENT | MATTSON, SEAN D | 15d overdue |
| 18215973 | TISSUE RESECTION SYSTEMS INCLUDING FLUID OUTFLOW MANAGEMENT | NGO, MEAGAN N | 9d overdue |
| 18275802 | GUIDEWIRES AND METHODS OF DEPLOYMENT THEREOF | ABOUELELA, MAY A | 5d |
| 18347667 | PHRENIC NERVE INTEGRITY AND RAMPED-UP BURST | TU, AURELIE H | 8d |
| 18117691 | SURGICAL END EFFECTORS | POLAND, CHERIE MICHELLE | 12d |
| 18962485 | STROKE DETECTION | YANG, YI-SHAN | 14d |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19076558 | HAND-HELD SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS | LONG, ROBERT FRANKLIN | 9d overdue |
| 18117691 | SURGICAL END EFFECTORS | POLAND, CHERIE MICHELLE | 12d |
| 18281949 | ROBOTIC REMOTE CENTER OF MOTION WITH ACTIVE PORTAL/TROCAR MANIPULATION | POLAND, CHERIE MICHELLE | 16d |
| 18295717 | NON-CONTACT MONITORING FOR NIGHT TREMORS OR OTHER MEDICAL CONDITIONS | HADDAD, MOUSSA MAHER | 23d |
| 18274756 | MULTI-FUNCTION ERGONOMIC HANDHELD SURGICAL INSTRUMENT AND SYSTEM | COLLINS, SEAN W | 27d |
| 18856325 | COMPRESSION ANASTOMOSIS RINGS WITH ADJUSTABLE COMPRESSION PROFILE | BYRD, BRIGID K | 28d |
| 19087802 | POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS AND METHODS OF IDENTIFYING TISSUE TYPES THEREWITH | LONG, ROBERT FRANKLIN | 34d |
| 19213082 | HANDHELD ELECTROMECHANICAL SURGICAL SYSTEM | LONG, ROBERT FRANKLIN | 84d |
| Art Unit | Apps |
|---|---|
| 3794 | 30 |
| 3771 | 25 |
| 3731 | 14 |
| 3791 | 14 |
| 3795 | 10 |
| 3797 | 10 |
| 3783 | 9 |
| 3798 | 6 |
| 3796 | 6 |
| 3785 | 6 |
| App # | Title | Examiner | Art Unit | Statutes | Status | Due in | AI | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19549399 | HEAT SEALER GUIDE MOUNT | RUSHING-TUCKER, CHINYERE J | 3731 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Feb 25, 2026 |
| 19478906 | ADAPTER ASSEMBLIES FOR SURGICAL DEVICE | CHUKWURAH, NATHANIEL C | 3731 | §102 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Oct 27, 2025 |
| 19478944 | SURGICAL STAPLING DEVICE WITH ARTICULATING TOOL ASSEMBLY | IMAM, TANZIM | 3731 | §102§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Oct 27, 2025 |
| 19168380 | SURGICAL STAPLING APPARATUS WITH LOCKOUT ASSEMBLIES | CHUKWURAH, NATHANIEL C | 3731 | §102 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 24, 2025 |
| 19162428 | STAPLING DEVICE WITH FIRING LOCKOUT ASSEMBLY | PALMER, LUCAS E A | 3731 | §102 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 05, 2025 |
| 19281956 | REAL TIME MONITORING OF A ROBOTIC DRIVE MODULE | JOHNSON, KYLE T | 3656 | §112DP | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jul 28, 2025 |
| 19280425 | HYSTEROSCOPIC SYSTEM | FAIRCHILD, AARON BENJAMIN | 3795 | §103Other | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jul 25, 2025 |
| 19270708 | SURGICAL STAPLER WITH UNIVERSAL TIP RELOAD | LONG, ROBERT FRANKLIN | 3731 | §102§103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Jul 16, 2025 |
| 19258121 | JAW DRIVE ARM FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS AND SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATING THE SAME | BYRD, BRIGID K | 3771 | §112Other | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jul 02, 2025 |
| 19242494 | THROMBUS REMOVAL DEVICE | MCGINNITY, JAMES RYAN | 3771 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 18, 2025 |
| 19242592 | INJECTABLE BIOPOLYMER COMPOSITIONS AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS | BECKHARDT, LYNDSEY MARIE | 1613 | §103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Jun 18, 2025 |
| 19232673 | UTERINE MANIPULATOR WITH DETACHABLE CUP AND LOCKING OCCLUDER | SEVERSON, RYAN J | 3771 | Other | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 09, 2025 |
