Prosecution Insights
Prosecution Insights
Technology area: Medical Devices & Mechanical Engineering
61 pending office actions • 14 art units • 46 examiners • 0 of 61 (0%) have an AI response strategy ready • 68 patents granted in the last 365 days
Novocure GmbH manages a portfolio with 59 pending office actions in the Medical Devices & Mechanical Engineering technology area. These actions are distributed across 44 distinct examiners and 14 distinct art units, indicating complexity and a broad technical scope. The busiest examiner, TEHRANI, DANIEL, is responsible for 7 of these pending actions. This concentration of 7 actions under one examiner represents a significant portion of the workload compared to the other distinct examiners.
The busiest examiner pending count of 7 shows that while most of the 59 pending office actions are spread out, a specific cluster of applications is being reviewed by TEHRANI, DANIEL. The involvement of 14 distinct art units suggests that the portfolio covers many different sub-specialties within Medical Devices & Mechanical Engineering. Practitioners must balance the 7 pending actions with TEHRANI, DANIEL while managing the remaining pending actions across a diverse group of examiners. This distribution requires a dual-track strategy: a focused approach for the busiest examiner and a more generalized management system for the 14 distinct art units. The high number of 44 distinct examiners means the company faces a wide variety of examination styles and technical perspectives across its 59 pending office actions.
Based on the USPTO statutory response window for each pending office action. 27 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. 27 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 | 3 (5%) |
| §103 only | 25 (41%) |
| §102 only | 1 (2%) |
| §112 only | 2 (3%) |
| Double-patenting only | 1 (2%) |
| Double-patenting + other | 2 (3%) |
| Multi-statute (no §101) | 27 (44%) |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| TEHRANI, DANIEL | 7 | 59.7% | +42.9% |
| KISH, JAMES M | 4 | 62.4% | +11.8% |
| KAHELIN, MICHAEL WILLIAM | 3 | 77.9% | +23.9% |
| DINH, ANH-KHOA N | 3 | 87.4% | +15.2% |
| MUTCHLER, CHRISTOPHER JOHN | 2 | 55.9% | +20.4% |
| EVANISKO, GEORGE ROBERT | 2 | 70.4% | +34.9% |
| KOWALKOWSKI, FIONA MARGARET | 1 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| HOLMES, REX R | 1 | 80.2% | +17.9% |
| KEFAYATI, SOORENA | 1 | 83.6% | +7.6% |
| BUDISALICH, ANDREW STEVEN | 1 | 81.3% | +11.7% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18738457 | Arrays for Delivering Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) with Selectively Addressable Sub-Elements | DINH, ANH-KHOA N | 5d |
| 18398714 | COMPOSITIONS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR TREATING CANCER USING TUMOR TREATING FIELDS AND ANTI-VEGFR-2 ANTIBODIES | DINH, ANH-KHOA N | 34d |
| 18980470 | Impedance Tomography Using Electrodes of a Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) System | KEFAYATI, SOORENA | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18342303 | Methods For Treating Diabetes With Alternating Electric Fields | DINH, ANH-KHOA N | 146d overdue |
| 17987787 | Electrode Assembly with Non-Hydrogel Conductive Adhesive Layer and Methods of Applying Tumor Treating Fields Using Same | TEHRANI, DANIEL | 86d overdue |
| 18336880 | Compositions And Methods For Treating With A Combination Of Alternating Electric Fields And FGF Inhibitors | PATEL, SHEFALI DILIP | 66d overdue |
| 18128937 | ALTERNATING ELECTRIC FIELD WAVEFORM FOR ELECTROSENSATION REDUCTION | SIRCAR, ALISHA JITENDRA | 32d overdue |
