Technology area: Medical Devices & Mechanical Engineering
38 pending office actions • 10 art units • 27 examiners • 0 of 38 (0%) have an AI response strategy ready • 34 patents granted in the last 365 days
Ottobock SE & Co. KGaA has 38 pending office actions in Medical Devices & Mechanical Engineering. The portfolio spans 27 distinct examiners and 11 distinct art units, indicating substantial activity concentrated within a defined set of examination areas. Centralized claim strategy can support consistency, while individual responses must address examiner-specific treatment.
WILLSE, DAVID H is the busiest examiner, with 6 pending matters. This examiner cluster is a practical focus for coordinated review, but the remaining docket still requires organized management across the other examiner assignments and art units.
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 only | 1 (3%) |
| §103 only | 9 (24%) |
| §102 only | 3 (8%) |
| §112 only | 1 (3%) |
| Multi-statute (no §101) | 22 (58%) |
| No statute on record | 2 (5%) |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| WILLSE, DAVID H | 6 | 67.3% | +14.0% |
| BAHENA, CHRISTIE L. | 5 | 68.3% | +23.0% |
| WOZNICKI, JACQUELINE | 2 | 49.8% | +26.2% |
| SPENCER, MAXIMILIAN TOBIAS | 2 | 34.3% | +32.7% |
| ERDMAN, CHAD G | 1 | 80.2% | +17.7% |
| WAGGLE, JR, LARRY E | 1 | 80.6% | +17.2% |
| LEDERER, SARAH B | 1 | 55.6% | +36.9% |
| GHERBI, SUZETTE JAIME J | 1 | 85.1% | +8.7% |
| BLANCO, JAVIER G | 1 | 76.1% | +45.2% |
| KARIM, ZIAUL | 1 | 81.9% | +21.9% |
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 # | Title | Examiner | Due in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18247982 | METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR CREATING MANUFACTURING DATA, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING AN ORTHOPEDIC DEVICE | KARIM, ZIAUL | 42d overdue |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17786419 | PROSTHESIS SOCKET AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAME | BLASS, PARIS MARIE | 91d overdue |
| 18258399 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING A JOINT OF AN ORTHOPAEDIC TECHNOLOGY DEVICE AND JOINT OF THIS KIND | NERENBERG, RENEE FLORENCIA | 43d overdue |
| 17635751 | ORTHOPAEDIC DEVICE AND ENERGY STORAGE DEVICE | DUDDEN, TERESA MARIE | 23d overdue |
| 18016827 | ORTHOPAEDIC JOINT DEVICE | BAHENA, CHRISTIE L. | 21d |
| 18016831 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A PROSTHESIS OR ORTHESIS | SPENCER, MAXIMILIAN TOBIAS | 33d |
| 18553246 | PROSTHETIC FOOT INSERT | TYSON, MELANIE RUANO | 83d |
| 18985953 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A NEW PROSTHESIS | ERDMAN, CHAD G | — |
| 18959177 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN ORTHOPEDIC JOINT | WILLSE, DAVID H | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18247982 | METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR CREATING MANUFACTURING DATA, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING AN ORTHOPEDIC DEVICE | KARIM, ZIAUL | 42d overdue |
| 18016838 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A PROSTHESIS OR ORTHOSIS | BAHENA, CHRISTIE L. | 35d overdue |
| 18246783 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A PROSTHETIC FOOT | BAHENA, CHRISTIE L. | 28d overdue |
| 17424858 | PROSTHETIC FOOT COMPONENT | WOZNICKI, JACQUELINE | 11d overdue |
| 18553082 | PROSTHESIS SOCKET SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAME | WILLSE, DAVID H | 14d |
| 18016827 | ORTHOPAEDIC JOINT DEVICE | BAHENA, CHRISTIE L. | 21d |
| 18016831 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A PROSTHESIS OR ORTHESIS | SPENCER, MAXIMILIAN TOBIAS | 33d |
