Prosecution Insights
Prosecution Insights
Technology area: Medical Devices & Mechanical Engineering
29 pending office actions • 8 art units • 27 examiners • 0 of 29 (0%) have an AI response strategy ready • 24 patents granted in the last 365 days
Merit Medical Systems Inc. manages a company patent portfolio in the Medical Devices & Mechanical Engineering technology area. The portfolio features 29 pending office actions. These actions are handled by 27 distinct examiners across 7 distinct art units. THOMAS, NATALIE NICOLE is the busiest examiner with 2 pending actions. The presence of 29 pending office actions suggests a significant volume of ongoing prosecution within the medical device sector.
The ratio of 29 pending office actions to 7 distinct art units suggests a concentration of filings within a few technical groups. However, the involvement of 27 distinct examiners means that the company is dealing with a wide variety of individual examiner styles. Practitioners should focus on the 7 distinct art units while managing the 29 pending office actions across the 27 distinct examiners. Monitoring the 2 pending actions with the busiest examiner is essential for maintaining consistency. This structure requires a strategy that accounts for varied examiner styles while navigating the requirements of the identified technical groups.
Based on the USPTO statutory response window for each pending office action. 8 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. 8 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 (3%) |
| §103 only | 9 (31%) |
| §102 only | 3 (10%) |
| §112 only | 1 (3%) |
| Double-patenting only | 2 (7%) |
| Double-patenting + other | 1 (3%) |
| Multi-statute (no §101) | 12 (41%) |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| THOMAS, NATALIE NICOLE | 2 | — | — |
| LABRANCHE, BROOKE N | 2 | 72.7% | +15.7% |
| RESTAINO, ANDREW PETER | 1 | 72.5% | +39.5% |
| LYNCH, ROBERT A | 1 | 80.3% | +12.9% |
| ALLEN, ANDRE J | 1 | 91.4% | +6.4% |
| SULTANA, NAHIDA | 1 | 78.2% | +8.7% |
| DANIEL, ANTARIUS S | 1 | 52.1% | +15.7% |
| DAVID, SHAUN L | 1 | 72.8% | +19.5% |
| WILLIAMS, CATHERINE SERKE | 1 | 63.0% | +29.1% |
| BECCIA, CHRISTOPHER J | 1 | 83.5% | +14.0% |
Cases in front of an examiner with an allow rate of 80%+ where the difficulty is Easy or Medium. The top 3 ordered by deadline are shown.
| App # | Title | Examiner | Due in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19030824 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR MANIPULATING AND FASTENING TISSUE | LYNCH, ROBERT A | — |
| 18958926 | PRESSURE SENSORS AND RELATED METHODS | ALLEN, ANDRE J | — |
| 18669233 | OSTEOTOME WITH INFLATABLE PORTION AND MULTIWIRE ARTICULATION | BECCIA, CHRISTOPHER 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18745670 | MICROCATHETER OCCLUSION EMBOLIZATION CATHETER | WILLIAMS, CATHERINE SERKE | 51d overdue |
| 18344562 | HIGH PRESSURE INFLATION DEVICE | OSINSKI, BRADLEY JAMES | 8d |
| 18508539 | BALLOON EXPANDABLE STENT PROSTHESES AND BALLOON EXPANDABLE BRANCHING STENT PROSTHESES | BARIA, DINAH N | 14d |
| 18054817 | BIFURCATED VASCUALR STENT AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE | WOZNICKI, JACQUELINE | 16d |
| 19188717 | HEMOSTASIS DEVICES AND METHODS OF USE | RESTAINO, ANDREW PETER | — |
| 18796975 | HEMOSTASIS VALVE | DANIEL, ANTARIUS S | — |
| 18793340 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR MANIPULATING AND FASTENING TISSUE | DAVID, SHAUN L | — |
| 18654653 | TRANSLUMINAL STENTS AND RELATED METHODS | DUDDEN, TERESA MARIE | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18745670 | MICROCATHETER OCCLUSION EMBOLIZATION CATHETER | WILLIAMS, CATHERINE SERKE | 51d overdue |
| 19188717 | HEMOSTASIS DEVICES AND METHODS OF USE | RESTAINO, ANDREW PETER | — |
| 19030824 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR MANIPULATING AND FASTENING TISSUE | LYNCH, ROBERT A | — |
| 18796975 | HEMOSTASIS VALVE | DANIEL, ANTARIUS S | — |
| 18793340 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR MANIPULATING AND FASTENING TISSUE | DAVID, SHAUN L | — |
| 18669233 | OSTEOTOME WITH INFLATABLE PORTION AND MULTIWIRE ARTICULATION | BECCIA, CHRISTOPHER J | — |
| 18442854 | FENESTRATED VASCULAR AORTIC REPAIR STENT DEPLOYMENT DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS | LABRANCHE, BROOKE N | — |
| 18507711 | STENT WITH REMOTE MANIPULATION | LABRANCHE, BROOKE N | — |
| Art Unit | Apps |
|---|---|
| 3771 | 8 |
| 3774 | 6 |
| 3993 | 1 |
| 3775 | 1 |
| 3781 | 1 |
| 3783 | 1 |
| 3772 | 1 |
| 3799 | 1 |
| App # | Title | Examiner | Art Unit | Statutes | Status | Due in | AI | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19188717 | HEMOSTASIS DEVICES AND METHODS OF USE | RESTAINO, ANDREW PETER | — | §101§112Other | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Apr 24, 2025 |