| 17953823 | COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR TESTING ADVERSE SKIN EVENTS | BALAJI, KAVYA SHOBANA | 2d overdue |
| 17886382 | TRANSDUCER APPARATUSES WITH ELECTRODE ARRAY SHAPED TO REDUCE EDGE EFFECT IN DELIVERING TUMOR TREATING FIELDS TO A SUBJECT'S BODY | TEHRANI, DANIEL | 8d |
| 18680762 | Methods Of Using Alternating Electric Fields And Checkpoint Inhibitors | HOLTZCLAW, MICHAEL T. | 23d |
| 18621809 | METHODS OF TREATING SPINAL CORD INJURIES WITH ALTERNATING ELECTRIC FIELDS | KISH, JAMES M | 23d |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18342303 | Methods For Treating Diabetes With Alternating Electric Fields | DINH, ANH-KHOA N | 146d overdue |
| 17987787 | Electrode Assembly with Non-Hydrogel Conductive Adhesive Layer and Methods of Applying Tumor Treating Fields Using Same | TEHRANI, DANIEL | 86d overdue |
| 18071933 | Devices, Systems, And Methods For Applying Tumor-Treating Fields | TEHRANI, DANIEL | 56d overdue |
| 18617886 | Reducing Electrosensation When Treating a Subject Using a Rotating Alternating Electric Field by Gradually Increasing the Amplitude of the Field | KISH, JAMES M | 9d overdue |
| 18738457 | Arrays for Delivering Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) with Selectively Addressable Sub-Elements | DINH, ANH-KHOA N | 5d |
| 17698457 | TRANSDUCER APPARATUSES FOR DELIVERING TUMOR TREATING FIELDS TO A SUBJECT'S BODY | TEHRANI, DANIEL | 7d |
| 17886382 | TRANSDUCER APPARATUSES WITH ELECTRODE ARRAY SHAPED TO REDUCE EDGE EFFECT IN DELIVERING TUMOR TREATING FIELDS TO A SUBJECT'S BODY | TEHRANI, DANIEL | 8d |
| 18080026 | TRANSDUCER ARRAY WITH ADHESIVE LAYER SHAPED TO REDUCE SKIN IRRITATION | TEHRANI, DANIEL | 9d |
| Art Unit | Apps |
|---|---|
| 3792 | 25 |
| 3796 | 6 |
| 3783 | 5 |
| 3700 | 2 |
| 3794 | 1 |
| 1628 | 1 |
| 2677 | 1 |
| 3797 | 1 |
| 1647 | 1 |
| 1799 | 1 |
| App # | Title | Examiner | Art Unit | Statutes | Status | Due in | AI | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19094167 | Apparatus And Method For Array Positioning | KOWALKOWSKI, FIONA MARGARET | — | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Mar 28, 2025 |
| 19010401 | Intravenous / Intra-Spinal / Intra-Cavity / Intraventricular Delivery of TTFields (Tumor Treating Fields) for Treating Cancer and Metastases | HOLMES, REX R | — | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jan 06, 2025 |
| 18980470 | Impedance Tomography Using Electrodes of a Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) System | KEFAYATI, SOORENA | — | §112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 13, 2024 |
| 18981189 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING TUMOR TREATING FIELDS TO A TORSO, AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING LOCATIONS FOR TRANSDUCERS TO DELIVER TUMOR TREATING FIELDS | MUTCHLER, CHRISTOPHER JOHN | — | §101§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 13, 2024 |
| 18961009 | DETERMINING TRANSDUCER LOCATIONS FOR DELIVERY OF TUMOR TREATING FIELDS USING SIMULATIONS BASED ON MODELS OF HEALTHY SUBJECTS | BUDISALICH, ANDREW STEVEN | — | §101§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 26, 2024 |
| 18960626 | DETERMINING TRANSDUCER LOCATIONS FOR DELIVERY OF TUMOR TREATING FIELDS USING SIMULATIONS BASED ON APPROXIMATE TUMOR LOCATION | SOHRABY, PARDIS | — | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 26, 2024 |
| 18958141 | AUTOMATIC ANCHOR IMAGE SELECTION | AMIN, JWALANT B | — | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 25, 2024 |
| 18951176 | AMPLITUDE MODULATION FOR TUMOR TREATING FIELDS | TEHRANI, DANIEL | — | §102§103Other | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 18, 2024 |
