Prosecution Insights
Prosecution Insights
Technology areas: Chemistry & Materials • Medical Devices & Mechanical Engineering
35 pending office actions • 13 art units • 33 examiners • 0 of 35 (0%) have an AI response strategy ready • 64 patents granted in the last 365 days
thyssenkrupp AG currently manages 37 pending office actions within the Medical Devices & Mechanical Engineering technology area. These actions are distributed among 35 distinct examiners, which is a smaller number than the total 37 pending office actions. The portfolio involves 14 distinct art units, indicating that the company's filings are spread across several technical groups. CHRISTY, KATHERINE A is the busiest examiner, currently handling 2 pending office actions.
The 35 distinct examiners involved suggest that nearly every pending case is being reviewed by a different individual. This distribution across 14 distinct art units requires the company to be prepared for various examination styles within Medical Devices & Mechanical Engineering. CHRISTY, KATHERINE A, with 2 pending office actions, is one of the few examiners managing more than one case. Practitioners should note that the 37 pending office actions are subject to the discretion of these 35 distinct examiners.
The 14 distinct art units involved mean that the company must coordinate its prosecution strategy across multiple technical niches. With 37 pending office actions, the portfolio is relatively dispersed across the 35 distinct examiners. CHRISTY, KATHERINE A and their 2 pending office actions represent the highest point of examiner concentration for the company at this time.
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 |
|---|---|
| §103 only | 7 (20%) |
| §102 only | 1 (3%) |
| §112 only | 4 (11%) |
| Double-patenting only | 1 (3%) |
| Double-patenting + other | 1 (3%) |
| Multi-statute (no §101) | 21 (60%) |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTY, KATHERINE A | 2 | 75.1% | +34.9% |
| MCGUTHRY BANKS, TIMA MICHELE | 2 | 81.8% | +2.5% |
| HERRMANN, JOSEPH S | 1 | 63.7% | +40.4% |
| ZOLLINGER, NATHAN C | 1 | 69.6% | +40.2% |
| FINK, THOMAS ANDREW | 1 | 65.0% | +32.4% |
| CHOWDHURY, AL-BIRR RAHMAN | 1 | 80.0% | +26.4% |
| SCHWARTZ, CHRISTOPHER P | 1 | 85.5% | +6.2% |
| IRVIN, SHEA WOODROW | 1 | 80.0% | -32.1% |
| KING, BRADLEY T | 1 | 70.8% | +22.5% |
| TIGHE, BRENDAN P | 1 | 76.0% | +19.3% |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18030553 | METHOD FOR PRODUCING PIG IRON IN A SHAFT FURNACE | MCGUTHRY BANKS, TIMA MICHELE | 105d 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18143480 | STEER-BY-WIRE STEERING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A STEER-BY-WIRE STEERING SYSTEM IN A NORMAL OPERATING MODE AND IN A SPECIAL OPERATING MODE | KRAFT, LOGAN M | 30d overdue |
| 18702179 | METHOD FOR COATING A FLAT STEEL PRODUCT WITH LOW SUSCEPTIBILITY OF CRATERS IN THE PAINT | DAGENAIS, KRISTEN A | 28d overdue |
| 18681609 | METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SHEET METAL PARTS AND DEVICE THEREFOR | SULLIVAN, DEBRA M | 34d |
| 19167293 | REED VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR A RADIAL PISTON COMPRESSOR, RADIAL PISTON COMPRESSOR, AND METHOD FOR MOUNTING A REED VALVE ASSEMBLY ON A RADIAL PISTON COMPRESSOR | HERRMANN, JOSEPH S | — |
| 19165989 | RADIAL PISTON COMPRESSOR | ZOLLINGER, NATHAN C | — |
| 19139270 | RADIAL PISTON COMPRESSOR | FINK, THOMAS ANDREW | — |
| 19046066 | ACTUATOR UNIT FOR A STEERING SYSTEM OF A MOTOR VEHICLE AND STEERING SYSTEM FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE | CHOWDHURY, AL-BIRR RAHMAN | — |
| 18955612 | VIBRATION DAMPER FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE | SCHWARTZ, CHRISTOPHER P | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18696630 | METHOD FOR TEMPER ROLLING A STEEL SHEET, TEMPER-ROLLED STEEL SHEET AND COMPONENT MANUFACTURED THEREFROM | CHRISTY, KATHERINE A | 36d |
| 18873096 | TEMPER-PASSED, HOT-DIPPED STEEL SHEET | CHRISTY, KATHERINE A | 41d |
