Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026

Johnson & Johnson

Technology areas: Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals • Medical Devices & Mechanical Engineering

86 pending office actions • 35 art units • 79 examiners • 0 of 86 (0%) have an AI response strategy ready • 125 patents granted in the last 365 days

Analysis

Johnson & Johnson currently manages 84 pending office actions within the Medical Devices & Mechanical Engineering technology area. These actions are distributed across 76 distinct examiners, which is a smaller number than the total 84 pending office actions. The portfolio spans 33 distinct art units, indicating a broad technical range for the company's filings. MEDWAY, SCOTT J is the busiest examiner, currently handling 3 pending office actions.

The 76 distinct examiners involved in these 84 pending office actions mean that many examiners are responsible for more than one case. This distribution requires the company to adapt to many different examination styles across the 33 distinct art units. MEDWAY, SCOTT J, with 3 pending office actions, represents a point of concentration in the portfolio. Practitioners should note that the 84 pending office actions are spread across many different technical groups, necessitating a versatile prosecution strategy.

With 33 distinct art units in play, the company must ensure consistency in its technical arguments across the Medical Devices & Mechanical Engineering sector. The 76 distinct examiners provide a broad base of feedback, which can be used to refine future filings. MEDWAY, SCOTT J is the busiest examiner with 3 pending office actions, making their specific preferences a key factor for those particular cases.

Written from this page's own data; every figure is computed from USPTO records and verified before publication.

Portfolio Summary

86
Total Pending OAs
51
Non-Final OAs
32
Final Rejections
3
Advisory / Quayle

Response Deadline Pressure

Based on the USPTO statutory response window for each pending office action. 30 of the docket's apps have a known mailing date; the rest are excluded from the tile counts.

19
Overdue
0
Due this week
6
Due this month
5
Due in next 60 days
0
Due later

Deadline Fire Line

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. 30 of the docket's apps have a known mailing date.

-30dToday30d60d90d120d
Overdue (19)Due ≤ 30 days (6)Due ≤ 60 days (5)

Case Difficulty Mix

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.

46
Hard (53%)
35
Medium (41%)
5
Easy (6%)
0
Unknown (0%)

Rejection Statute Mix

BucketCases
§101 only2 (2%)
§101 + other7 (8%)
§103 only26 (30%)
§102 only6 (7%)
§112 only4 (5%)
Double-patenting only1 (1%)
Double-patenting + other3 (3%)
Multi-statute (no §101)37 (43%)

Industry Mix

How the docket's pending cases split across USPTO tech-center bands.

17
Life Sciences
20% of docket
1
Information Tech
1% of docket
4
Communications
5% of docket
7
Semiconductors
8% of docket
41
Mechanical / Eng
48% of docket
16
Business / Other
19% of docket

Time-on-OA Estimate

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.

860 h
Manual time on pending OAs
172 h
Time saved (low, 20%)
301 h
Time saved (mid, 35%)
7.5 wks
FTE-weeks freed (mid)

Top Examiners on this docket

ExaminerApps on this docketAllow rateInterview lift
MEDWAY, SCOTT J 3 66.7% +23.4%
ROANE, AARON F 2 73.4% +9.7%
BROOKS, KREGG T 2 57.1% +1.1%
SWANSON, LEAH JENNINGS 2 65.5% +38.3%
SPAINE, ROBERT FRANKLIN 2 75.0% +0.0%
WERTZ, ASHLEE ELIZABETH 2 52.9% +42.1%
JACOB, OOMMEN 1 79.1% +17.5%
LOUIS, RICHARD G 1 74.7% +17.2%
LETT, THOMAS J 1 84.0% -34.9%
BEUTEL, WILLIAM A 1 70.1% +21.7%

Quick Wins (1)

Cases in front of an examiner with an allow rate of 80%+ where the difficulty is Easy or Medium. The top 1 ordered by deadline are shown.