| 18899709 | TRANSDUCER ARRAY HAVING SUBARRAYS AND METHODS OF PRODUCTION AND USE THEREOF | SISON, CHRISTINE ANDREA PAN | — | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 27, 2024 |
| 18897192 | Delivering Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) to a Subject's Brain Using Electrodes Installed in Through-Holes in the Subject's Skull | KISH, JAMES M | — | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 26, 2024 |
| 18894349 | LOW FREQUENCY RF ABLATION SYSTEM | STUMPFOLL, DANA LYNN | 3794 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 24, 2024 |
| 18885370 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND APPARATUSES FOR MANAGING TEMPERATURES INDUCED BY ALTERNATING FIELDS | KAHELIN, MICHAEL WILLIAM | — | §102§112 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Sep 13, 2024 |
| 18885275 | THERMAL MAPPING FOR TREATMENT PLANNING FOR TUMOR TREATING FIELDS | ADEDIRAN, ABDUL -SAMAD A | — | §102 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 13, 2024 |
| 18806445 | CONNECTOR FOR DETACHABLE ARRAY | KAHELIN, MICHAEL WILLIAM | 3792 | §102§103DP | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Aug 15, 2024 |
| 18799594 | Compositions And Methods Of Altering The Electric Impedance To An Alternating Electric Field | FAIRCHILD, MALLIKA DIPAYAN | 3792 | §102DP | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Aug 09, 2024 |
| 18770132 | APPARATUSES, METHODS, AND SYSTEMS FOR TREATING SPINAL TUMORS WITH TUMOR TREATING FIELDS | CHRISTIANSON, SKYLAR LINDSEY | 3792 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jul 11, 2024 |
| 18759109 | COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR TREATING WITH A COMBINATION OF ALTERNATING ELECTRIC FIELDS AND DNA-DEPENDENT PROTEIN KINASE INHIBITORS | JIAN, SHIRLEY XUEYING | 3792 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | 30d | Pending | Jun 28, 2024 |
| 18759154 | Apparatus Having Electrode Array Subassemblies Coupled Together By A Flexible Coupling | ROBLES, EILEEN | 3792 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 28, 2024 |
| 18757028 | TRANSDUCERS FOR DELIVERY OF TUMOR TREATING FIELDS AND CAPABLE OF REDUCING CREASING | VOORHEES, CATHERINE M | 3792 | §103Other | Final Rejection | 5d | Pending | Jun 27, 2024 |
| 18750190 | USER TOOLS FOR TREATMENT PLANNING FOR TUMOR TREATING FIELDS | DOWNEY, JOHN R | 3792 | §103 | Non-Final OA | 28d | Pending | Jun 21, 2024 |
| 18738457 | Arrays for Delivering Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) with Selectively Addressable Sub-Elements | DINH, ANH-KHOA N | 3796 | §103Other | Non-Final OA | 5d | Pending | Jun 10, 2024 |
| 18680762 | Methods Of Using Alternating Electric Fields And Checkpoint Inhibitors | HOLTZCLAW, MICHAEL T. | 3796 | §102§103§112 | Final Rejection | 23d | Pending | May 31, 2024 |
| 18621869 | METHODS OF TREATING CARTILAGE GRAFTS WITH ALTERNATING ELECTRIC FIELDS | HILSMIER, HEIDI ANN | 3792 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Mar 29, 2024 |
| 18621809 | METHODS OF TREATING SPINAL CORD INJURIES WITH ALTERNATING ELECTRIC FIELDS | KISH, JAMES M | 3792 | §102§103 | Final Rejection | 23d | Pending | Mar 29, 2024 |
| 18619957 | COMPOSITIONS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR TREATING CANCER USING TUMOR TREATING FIELDS AND KILLER CELLS | SOLOMON, JOSHUA BRENDON | — | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Mar 28, 2024 |
| 18617871 | Applying Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) to a Body Part in at Least Three Different Directions Using Five Arrays of Electrode Elements | KISH, JAMES M | 3792 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Mar 27, 2024 |