| 18985953 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A NEW PROSTHESIS | ERDMAN, CHAD G | — |
| Art Unit | Apps |
|---|---|
| 3774 | 26 |
| 3785 | 2 |
| 3786 | 2 |
| 3791 | 2 |
| 2116 | 1 |
| 2119 | 1 |
| 3798 | 1 |
| 3732 | 1 |
| 3700 | 1 |
| 2628 | 1 |
| App # | Title | Examiner | Art Unit | Statutes | Status | Due in | AI | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18985953 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A NEW PROSTHESIS | ERDMAN, CHAD G | 2116 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Dec 18, 2024 |
| 18959177 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN ORTHOPEDIC JOINT | WILLSE, DAVID H | 3774 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 25, 2024 |
| 18862402 | METHOD FOR SETTING UP AN ORTHOPAEDIC DEVICE | WAGGLE, JR, LARRY E | 3774 | §102§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 01, 2024 |
| 18811997 | Exoskeletons Comprising Flexible Mechanisms | LEDERER, SARAH B | 3785 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Aug 22, 2024 |
| 18718498 | PROSTHETIC SOCKET | GHERBI, SUZETTE JAIME J | 3774 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 11, 2024 |
| 18679235 | ORTHOTIC OR PROSTHETIC JOINT DEVICE, AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAME | BAHENA, CHRISTIE L. | 3774 | Other | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | May 30, 2024 |
| 18687526 | ORTHOPAEDIC DEVICE | BLANCO, JAVIER G | 3774 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Feb 28, 2024 |
| 18247982 | METHOD AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR CREATING MANUFACTURING DATA, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING AN ORTHOPEDIC DEVICE | KARIM, ZIAUL | 2119 | §103 | Final Rejection | 42d overdue | Pending | Oct 10, 2023 |
| 18553246 | PROSTHETIC FOOT INSERT | TYSON, MELANIE RUANO | 3774 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | 83d | Pending | Sep 29, 2023 |
| 18553082 | PROSTHESIS SOCKET SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAME | WILLSE, DAVID H | 3774 | §102 | Final Rejection | 14d | Pending | Sep 28, 2023 |
| 18471689 | VALVE AND PROSTHETIC KNEE JOINT HAVING SUCH A VALVE | WOZNICKI, JACQUELINE | 3774 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 21, 2023 |
| 18258399 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING A JOINT OF AN ORTHOPAEDIC TECHNOLOGY DEVICE AND JOINT OF THIS KIND | NERENBERG, RENEE FLORENCIA | 3774 | §102§103 | Final Rejection | 43d overdue | Pending | Jun 20, 2023 |
| 18156609 | ORTHOPAEDIC DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING A LOWER EXTREMITY OF A USER | HOWELL, GWYNNETH LINNEA | 3785 | §102§103§112 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Jan 19, 2023 |
| 17787554 | JOINT FOR AN ORTHOPEDIC DEVICE | WILLSE, DAVID H | 3774 | §102§103§112 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Jun 20, 2022 |
| 17786419 | PROSTHESIS SOCKET AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAME | BLASS, PARIS MARIE | 3774 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | 91d overdue | Pending | Jun 16, 2022 |
| 17635751 | ORTHOPAEDIC DEVICE AND ENERGY STORAGE DEVICE | DUDDEN, TERESA MARIE | 3774 | §103§112 | Final Rejection | 23d overdue | Pending | Feb 16, 2022 |
| 17424858 | PROSTHETIC FOOT COMPONENT | WOZNICKI, JACQUELINE | 3774 | §103 | Non-Final OA | 11d overdue | Pending | Jul 21, 2021 |
| 17414942 | ELASTIC SHEET MATERIAL, BANDAGE MADE THEREOF AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAID MATERIAL | NGUYEN, CAMTU TRAN | 3786 | §102 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 16, 2021 |
| 17297412 | PROSTHESIS LINER | LOPEZ, LESLIE ANN | 3774 | §103§112 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | May 26, 2021 |