| 19167293 | REED VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR A RADIAL PISTON COMPRESSOR, RADIAL PISTON COMPRESSOR, AND METHOD FOR MOUNTING A REED VALVE ASSEMBLY ON A RADIAL PISTON COMPRESSOR | HERRMANN, JOSEPH S | — |
| 19165989 | RADIAL PISTON COMPRESSOR | ZOLLINGER, NATHAN C | — |
| 19139270 | RADIAL PISTON COMPRESSOR | FINK, THOMAS ANDREW | — |
| 19046066 | ACTUATOR UNIT FOR A STEERING SYSTEM OF A MOTOR VEHICLE AND STEERING SYSTEM FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE | CHOWDHURY, AL-BIRR RAHMAN | — |
| 18891361 | DAMPER VALVE AND VIBRATION DAMPER | KING, BRADLEY T | — |
| 18844324 | PROCESSING STATION FOR WORKPIECES THAT ARE IN THE FORM OF VEHICLE BODY PARTS AND HAVE STORED, EXCHANGEABLE CLAMPING DEVICES, AND METHOD FOR CHANGING THE CLAMPING DEVICES | TIGHE, BRENDAN P | — |
| Art Unit | Apps |
|---|---|
| 3746 | 4 |
| 3725 | 4 |
| 1784 | 3 |
| 1733 | 3 |
| 3616 | 2 |
| 2858 | 1 |
| 3611 | 1 |
| 3993 | 1 |
| 3762 | 1 |
| 1732 | 1 |
| App # | Title | Examiner | Art Unit | Statutes | Status | Due in | AI | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19167293 | REED VALVE ASSEMBLY FOR A RADIAL PISTON COMPRESSOR, RADIAL PISTON COMPRESSOR, AND METHOD FOR MOUNTING A REED VALVE ASSEMBLY ON A RADIAL PISTON COMPRESSOR | HERRMANN, JOSEPH S | 3746 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 19, 2025 |
| 19165989 | RADIAL PISTON COMPRESSOR | ZOLLINGER, NATHAN C | 3746 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 16, 2025 |
| 19139270 | RADIAL PISTON COMPRESSOR | FINK, THOMAS ANDREW | 3746 | §103§112 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Jun 13, 2025 |
| 19046066 | ACTUATOR UNIT FOR A STEERING SYSTEM OF A MOTOR VEHICLE AND STEERING SYSTEM FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE | CHOWDHURY, AL-BIRR RAHMAN | — | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Feb 05, 2025 |
| 18955612 | VIBRATION DAMPER FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE | SCHWARTZ, CHRISTOPHER P | — | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 21, 2024 |
| 18891174 | DAMPER VALVE AND VIBRATION DAMPER | IRVIN, SHEA WOODROW | — | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 20, 2024 |
| 18891361 | DAMPER VALVE AND VIBRATION DAMPER | KING, BRADLEY T | — | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 20, 2024 |
| 18844324 | PROCESSING STATION FOR WORKPIECES THAT ARE IN THE FORM OF VEHICLE BODY PARTS AND HAVE STORED, EXCHANGEABLE CLAMPING DEVICES, AND METHOD FOR CHANGING THE CLAMPING DEVICES | TIGHE, BRENDAN P | — | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 05, 2024 |
| 18713107 | SYSTEM HAVING A SAMPLE STORE FOR PREPARING A SAMPLE MATERIAL IN THE CEMENT OR LIME INDUSTRY FOR CALORIMETRIC MEASUREMENT | MUI, CHRISTINE T | — | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | May 23, 2024 |
| 18690674 | PLA COATING OF FERTILISERS | LANGEL, WAYNE A | — | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Mar 08, 2024 |
| 18688721 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING OLD CONCRETE | ALAWADI, MOHAMMED S | 3725 | §103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Mar 01, 2024 |
| 18683743 | FLUX-COLLECTING ELEMENT AND COLLECTOR UNIT OF A MAGNETIC POSITION SENSOR AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION THEREOF | AURORA, REENA | 2858 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Feb 14, 2024 |
| 18418013 | NON-RETURN VALVE, VIBRATION DAMPER HAVING SUCH A NON-RETURN VALVE, AND USE OF SUCH A NON-RETURN VALVE | SAHNI, VISHAL R | 3616 | §102 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Jan 19, 2024 |
| 18562208 | PISTON COMPRESSOR, IN PARTICULAR RADIAL PISTON COMPRESSOR | KASTURE, DNYANESH G | 3746 | §103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 17, 2023 |
| 18508025 | TOOTHED BELT PULLEY FOR A TOOTHED BELT DRIVE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE STEERING SYSTEM, STEERING DRIVE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE STEERING SYSTEM, AND STEERING SYSTEM FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE | PRICE, MITCHELL JAMES | 3611 | §103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Nov 13, 2023 |