App #TitleExaminerDue in
19000271 AUGMENTED REALITY HEADSET FOR A SURGICAL ROBOT LETT, THOMAS J —

Hard Cases (46)

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 #TitleExaminerDue in
17729343 ELECTRONICALLY DETECTING PHACOEMULSIFICATION TIP ENGAGEMENT WITH A LENS JAFFRI, ZEHRA 111d overdue
17130846 PROCESSOR-CONTROLLED PUMP IN IRRIGATION LINE OF PHACOEMULSIFICATION PROBE VOKES, KATHLEEN PAIGE 111d overdue
18144799 PRESSURE REGULATOR FOR OCULAR SURGERY PATEL, SHEFALI DILIP 96d overdue
17446147 System, Apparatus and Method for Maintaining Anterior Chamber Intraoperative Intraocular Pressure SWANSON, LEAH JENNINGS 49d overdue
18622570 SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LIMITING GRIP FORCE OF CLOSING JAWS IN POSITION CONTROL MODE ANJARIA, SHREYA PARAG 45d overdue
18038519 METHODS OF PREVENTING, DELAYING OR AMELIORATING ATOPIC DISEASES HINES, JANA A 37d overdue
18324916 FORKED PHACOEMULSIFICATION NEEDLE GRAY, PHILLIP A 26d overdue
18789550 ROBOTIC ARMS IGBOKO, CHIMA U 4d overdue

Interview Candidates (10)

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 #TitleExaminerDue in
17446147 System, Apparatus and Method for Maintaining Anterior Chamber Intraoperative Intraocular Pressure SWANSON, LEAH JENNINGS 49d overdue
18114950 Oral Care Compositions WERTZ, ASHLEE ELIZABETH 24d overdue
17124441 IRRIGATION/ASPIRATION PUMP HEAD AND BLADDER DESIGN AND METHODS MEDWAY, SCOTT J 22d overdue
18114937 Oral Care Compositions WERTZ, ASHLEE ELIZABETH 21d
19331818 SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MAGNETIC SENSING AND DOCKING WITH A TROCAR JACOB, OOMMEN —
19239821 METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ESTIMATING TEMPERATURE OF AN ULTRASONIC INSTRUMENT LOUIS, RICHARD G —
18951276 REMOTE SURGICAL MENTORING BEUTEL, WILLIAM A —
18140234 ANTI-VACUUM SURGE (AVS) WITH IMPROVED FOLLOWABILITY SWANSON, LEAH JENNINGS —

Top Art Units

Art UnitApps
3783 16
3771 7
2872 7
1655 3
3792 2
3683 2
1645 2
3791 2
1622 2
1612 2