| 17284431 | ENVELOPING BODY AND METHOD FOR DETECTING A CONTOUR OF AN AMPUTATION STUMP | KOLKIN, ADAM D. | 3798 | §103 | Final Rejection | 5d | Pending | Apr 09, 2021 |
| 17054400 | ARTIFICIAL FOOT | SPENCER, MAXIMILIAN TOBIAS | 3774 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 10, 2020 |
| 18860109 | PROSTHESIS COVER AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A PROSTHESIS COVER | WILLSE, DAVID H | 3774 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Oct 25, 2024 |
| 18837772 | PROSTHETIC GLOVE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAME | WEIS, RAQUEL M. | 3732 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Aug 12, 2024 |
| 18748524 | ADJUSTMENT VALVE | MANNAN, MIKAIL A | 3774 | §102§103Other | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 20, 2024 |
| 18720245 | Method for Controlling a Prosthetic and/or Orthotic System and such a System | STRANSKY, KATRINA MARIE | 3700 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 14, 2024 |
| 18718997 | ORTHOPAEDIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAME | PATEL, NITIN | 2628 | §102 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 12, 2024 |
| 18718508 | ACTUATOR AND ORTHOPEDIC TECHNICAL JOINT DEVICE, AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAME | COCHRAN, KARI LEE | 3774 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 11, 2024 |
| 18246783 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A PROSTHETIC FOOT | BAHENA, CHRISTIE L. | 3774 | §103 | Final Rejection | 28d overdue | Pending | Mar 27, 2023 |
| 18016831 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A PROSTHESIS OR ORTHESIS | SPENCER, MAXIMILIAN TOBIAS | 3774 | §101 | Non-Final OA | 33d | Pending | Jan 18, 2023 |
| 18016827 | ORTHOPAEDIC JOINT DEVICE | BAHENA, CHRISTIE L. | 3774 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | 21d | Pending | Jan 18, 2023 |
| 18016838 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A PROSTHESIS OR ORTHOSIS | BAHENA, CHRISTIE L. | 3774 | §103 | Final Rejection | 35d overdue | Pending | Jan 18, 2023 |
| 17971314 | ACTUATOR-DAMPER UNIT | WILLSE, DAVID H | 3774 | §102§103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Oct 21, 2022 |
| 17917098 | ACTUATABLE PROSTHESIS DEVICE, ELECTRONIC DATA PROCESSING DEVICE, AND METHOD FOR ACTUATING A PROSTHESIS DEVICE | SNOW, BRUCE EDWARD | 3774 | — | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Oct 05, 2022 |
| 17867578 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN ARTIFICIAL KNEE JOINT | BAHENA, CHRISTIE L. | 3774 | §103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Jul 18, 2022 |
| 17634529 | SYSTEM CONSISTING OF SPRING ADAPTER AND ORTHOPEDIC JOINT SYSTEM, AND SPRING ADAPTER | WILLSE, DAVID H | 3774 | §102§103§112 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Feb 10, 2022 |
| 17416431 | METHOD FOR EVALUATING USAGE DATA | CERIONI, DANIEL LEE | 3791 | §103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Jun 18, 2021 |
| 17288438 | METHODS FOR SETTING UP A CONTROLLER OF AN ORTHOPEDIC DEVICE AND SYSTEM FOR CARRYING OUT THE METHOD | PORTILLO, JAIRO H | 3791 | §103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Apr 23, 2021 |
| 16642334 | JOINT DEVICE | MILLER, DANIEL A | 3786 | §112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Feb 26, 2020 |
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Start Free TrialOttobock SE & Co. KGaA has 38 pending office actions as of October 2026, spread across 10 art units and 27 examiners.
David H Willse has the most, with 6 of Ottobock SE & Co. KGaA's pending office actions.
Mostly Medical Devices & Mechanical Engineering (USPTO Tech Center 3700), based on where its pending office actions are examined.