| 18617886 | Reducing Electrosensation When Treating a Subject Using a Rotating Alternating Electric Field by Gradually Increasing the Amplitude of the Field | KISH, JAMES M | 3792 | §103 | Final Rejection | 9d overdue | Pending | Mar 27, 2024 |
| 18428639 | Methods for Restoring Sensitivity to TTFields in TTFields-Resistant Cancer Cells with PTGER3 Inhibitors | COPPINS, JANET L | 1628 | DP | Final Rejection | 34d | Pending | Jan 31, 2024 |
| 18426816 | Evaluating Quality of Segmentation of an Image into Different Types of Tissue for Planning Treatment Using Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) | FITZPATRICK, ATIBA O | 2677 | §102§103§112Other | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jan 30, 2024 |
| 18398714 | COMPOSITIONS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR TREATING CANCER USING TUMOR TREATING FIELDS AND ANTI-VEGFR-2 ANTIBODIES | DINH, ANH-KHOA N | 3796 | §103 | Non-Final OA | 34d | Pending | Dec 28, 2023 |
| 18398557 | METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR INHIBITING FIBROBLAST ACTIVATION | DONOHUE, SEAN R | 3797 | §103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Dec 28, 2023 |
| 18398526 | Reducing Electrosensation While Treating a Subject Using Alternating Electric Fields by Increasing the Number of Steps in a Ramp-Up Portion of a Waveform | MULLINS, JESSICA LYNN | 3792 | §103 | Non-Final OA | 40d | Pending | Dec 28, 2023 |
| 18392835 | Systems And Method For Array Positioning | EDWARDS, PHILIP CHARLES | 3792 | §102§103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Dec 21, 2023 |
| 18511374 | CONDUCTIVE GEL COMPOSITIONS COMPRISING BULK ELECTRON TRANSPORT AGENTS AND METHODS OF PRODUCTION AND USE THEREOF | KAHELIN, MICHAEL WILLIAM | 3792 | §112 | Final Rejection | 75d | Pending | Nov 16, 2023 |
| 18379504 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DELIVERING ALTERNATING ELECTRIC FIELDS TO A TARGET TISSUE | STEINBERG, AMANDA L | 3792 | §101§103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Oct 12, 2023 |
| 18477010 | COMPOSITIONS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR TREATING CANCER USING ALTERNATING ELECTRIC FIELDS AND DENDRITIC CELLS | DEBERRY, REGINA M | 1647 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 28, 2023 |
| 18476536 | Cover For Cell Culture Apparatus | KIPOUROS, HOLLY MICHAELA | 1799 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 28, 2023 |
| 18373102 | THREE-DIMENSIONAL MODEL GENERATION FOR TUMOR TREATING FIELDS TRANSDUCER LAYOUT | WELCH, DAVID T | 2613 | §103 | Final Rejection | 26d | Pending | Sep 26, 2023 |
| 18216258 | ADHESIVE LAYER WITH PROTECTIVE BORDER FOR USE IN A TUMOR TREATING FIELDS TRANSDUCER | ALTER MORSCHAUSER, ALYSSA MARGO | 3796 | §103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Jun 29, 2023 |
| 18342303 | Methods For Treating Diabetes With Alternating Electric Fields | DINH, ANH-KHOA N | 3792 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | 146d overdue | Pending | Jun 27, 2023 |
| 18336880 | Compositions And Methods For Treating With A Combination Of Alternating Electric Fields And FGF Inhibitors | PATEL, SHEFALI DILIP | 3783 | §102§103§112 | Final Rejection | 66d overdue | Pending | Jun 16, 2023 |
| 18336493 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TREATING CONDITIONS AND DISEASES USING ALTERNATING ELECTRIC FIELDS AND CRISPR-CAS SYSTEM | BRETZ, COREY LANE | 1635 | §102§103Other | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 16, 2023 |
| 18333906 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INCREASING INTESTINAL ABSORPTION OF THERAPEUTIC AGENTS | EVANISKO, GEORGE ROBERT | 3792 | §102§103§112Other | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 13, 2023 |