Pending Office Actions

App #TitleExaminerArt UnitStatutesStatusDue inAIFiled
19331818 SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MAGNETIC SENSING AND DOCKING WITH A TROCAR JACOB, OOMMEN 3797 §103 Non-Final OA — Pending Sep 17, 2025
19239821 METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ESTIMATING TEMPERATURE OF AN ULTRASONIC INSTRUMENT LOUIS, RICHARD G — §103 Non-Final OA — Pending Jun 16, 2025
19085655 SURGICAL ROBOTIC SYSTEM ROANE, AARON F — §103 Non-Final OA — Pending Mar 20, 2025
19000271 AUGMENTED REALITY HEADSET FOR A SURGICAL ROBOT LETT, THOMAS J — §102 Non-Final OA — Pending Dec 23, 2024
18951276 REMOTE SURGICAL MENTORING BEUTEL, WILLIAM A — §103§112 Non-Final OA — Pending Nov 18, 2024
18907404 COUPLER TO ATTACH ROBOTIC ARM TO SURGICAL TABLE SKROUPA, JOSHUA A — §102§103 Non-Final OA — Pending Oct 04, 2024
18809228 USER SWITCHING DETECTION DURING ROBOTIC SURGERIES USING DEEP LEARNING LIU, XIAO 2664 §101§103 Non-Final OA — Pending Aug 19, 2024
18794894 ARTICULATION JOINT HARDSTOP HANDLING FOR SURGICAL TOOL ROANE, AARON F 3792 §112 Final Rejection — Pending Aug 05, 2024
18789550 ROBOTIC ARMS IGBOKO, CHIMA U 3771 §102§103 Final Rejection 4d overdue Pending Jul 30, 2024
18672080 NULL SPACE CONTROL FOR END EFFECTOR JOINTS OF A ROBOTIC INSTRUMENT JACKSON, DANIELLE MARIE 3657 §102§103 Non-Final OA — Pending May 23, 2024
18622570 SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LIMITING GRIP FORCE OF CLOSING JAWS IN POSITION CONTROL MODE ANJARIA, SHREYA PARAG 3796 §102§103 Final Rejection 45d overdue Pending Mar 29, 2024
18345845 SURGICAL INSTRUMENT RECOGNITION FROM SURGICAL VIDEOS SCHWARTZ, RAPHAEL M 2671 §103§112 Final Rejection — Pending Jun 30, 2023
18196961 BLOOD PRESENCE DETECTION ORANGE, DAVID BENJAMIN 2663 §102 Final Rejection 55d Pending May 12, 2023
18046903 METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING AND DISPLAYING VIDEO STREAMS CASTRO, ALFONSO 2421 §103 Final Rejection 14d Pending Oct 14, 2022
17862328 METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETECTING LIQUID IMMERSION OF AN END EFFECTOR OF AN ULTRASONIC INSTRUMENT MENDEZ, KATHERINE H 3774 §103 Non-Final OA 26d Pending Jul 11, 2022
17741869 BI-STABLE LEVER ASSEMBLY FOR A SURGICAL TOOL CLARK, RYAN T 3794 §103 Non-Final OA — Pending May 11, 2022
19265126 Multi-Material Lens Package ACKUN, JACOB K — DP Non-Final OA — Pending Jul 10, 2025
18863903 CONTACT LENS PACKAGES AND LENS SUPPORTS FOR USE THEREIN OJOFEITIMI, AYODEJI HARRY 3651 §103§112 Non-Final OA — Pending Nov 07, 2024
18785852 COMFORT-OPTIMIZED CONTACT LENS SYSTEM FOR NON-ROTATIONALLY SYMMETRIC EYE ABERRATION OESTREICH, MITCHELL T 2872 §102§103§112 Non-Final OA — Pending Jul 26, 2024
18753251 PRESBYOPIA-CORRECTING LENS SYSTEM HAVING HYPEROPIC / MYOPIC CORRECTION-DEPENDENT DESIGNS BROOME, SHARRIEF I 2872 §102§112 Non-Final OA — Pending Jun 25, 2024
18544878 INK COMPOSITION FOR COSMETIC CONTACT LENSES JONES, KOLTON ED — §103§112Other Non-Final OA — Pending Dec 19, 2023
18538133 Compositions for Ophthalmologic Devices LING, DORIS — §102§103§112 Non-Final OA — Pending Dec 13, 2023