| 19135491 | INTEGRATED ELECTROSURGICAL SMOKE EVACUATION SYSTEM | TURCHEN, ROCHELLE DEANNA | 3797 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 04, 2025 |
| 19213082 | HANDHELD ELECTROMECHANICAL SURGICAL SYSTEM | LONG, ROBERT FRANKLIN | 3731 | §103Other | Final Rejection | 84d | Pending | May 20, 2025 |
| 19189488 | GUIDEWIRE SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF USE | NGUYEN, VI X | 3771 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | May 13, 2025 |
| 19201760 | INTEGRATION OF MULTIPLE DATA SOURCES FOR LOCALIZATION AND NAVIGATION | LANGHALS, RENEE C | 3797 | §103§112 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | May 07, 2025 |
| 19189431 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR RESTORING BLOOD VESSEL PATENCY | LABRANCHE, BROOKE N | 3771 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Apr 25, 2025 |
| 19116554 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF MOVING A MEDICAL TOOL WITH A TARGET IN A VISUALIZATION OR ROBOTIC SYSTEM FOR HIGHER YIELDS | NGUYEN, HIEN NGOC | 3797 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Mar 28, 2025 |
| 19087802 | POWERED SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS AND METHODS OF IDENTIFYING TISSUE TYPES THEREWITH | LONG, ROBERT FRANKLIN | 3731 | §103§112 | Final Rejection | 34d | Pending | Mar 24, 2025 |
| 19085981 | CONE BEAM COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY INTEGRATION FOR CREATING A NAVIGATION PATHWAY TO A TARGET IN THE LUNG AND METHOD OF NAVIGATING TO THE TARGET | SONG, HOON K | 2884 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Mar 20, 2025 |
| 19081488 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING ARCING | ZIEGLER, ABIGAIL M | 3794 | §102§103§112Other | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Mar 17, 2025 |
| 19076558 | HAND-HELD SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS | LONG, ROBERT FRANKLIN | 3731 | DP | Non-Final OA | 9d overdue | Pending | Mar 11, 2025 |
| 19070997 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TREATING ANEURYSMS | LYNCH, ROBERT A | 3771 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Mar 05, 2025 |
| 19053802 | METHODS FOR OPEN DISSECTION USING SEALING INSTRUMENT | SHOULDERS, ANNIE LEE | 3794 | §103DP | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Feb 14, 2025 |
| 19103568 | SURGICAL ROBOTIC SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTRAOPERATIVE FUSION OF DIFFERENT IMAGING MODALITIES | ALDARRAJI, ZAINAB MOHAMMED | 3797 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Feb 13, 2025 |
| 19053129 | ASPIRATION CATHETER HAVING DISTAL SIDEWALL OPENING | POLAND, CHERIE MICHELLE | 3771 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Feb 13, 2025 |
| 19103789 | ENDOSCOPIC LENS CLEANING IN A ROBOTIC SURGICAL PROCEDURE | BOLER, RYNAE E | 3795 | §102§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Feb 13, 2025 |
| 19040623 | DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR TREATMENT OF INTRACRANIAL ANEURYSMS | SHI, KATHERINE MENGLIN | 3771 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jan 29, 2025 |
| 19099111 | Handheld Electromechanical Surgical System With Low Tissue Compression Indiction | WITTENSCHLAEGER, THOMAS M | 3731 | §102 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jan 28, 2025 |
| 19099105 | GRAPHIC DISPLAY FOR POWERED SURGICAL STAPLERS | WITTENSCHLAEGER, THOMAS M | 3731 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jan 28, 2025 |
| 19036684 | UNIVERSAL SURGICAL FOOTSWITCH TOGGLING | COLLINS, SEAN W | 3794 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jan 24, 2025 |
| 19033658 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ABLATION VISUALIZATION | POPESCU, GABRIEL VICTOR | 3797 | §103Other | Final Rejection | 55d | Pending | Jan 22, 2025 |