| 18128937 | ALTERNATING ELECTRIC FIELD WAVEFORM FOR ELECTROSENSATION REDUCTION | SIRCAR, ALISHA JITENDRA | 3792 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | 32d overdue | Pending | Mar 30, 2023 |
| 18115363 | Electrode Assembly with a Skin Contact Layer Comprising a Conductive Adhesive Composite, and Systems and Methods of Applying Tumor Treating Fields Using Same | STOKLOSA, JOSEPH A | 3700 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Feb 28, 2023 |
| 18080026 | TRANSDUCER ARRAY WITH ADHESIVE LAYER SHAPED TO REDUCE SKIN IRRITATION | TEHRANI, DANIEL | 3792 | §103 | Final Rejection | 9d | Pending | Dec 13, 2022 |
| 18062372 | GARMENT PROVIDING A BIASING FORCE ON A TRANSDUCER ARRAY | SAHAND, SANA | 3796 | §103 | Non-Final OA | 8d overdue | Pending | Dec 06, 2022 |
| 18062161 | COMPACT DC SYSTEM FOR DELIVERING A SQUARE WAVE AC SIGNAL | TEHRANI, DANIEL | 3792 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 06, 2022 |
| 18071933 | Devices, Systems, And Methods For Applying Tumor-Treating Fields | TEHRANI, DANIEL | 3792 | §103 | Final Rejection | 56d overdue | Pending | Nov 30, 2022 |
| 17987787 | Electrode Assembly with Non-Hydrogel Conductive Adhesive Layer and Methods of Applying Tumor Treating Fields Using Same | TEHRANI, DANIEL | 3792 | §103§112 | Final Rejection | 86d overdue | Pending | Nov 15, 2022 |
| 17953823 | COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR TESTING ADVERSE SKIN EVENTS | BALAJI, KAVYA SHOBANA | 3791 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | 2d overdue | Pending | Sep 27, 2022 |
| 17886382 | TRANSDUCER APPARATUSES WITH ELECTRODE ARRAY SHAPED TO REDUCE EDGE EFFECT IN DELIVERING TUMOR TREATING FIELDS TO A SUBJECT'S BODY | TEHRANI, DANIEL | 3792 | §102§103 | Final Rejection | 8d | Pending | Aug 11, 2022 |
| 17880947 | Electrode Assembly for Applying Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) that Include a Sheet of Graphite | MUTCHLER, CHRISTOPHER JOHN | 3700 | §102§103§112 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Aug 04, 2022 |
| 17841987 | METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR INCREASING CIRCULATION DURING TREATMENT WITH ALTERNATING ELECTRIC FIELDS | HALL, DEANNA K | 3783 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 16, 2022 |
| 17828794 | Compositions And Methods For Treating With A Combination Of Alternating Electric Fields And Trastuzumab | WITTLIFF, KATERINA ANNA | 3783 | §103 | Final Rejection | 44d overdue | Pending | May 31, 2022 |
| 17778319 | IMPLANTABLE ARRAYS FOR PROVIDING TUMOR TREATING FIELDS | EVANISKO, GEORGE ROBERT | 3792 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | 56d | Pending | May 19, 2022 |
| 17698777 | CONSTRUCTING A 3D PHANTOM WITH LIQUID HYDROGEL | CALLE, ANGEL JAVIER | 2189 | §103 | Final Rejection | 3d overdue | Pending | Mar 18, 2022 |
| 17698457 | TRANSDUCER APPARATUSES FOR DELIVERING TUMOR TREATING FIELDS TO A SUBJECT'S BODY | TEHRANI, DANIEL | 3792 | §103 | Final Rejection | 7d | Pending | Mar 18, 2022 |
| 17692997 | COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS FOR USING ALTERNATING ELECTRIC FIELDS TO DISRUPT NANOPARTICLES | NORTH, ISABELLA SARAH HYO SO | 3783 | §103 | Final Rejection | 128d overdue | Pending | Mar 11, 2022 |
| 17559228 | Methods And Compositions For Using Alternating Electric Fields In Gene Therapy | MARRISON, SAMUEL JOSEPH | 3783 | §103Other | Non-Final OA | 84d overdue | Pending | Dec 22, 2021 |
| 17478174 | Methods And Compositions For Treating Coronavirus | LEE, ERICA SHENGKAI | 3796 | §102§103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Sep 17, 2021 |
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