18537862 OPTHALMIC LENS FOR MYOPIA CONTROL WILKES, ZACHARY W 2872 §102§112 Non-Final OA — Pending Dec 13, 2023
18387254 ENHANCED-SUMMATION CONTACT LENS PAIR FOR CORRECTION OF PRESBYOPIA, AND RELATED LENSES PAIR SYSTEMS AND FITTING METHODS SAHLE, MAHIDERE S 2872 §103 Final Rejection 51d overdue Pending Nov 06, 2023
18498374 TRANSITION METAL COMPLEXES AS VISIBLE LIGHT ABSORBERS BROOKS, KREGG T 2872 §102 Final Rejection — Pending Oct 31, 2023
18496051 OPHTHALMIC DEVICES CONTAINING TRANSITION METAL COMPLEXES AS HIGH ENERGY VISIBLE LIGHT FILTERS MOORE, MARGARET G 1765 §102 Final Rejection — Pending Oct 27, 2023
17891736 DIGITAL CONTACT LENS INSERTION AND REMOVAL AID WRIGHT, ANDREW RUSSELL 2872 §103 Non-Final OA — Pending Aug 19, 2022
17069232 CONTACT LENS POSITION AND ROTATION CONTROL USING THE PRESSURE OF THE EYELID MARGIN STANFORD, CHRISTOPHER J 2872 §102 Final Rejection 12d Pending Oct 13, 2020
19026004 SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IDENTIFYING CASSETTE TYPE IN A SURGICAL SYSTEM YANG, CHENG FONG — §102§103§112 Non-Final OA — Pending Jan 16, 2025
18888585 SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS FOR PHACOEMULSIFICATION SURGERY DANG, ANH TIEU 3771 §102 Non-Final OA — Pending Sep 18, 2024
18785559 ANTI-VACUUM SURGE MODULE WITH RECTANGULAR VALVE CHAMBER KASHYAP, ESHA PRAKASH 3771 §103 Non-Final OA — Pending Jul 26, 2024
18679349 SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOVAL OF CORNEAL SPECULAR REFLECTIONS IN EYE IMAGING KISH, JAMES M 3792 §103 Final Rejection 23d Pending May 30, 2024
18628418 Learning Auto Phaco Phacoemulsification Mode for Ophthalmic Surgery DOUBRAVA, JOHN A — §102§103 Non-Final OA — Pending Apr 05, 2024
18390785 Control of Irrigation in a Phacoemulsification System STIGELL, THEODORE J 3783 §112 Final Rejection — Pending Dec 20, 2023
18543386 Control of Irrigation in a Phacoemulsification System LALONDE, ALEXANDRA ELIZABETH 3783 §102§103§112 Non-Final OA — Pending Dec 18, 2023
18526589 OPHTHALMIC LENS MATERIALS AND DEVICES MADE THEREOF BROOKS, KREGG T — §102§103§112 Non-Final OA — Pending Dec 01, 2023
18387494 REAL-TIME 3D ANATOMICAL MAPPING OF THE EYE BADER, ROBERT N. 2611 §103 Non-Final OA — Pending Nov 07, 2023
18383665 PHACOEMULSIFICATION HANDPIECE WITH INTEGRATED ANTI-VACUUM SURGE MODULE NICHOLS, CHARLES W 3783 §102§103 Non-Final OA 4d overdue Pending Oct 25, 2023
18334305 AUTOMATED PHACOEMULSIFICATION FLICK, JASON E 3783 §102DP Non-Final OA — Pending Jun 13, 2023
18332709 COMPUTER-BASED OPERATING ROOM SUPPORT SYSTEM GILLIGAN, CHRISTOPHER L 3683 §103 Non-Final OA — Pending Jun 09, 2023
18325913 SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING USAGE OF BALANCED SALT SOLUTION IN AN OPHTHALMIC SURGICAL SYSTEM GOLOVAN, MARK 3783 §102§103§112 Non-Final OA — Pending May 30, 2023
18324916 FORKED PHACOEMULSIFICATION NEEDLE GRAY, PHILLIP A 3783 §102§103 Final Rejection 26d overdue Pending May 26, 2023
18144799 PRESSURE REGULATOR FOR OCULAR SURGERY PATEL, SHEFALI DILIP 3783 §102§103§112 Final Rejection 96d overdue Pending May 08, 2023