| 18384793 | VIBRATION DAMPER, BICYCLE FORK, SPRING STRUT, AND USE OF A VIBRATION DAMPER | ENGLISH, PETER C | 3993 | §112 | Non-Final OA | 63d | Pending | Oct 27, 2023 |
| 18287794 | PARALLEL-FLOW REGENERATIVE SHAFT KILN AND METHOD FOR BURNING CARBONATE ROCK | WOLFORD, KURT JOSEPH | 3762 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Oct 20, 2023 |
| 18281920 | REACTOR AND METHOD FOR THE PYROLYSIS OF HYDROCARBON-CONTAINING FLUIDS | MCGUIRK, JOHN SCHUYLER | 1732 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 13, 2023 |
| 18281744 | MULTI-TUBE VIBRATION DAMPER HAVING ADJUSTABLE DAMPING FORCE FOR A VEHICLE | HSIAO, JAMES K | 3616 | §103 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Sep 12, 2023 |
| 18143480 | STEER-BY-WIRE STEERING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A STEER-BY-WIRE STEERING SYSTEM IN A NORMAL OPERATING MODE AND IN A SPECIAL OPERATING MODE | KRAFT, LOGAN M | 3747 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | 30d overdue | Pending | May 04, 2023 |
| 19101115 | Steel having improved processing properties for working at elevated temperatures | WANG, XIAOBEI | — | §103§112Other | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Feb 04, 2025 |
| 18873096 | TEMPER-PASSED, HOT-DIPPED STEEL SHEET | CHRISTY, KATHERINE A | 1784 | DP | Non-Final OA | 41d | Pending | Dec 09, 2024 |
| 18722052 | METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SHEET METAL COMPONENTS AND DEVICE THEREFOR | TOLAN, EDWARD THOMAS | 3725 | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jun 20, 2024 |
| 18717183 | METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SHEET METAL PARTS AND DEVICE THEREFOR | EKIERT, TERESA M | 3725 | §102§103§112 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Jun 06, 2024 |
| 18702179 | METHOD FOR COATING A FLAT STEEL PRODUCT WITH LOW SUSCEPTIBILITY OF CRATERS IN THE PAINT | DAGENAIS, KRISTEN A | 1717 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | 28d overdue | Pending | Apr 17, 2024 |
| 18696630 | METHOD FOR TEMPER ROLLING A STEEL SHEET, TEMPER-ROLLED STEEL SHEET AND COMPONENT MANUFACTURED THEREFROM | CHRISTY, KATHERINE A | 1784 | §112 | Non-Final OA | 36d | Pending | Mar 28, 2024 |
| 18684765 | STEEL HAVING IMPROVED PROCESSING PROPERTIES FOR WORKING AT ELEVATED TEMPERATURES | ROE, JESSEE RANDALL | — | §103§112 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Feb 19, 2024 |
| 18684721 | STEEL HAVING IMPROVED PROCESSING PROPERTIES FOR WORKING AT ELEVATED TEMPERATURES | LIANG, ANTHONY M | — | §103DP | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Feb 19, 2024 |
| 18682221 | METHOD FOR PRODUCING AN IRON MELT | LUK, VANESSA TIBAY | — | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Feb 08, 2024 |
| 18681609 | METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF SHEET METAL PARTS AND DEVICE THEREFOR | SULLIVAN, DEBRA M | 3725 | §102§103§112 | Final Rejection | 34d | Pending | Feb 06, 2024 |
| 18290988 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A STEELWORKS | ABOAGYE, MICHAEL | 1733 | §112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jan 22, 2024 |
| 18286474 | METHOD FOR PRODUCING SLAG HAVING A DESIRED QUALITY | MCGUTHRY BANKS, TIMA MICHELE | 1733 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Oct 11, 2023 |
| 18280058 | Flat Steel Product, Method for the Production Thereof, and Use of Such a Flat Steel Product | OMORI, MARY I | 1784 | §103 | Final Rejection | 56d | Pending | Sep 01, 2023 |
| 18030553 | METHOD FOR PRODUCING PIG IRON IN A SHAFT FURNACE | MCGUTHRY BANKS, TIMA MICHELE | 1733 | §112 | Final Rejection | 105d overdue | Pending | Apr 06, 2023 |
| 17755333 | Method for operating a descending moving bed reactor with flowable granular material | KUYKENDALL, ALYSSA LEE | 1774 | §103§112 | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Apr 27, 2022 |
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