| 19030824 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR MANIPULATING AND FASTENING TISSUE | LYNCH, ROBERT A | — | §102§103DP | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jan 17, 2025 |
| 18958926 | PRESSURE SENSORS AND RELATED METHODS | ALLEN, ANDRE J | — | §112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 25, 2024 |
| 18824201 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF FORMING A CONTINUOUS REINFORCED CATHETER SHAFT | SULTANA, NAHIDA | — | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 04, 2024 |
| 18796975 | HEMOSTASIS VALVE | DANIEL, ANTARIUS S | — | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Aug 07, 2024 |
| 18793340 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR MANIPULATING AND FASTENING TISSUE | DAVID, SHAUN L | 3771 | §102§103§112 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Aug 02, 2024 |
| 18753791 | APPARATUSES AND METHODS FOR EXPANDABLE BRANCHING STENT PROSTHESES | THOMAS, NATALIE NICOLE | — | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 25, 2024 |
| 18745670 | MICROCATHETER OCCLUSION EMBOLIZATION CATHETER | WILLIAMS, CATHERINE SERKE | 3993 | §103§112 | Final Rejection | 51d overdue | Pending | Jun 17, 2024 |
| 18669233 | OSTEOTOME WITH INFLATABLE PORTION AND MULTIWIRE ARTICULATION | BECCIA, CHRISTOPHER J | 3775 | DP | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | May 20, 2024 |
| 18654653 | TRANSLUMINAL STENTS AND RELATED METHODS | DUDDEN, TERESA MARIE | — | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | May 03, 2024 |
| 18643374 | INTRODUCER SHEATH ASSEMBLIES AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS | HOAG, MITCHELL BRAIN | 3771 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Apr 23, 2024 |
| 18612628 | DILATOR AND DUAL WIRE LUMEN SYSTEMS | STRANSKY, KATRINA MARIE | — | §103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Mar 21, 2024 |
| 18606214 | ESOPHAGEAL STENTS WITH HELICAL THREAD | THOMAS, NATALIE NICOLE | — | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Mar 15, 2024 |
| 18591252 | MEDICAL GRASPING DEVICE WITH SLIDE ACTUATOR | GEIGER, RACHAEL L | 3771 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Feb 29, 2024 |
| 18442854 | FENESTRATED VASCULAR AORTIC REPAIR STENT DEPLOYMENT DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS | LABRANCHE, BROOKE N | 3771 | §102 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Feb 15, 2024 |
| 18508539 | BALLOON EXPANDABLE STENT PROSTHESES AND BALLOON EXPANDABLE BRANCHING STENT PROSTHESES | BARIA, DINAH N | 3774 | §102§103§112 | Final Rejection | 14d | Pending | Nov 14, 2023 |
| 18508005 | ENDOVASCULAR DEVICES | WILLSE, DAVID H | 3774 | §102 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 13, 2023 |
| 18507711 | STENT WITH REMOTE MANIPULATION | LABRANCHE, BROOKE N | 3771 | §102§103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Nov 13, 2023 |
| 18459721 | EMBOLIZATION DEVICES INCLUDING BRAIDED WIRES, METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME | KHANDKER, RAIHAN R | 3771 | §103 | Non-Final OA | 24d overdue | Pending | Sep 01, 2023 |
| 18353502 | SINGLE LUMEN DRAINAGE CATHETER WITH TIP ANCHOR | WIEST, PHILIP R | 3781 | §102 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jul 17, 2023 |
| 18344562 | HIGH PRESSURE INFLATION DEVICE | OSINSKI, BRADLEY JAMES | 3783 | §103§112 | Final Rejection | 8d | Pending | Jun 29, 2023 |
| 18333337 | HEMOSTASIS VALVE DEVICE | BOSQUES, EDELMIRA | 3772 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 12, 2023 |
| 18183827 | STENT GRAFT WITH ELASTOMERIC IMPERMEABLE LAYER | PRESTON, REBECCA STRASZHEIM | 3774 | §103 | Final Rejection | 14d | Pending | Mar 14, 2023 |
| 18068181 | ELECTROSPUN MATERIAL COVERED APPLIANCES AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE | PELLEGRINO, BRIAN E | 3799 | DP | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 19, 2022 |
| 18054817 | BIFURCATED VASCUALR STENT AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE | WOZNICKI, JACQUELINE | 3774 | §102§103§112 | Final Rejection | 16d | Pending | Nov 11, 2022 |
| 17816301 | CORONARY COVERED STENT | TYSON, MELANIE RUANO | 3774 | §102§103§112 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Jul 29, 2022 |
| 17659623 | MULTI-STAGE BALLOON CATHETER SYSTEMS AND METHODS | DUBOSE, LAUREN | 3771 | §103 | Final Rejection | 12d | Pending | Apr 18, 2022 |
| 17655846 | PLIANT MEMBERS FOR RECEIVING AND AIDING IN THE DEPLOYMENT OF VASCULAR PROSTHESES | LONG, SARAH A | 3771 | §103 | Final Rejection | 62d | Pending | Mar 22, 2022 |
| 17652437 | DEVICES AND METHODS FOR DEPLOYMENT OF A VASCULAR PROSTHESIS | RIOS, GABRIELLA GISELLE BONO | 3774 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Feb 24, 2022 |
IP Author helps IP teams respond to office actions faster with AI-generated responses, examiner analytics, and prosecution intelligence.
Start Free Trial