18140234 ANTI-VACUUM SURGE (AVS) WITH IMPROVED FOLLOWABILITY SWANSON, LEAH JENNINGS 3783 §102§103§112 Non-Final OA — Pending Apr 27, 2023
18135208 INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE FLUCTUATION CANCELLATION STIMPERT, PHILIP EARL 3783 §103 Non-Final OA — Pending Apr 17, 2023
18089407 STABILIZING INTRA-OCULAR PRESSURE AT ONSET OF ASPIRATION MEDWAY, SCOTT J 3783 §103§112 Non-Final OA — Pending Dec 27, 2022
18089412 IRRIGATION DAMPING IN PHACOEMULSIFICATION RESTAINO, ANDREW PETER 3771 §103 Final Rejection 107d overdue Pending Dec 27, 2022
17965555 SMART INVENTORY MANAGEMENT CABINET ORTIZ ROMAN, DENISSE Y 3627 §101§103 Non-Final OA 20d Pending Oct 13, 2022
17954613 PHACOEMULSIFICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD YABUT, DIANE D 3771 §103 Non-Final OA — Pending Sep 28, 2022
17729343 ELECTRONICALLY DETECTING PHACOEMULSIFICATION TIP ENGAGEMENT WITH A LENS JAFFRI, ZEHRA 3771 §103§112 Final Rejection 111d overdue Pending Apr 26, 2022
17670734 TIP UNCLOGGING USING CONTROLLED ASPIRATION REFLUX HOAG, MITCHELL BRAIN 3771 §103 Non-Final OA 3d overdue Pending Feb 14, 2022
17670783 CONTROLLING CONSTANT INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE USING ADAPTIVE FLOW RATES OF IRRIGATION AND ASPIRATION FLUIDS GOLLAMUDI, NEERAJA 3783 §103 Final Rejection 114d overdue Pending Feb 14, 2022
17551243 MITIGATING PRESSURE PULSE IN VACUUM LINE USING A PRESSURE WAVE DAMPER ALLEN, ROBERT F 3783 §103 Non-Final OA — Pending Dec 15, 2021
17520968 MEDICAL SETTINGS PRESET SELECTION EDOUARD, PATRICIA KELLY 3681 §101 Final Rejection 2d overdue Pending Nov 08, 2021
17446147 System, Apparatus and Method for Maintaining Anterior Chamber Intraoperative Intraocular Pressure SWANSON, LEAH JENNINGS 3783 §103§112 Final Rejection 49d overdue Pending Aug 26, 2021
17318710 LOCKING MECHANISM FOR DISPOSABLE PUMP CARTRIDGE MEDWAY, SCOTT J 3783 §112 Non-Final OA — Pending May 12, 2021
17130846 PROCESSOR-CONTROLLED PUMP IN IRRIGATION LINE OF PHACOEMULSIFICATION PROBE VOKES, KATHLEEN PAIGE 3783 §103§112 Final Rejection 111d overdue Pending Dec 22, 2020
17124441 IRRIGATION/ASPIRATION PUMP HEAD AND BLADDER DESIGN AND METHODS MEDWAY, SCOTT J 3783 §112 Final Rejection 22d overdue Pending Dec 16, 2020
18924458 Correlation-Driven Search Information System For Digestive Health LULTSCHIK, WILLIAM G 3682 §101§103 Final Rejection — Pending Oct 23, 2024
18913647 Combination Method For Treating Or Preventing Childhood Atopic Disease GANGLE, BRIAN J — §103§112Other Non-Final OA — Pending Oct 11, 2024
18852574 ANHYDROUS FORMULATIONS SUITABLE AS LIP BALMS MI, QIUWEN — §103§112 Non-Final OA — Pending Sep 30, 2024
18705307 COMPOSITIONS SUITABLE FOR USE IN SKIN CARE SPAINE, ROBERT FRANKLIN 1655 §101§103§112 Non-Final OA — Pending Apr 26, 2024
18613849 METHODS FOR ACCLIMATING TO RETINOID-CONTAINING COMPOSITIONS TOWNSLEY, SARA ELIZABETH 1629 §102§103§112 Non-Final OA — Pending Mar 22, 2024
18610473 MELTING MASSAGE BAR SPAINE, ROBERT FRANKLIN 1655 §103§112Other Non-Final OA 54d Pending Mar 20, 2024