| 19025436 | ULTRASONIC SURGICAL INSTRUMENT WITH COOLING SYSTEM | FISHBACK, ASHLEY LAUREN | 3771 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jan 16, 2025 |
| 19014837 | INDEPENDENT CONTROL OF DUAL RF ELECTROSURGERY | GUERRERO ROSARIO, ANA VERUSKA | 3794 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jan 09, 2025 |
| 19013287 | INFLOW AND OUTFLOW CONTROL OF A CLOSED COOLING SYSTEM | HUPCZEY, JR, RONALD JAMES | 3794 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jan 08, 2025 |
| 18877132 | REAL-TIME STAPLING TISSUE PERFUSION ASSESSMENT | MATTSON, SEAN D | 3798 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | 15d overdue | Pending | Dec 19, 2024 |
| 18875852 | SURGICAL ROBOTIC SYSTEM FOR CONDUCTING A PLURALITY OF CONCURRENT COLONOSCOPIES | CAREY, MICHAEL JAMES | 3795 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 17, 2024 |
| 18980695 | ENERGY DISCONNECT FOR ROBOTIC SURGICAL ASSEMBLIES | FOWLER, DANIEL WAYNE | 3794 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 13, 2024 |
| 18967240 | ENERGY DELIVERY DEVICE AND METHODS OF USE | ASGHAR, AMINAH | 3797 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 03, 2024 |
| 18962485 | STROKE DETECTION | YANG, YI-SHAN | 3798 | §101§103 | Non-Final OA | 14d | Pending | Nov 27, 2024 |
| 18963134 | VIDEO LARYNGOSCOPE INTEGRATION WITH PATIENT ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORD | COTRONEO, STEVEN J | 3773 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 27, 2024 |
| 18947767 | SURGICAL SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR TREATING TISSUE | CLARK, RYAN T | 3794 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 14, 2024 |
| 18946662 | DRIVE ROD AND KNIFE BLADE FOR AN ARTICULATING SURGICAL INSTRUMENT | GABR, MOHAMED GAMIL | 3771 | §103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Nov 13, 2024 |
| 18940435 | SLOW SPEED STAPLE AND STAPLE RELAXATION FOR STAPLING OPTIMIZATION | LONG, ROBERT FRANKLIN | 3731 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 07, 2024 |
| 18931673 | ELECTRICALLY ENHANCED RETRIEVAL OF MATERIAL FROM VESSEL LUMENS | RESTAINO, ANDREW PETER | 3771 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | 78d | Pending | Oct 30, 2024 |
| 18929053 | NON-STICK COATED ELECTROSURGICAL INSTRUMENTS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME | PEFFLEY, MICHAEL F | 3794 | DP | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Oct 28, 2024 |
| 18926862 | SENSORS WITH ADHESIVE REGIONS | KIM, SAMUEL CHONG | 3791 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Oct 25, 2024 |
| 18926460 | STENT WITH STRUTS DEFINING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY OFFSET APICES | STEWART, ALVIN J | 3774 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Oct 25, 2024 |
| 18919595 | CATHETER INCLUDING A RADIOPAQUE OR RADIOGRAPHIC PORTION | HAWTHORNE, OPHELIA ALTHEA | 3783 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Oct 18, 2024 |
| 18916553 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR SHALLOW DEPTH ABLATION | FOWLER, DANIEL WAYNE | 3794 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Oct 15, 2024 |
IP Author helps IP teams respond to office actions faster with AI-generated responses, examiner analytics, and prosecution intelligence.
Start Free TrialCovidien L.P. has 157 pending office actions as of October 2026, spread across 26 art units and 123 examiners.
Robert Franklin Long has the most, with 5 of Covidien L.P.'s pending office actions.
Mostly Medical Devices & Mechanical Engineering (USPTO Tech Center 3700), based on where its pending office actions are examined.
