Prosecution Insights
Prosecution Insights
Technology area: Medical Devices & Mechanical Engineering
38 pending office actions • 6 art units • 27 examiners • 0 of 38 (0%) have an AI response strategy ready • 30 patents granted in the last 365 days
Ottobock SE & Co. KGaA maintains a significant patent portfolio with 38 pending office actions in the Medical Devices & Mechanical Engineering technology area. These actions are distributed among 27 distinct examiners, showing a broad engagement with the patent office staff. These matters span 6 distinct art units, indicating that the company's medical device innovations are being evaluated across several specialized technical groups. The presence of 38 pending actions suggests a high level of ongoing research and development activity that requires constant interaction with the patent office. Managing 27 distinct examiners across 6 art units necessitates a robust and well-coordinated intellectual property strategy.
WILLSE, DAVID H is the busiest examiner for the portfolio, currently overseeing 6 pending office actions. While this examiner handles the largest individual share of the company's active cases, these 6 pending actions represent a fraction of the 38 total actions pending across the entire portfolio. This distribution suggests that the company's legal strategy involves managing many simultaneous threads across a variety of examining groups. The outcome of the 6 actions under this busiest examiner will be important, but the overall health of the portfolio depends on the results from all 27 distinct examiners involved.
Based on the USPTO statutory response window for each pending office action. 13 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. 13 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 |
|---|---|
| §103 only | 10 (26%) |
| §102 only | 2 (5%) |
| §112 only | 1 (3%) |
| Multi-statute (no §101) | 23 (61%) |
| 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% | +13.7% |
| BAHENA, CHRISTIE L. | 4 | 68.2% | +23.5% |
| SPENCER, MAXIMILIAN TOBIAS | 3 | 32.8% | +31.6% |
| WOZNICKI, JACQUELINE | 2 | 49.8% | +26.0% |
| ALBERS, KEVIN S | 1 | 26.6% | +49.7% |
| WAGGLE, JR, LARRY E | 1 | 80.6% | +17.3% |
| GHERBI, SUZETTE JAIME J | 1 | 85.0% | +8.8% |
| LOPEZ, LESLIE ANN | 1 | 65.5% | +34.3% |
| BLANCO, JAVIER G | 1 | 76.0% | +45.2% |
| KARIM, ZIAUL | 1 | 81.9% | +21.8% |
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 |
| 17999638 | PROSTHETIC-FOOT INSERT AND FORCE-TRANSMISSION ELEMENT, AND SYSTEM COMPOSED THEREOF | SPENCER, MAXIMILIAN TOBIAS | 10d overdue |
| 18016827 | ORTHOPAEDIC JOINT DEVICE | BAHENA, CHRISTIE L. | 21d |
| 19210476 | ANKLE/FOOT ORTHOSIS | ALBERS, KEVIN S | 53d |
| 18553246 | PROSTHETIC FOOT INSERT | NGUYEN, NHA UYEN CHAU | 83d |
| 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 |
| 17999638 | PROSTHETIC-FOOT INSERT AND FORCE-TRANSMISSION ELEMENT, AND SYSTEM COMPOSED THEREOF | SPENCER, MAXIMILIAN TOBIAS | 10d overdue |
| 18553082 | PROSTHESIS SOCKET SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAME | WILLSE, DAVID H | 14d |
| 18016827 | ORTHOPAEDIC JOINT DEVICE | BAHENA, CHRISTIE L. | 21d |
| 19210476 | ANKLE/FOOT ORTHOSIS | ALBERS, KEVIN S | 53d |
| Art Unit | Apps |
|---|---|
| 3774 | 21 |
| 3786 | 2 |
| 3791 | 2 |
| 2119 | 1 |
| 3785 | 1 |
| 3798 | 1 |
| App # | Title | Examiner | Art Unit | Statutes | Status | Due in | AI | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19210476 | ANKLE/FOOT ORTHOSIS | ALBERS, KEVIN S | 3786 | §103§112Other | Non-Final OA | 53d | Pending | May 16, 2025 |
| 18959177 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN ORTHOPEDIC JOINT | WILLSE, DAVID H | — | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 25, 2024 |
| 18862402 | METHOD FOR SETTING UP AN ORTHOPAEDIC DEVICE | WAGGLE, JR, LARRY E | — | §102§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 01, 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 |
| 18691590 | ORTHOPEDIC SYSTEM AND PROSTHETIC FOOT HAVING SUCH AN ORTHOPEDIC SYSTEM | LOPEZ, LESLIE ANN | — | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Mar 13, 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 | NGUYEN, NHA UYEN CHAU | 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 | — | §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 |
| 17999638 | PROSTHETIC-FOOT INSERT AND FORCE-TRANSMISSION ELEMENT, AND SYSTEM COMPOSED THEREOF | SPENCER, MAXIMILIAN TOBIAS | 3774 | §103§112 | Final Rejection | 10d overdue | Pending | Nov 22, 2022 |
| 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 |
| 17294366 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONSTRUCTING A PROSTHESIS | ALEMAN, SARAH WEBB | 3774 | §103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | May 14, 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. | — | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Aug 12, 2024 |
| 18748524 | ADJUSTMENT VALVE | MANNAN, MIKAIL A | — | §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 | — | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 14, 2024 |
| 18718997 | ORTHOPAEDIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SAME | PATEL, NITIN | — | §102 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 12, 2024 |
| 18718508 | ACTUATOR AND ORTHOPEDIC TECHNICAL JOINT DEVICE, AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SAME | COCHRAN, KARI LEE | — | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 11, 2024 |
| 18710918 | METHOD FOR GENERATING ACOUSTIC FEEDBACK, AND ORTHOPAEDIC DEVICE | MASIH, KAREN | — | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | May 16, 2024 |
| 18246783 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A PROSTHETIC FOOT | BAHENA, CHRISTIE L. | 3774 | §103 | Final Rejection | 28d overdue | Pending | Mar 27, 2023 |
| 18016838 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A PROSTHESIS OR ORTHOSIS | BAHENA, CHRISTIE L. | 3774 | §103 | Final Rejection | 35d overdue | Pending | Jan 18, 2023 |
| 18016827 | ORTHOPAEDIC JOINT DEVICE | BAHENA, CHRISTIE L. | 3774 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | 21d | Pending | Jan 18, 2023 |
| 17999669 | COSMESIS, SYSTEM CONSISTING OF PROSTHETIC COMPONENT AND COSMESIS, AND CONNECTION PART | SPENCER, MAXIMILIAN TOBIAS | 3774 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 22, 2022 |
| 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 |
| 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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