18429870 Cutibacterium Acnes Biomimetic, Prebiotic, Probiotic and Postbiotic Compositions for Treatment of Skin Conditions CHEONG, CHEOM-GIL 1645 §102§112 Non-Final OA 53d Pending Feb 01, 2024
18512273 Liquid Dispensing Apparatus ANGWIN, DAVID PATRICK 3754 §103 Non-Final OA — Pending Nov 17, 2023
18282663 CONCENTRATED COMPOSITION AND USES OF SAME JANOSKO, CHASITY PAIGE 1613 §103§112 Final Rejection 33d Pending Sep 18, 2023
18038519 METHODS OF PREVENTING, DELAYING OR AMELIORATING ATOPIC DISEASES HINES, JANA A 1645 §102§103 Non-Final OA 37d overdue Pending May 24, 2023
18100061 Biomarkers Predictive of Atopic Dermatitis TOTH, KAREN E 3791 §101§112 Final Rejection — Pending Jan 23, 2023
17305019 DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING TREATMENT FOR A SKIN CONDITION USING A TRACER DEUTSCH, TAYLOR M 3798 §103 Non-Final OA — Pending Jun 29, 2021
17191289 APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ASSESSING EMOTION OF INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN MORONESO, JONATHAN DREW 3791 §101§103§112 Non-Final OA — Pending Mar 03, 2021
18921163 Mold Lifecycle and Performance Digitalization CHANG, VINCENT WEN-LIANG — §101§103§112 Non-Final OA — Pending Oct 21, 2024
18892968 METHOD FOR EVALUATING HOMOGENEITY OF ORAL SUSPENSIONS NIA, FATEMEH ESFANDIARI — §103§112 Non-Final OA — Pending Sep 23, 2024
18800473 CLEANSING COMPOSITIONS HIRT, ERIN E — §103§112Other Non-Final OA — Pending Aug 12, 2024
18733498 Systems, Methods, And Apparatus For Attaching An Otoscope Using An Angled Clip-On Device WOOD, KIMBERLY T 3631 §103 Non-Final OA — Pending Jun 04, 2024
18615156 THERAPEUTIC LIQUID COMPOSITIONS CHAO, ALLEN 1622 §102§103 Final Rejection — Pending Mar 25, 2024
18386194 Systems, Methods, Mediums, and Apparatuses for Capturing Medications and Medication Usage LEWIS, CAMRYN BROOKE 3683 §101 Non-Final OA 1d overdue Pending Nov 01, 2023
18551393 METHODS OF USING COMPOSITIONS COMPRISING AN ICELAND MOSS EXTRACT MELLER, MICHAEL V 1655 §103 Non-Final OA — Pending Sep 19, 2023
18322135 ADVANCED METHOD AND KIT FOR WOUND TREATMENT BARHAM, BETHANY P 1611 §103 Final Rejection — Pending May 23, 2023
18136456 Mineral Sunscreen Compositions PRAGANI, RAJAN 1614 §103§112 Non-Final OA — Pending Apr 19, 2023
18114937 Oral Care Compositions WERTZ, ASHLEE ELIZABETH 1612 §103DP Final Rejection 21d Pending Feb 27, 2023
18114950 Oral Care Compositions WERTZ, ASHLEE ELIZABETH 1612 §103§112DP Final Rejection 24d overdue Pending Feb 27, 2023
18052707 Curable Absorbent Films DIGGS, TANISHA 1761 §103 Final Rejection 10d overdue Pending Nov 04, 2022
17933174 DOSAGE FORMS FOR THE DELIVERY OF A PROBIOTIC IANNUZO, NATALIE NMN 1653 §103 Final Rejection — Pending Sep 19, 2022
17760390 COMPOSITIONS AND APPLICATIONS THEREOF MITCHELL, EDWIN COLEMAN 1619 §103§112Other Final Rejection 34d Pending Aug 09, 2022
16446718 Process For Formation of Emulsion Containing Liquid Crystal Structure SOROUSH, LAYLA 1622 §103 Final Rejection 112d overdue Pending Jun 20, 2019

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