Prosecution Insights
Prosecution Insights
Technology area: Medical Devices & Mechanical Engineering
24 pending office actions • 10 art units • 21 examiners • 0 of 24 (0%) have an AI response strategy ready • 57 patents granted in the last 365 days
Warsaw Orthopedic Inc. currently has 23 pending office actions in the Medical Devices & Mechanical Engineering technology area. These actions are handled by 20 distinct examiners, indicating a high level of diversity in the individuals reviewing the company's applications. The prosecution activity is spread across 9 distinct art units, reflecting a focused but varied technical scope.
MERENE, JAN CHRISTOP L is the busiest examiner, overseeing 2 busiest examiner pending actions. This is a small portion of the 23 total pending office actions, showing that the workload is not concentrated with any single examiner. With 20 distinct examiners involved, the company encounters a variety of examination styles across 9 distinct art units. Practitioners should be prepared for unique examiner feedback on most applications, as there is very little examiner overlap. This distribution suggests that the company's innovations are being reviewed by several different technical groups, requiring a tailored approach for each of the 23 pending office actions. The presence of 20 distinct examiners ensures that the portfolio's outcomes are influenced by a wide range of individual perspectives.
Based on the USPTO statutory response window for each pending office action. 6 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. 6 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 | 3 (12%) |
| §102 only | 5 (21%) |
| Double-patenting only | 1 (4%) |
| Double-patenting + other | 2 (8%) |
| Multi-statute (no §101) | 13 (54%) |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| MERENE, JAN CHRISTOP L | 2 | 68.5% | +48.2% |
| BECCIA, CHRISTOPHER J | 2 | 83.5% | +14.0% |
| WEISS, JESSICA | 2 | 81.0% | +33.0% |
| LANE, HOLLY JOANNA | 1 | 80.5% | +16.3% |
| YANG, ANDREW | 1 | 84.3% | +10.5% |
| CONLEY, FREDRICK C | 1 | 70.6% | +12.8% |
| CARREIRO, CAITLIN ANN | 1 | 46.0% | +38.4% |
| SALONE, BAYAN | 1 | 76.2% | +17.4% |
| ISSA, JUEVARA SAOOD | 1 | — | — |
| WAGGLE, JR, LARRY E | 1 | 80.6% | +17.3% |
Cases in front of an examiner with an allow rate of 80%+ where the difficulty is Easy or Medium. The top 2 ordered by deadline are shown.
| App # | Title | Examiner | Due in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19299985 | EXPANDABLE SPINAL IMPLANT SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USING SAME | BECCIA, CHRISTOPHER J | — |
| 19271853 | SURGICAL INSTRUMENT AND METHOD | YANG, ANDREW | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17177916 | COMPOSITIONS COMPRISING COATED CERAMIC PARTICLES AND METHODS OF MAKING THEM | PRONE, CHRISTOPHER D | 52d overdue |
| 17988191 | METHODS, COMPOSITIONS AND APPARATUS FOR COATING BONE MATERIAL | WERTZ, ASHLEE ELIZABETH | 21d |
| 18922710 | SURGICAL TABLE WITH MOVEMENT CAPABILITIES OF LOWER BODY SUPPORT STRUCTURES | THROOP, MYLES A | 29d |
| 17938792 | DRUG DELIVERY DEVICE AND METHOD HAVING AN OCCLUDING MEMBER | ZAMORY, JUSTIN L | 33d |
| 19474133 | DEVICES AND SYSTEMS FOR TREATING SPINAL DISORDERS | LANE, HOLLY JOANNA | — |
| 19259599 | SPINAL IMPLANT SYSTEM AND METHOD | BECCIA, CHRISTOPHER J | — |
| 19256883 | EXPANDABLE INTER-BODY DEVICE, SYSTEM, AND METHOD | WEISS, JESSICA | — |
| 19199702 | DUAL EXPANDABLE INTER-BODY DEVICE | WEISS, JESSICA | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19030479 | SPINAL IMPLANT SYSTEM AND METHOD | MERENE, JAN CHRISTOP L | 8d |
| 19478856 | ROD-TO-ROD CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY FOR SPINAL IMPLANT | MERENE, JAN CHRISTOP L | — |
| 19474133 | DEVICES AND SYSTEMS FOR TREATING SPINAL DISORDERS | LANE, HOLLY JOANNA | — |
| 19299985 | EXPANDABLE SPINAL IMPLANT SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USING SAME | BECCIA, CHRISTOPHER J | — |
| 19271853 | SURGICAL INSTRUMENT AND METHOD | YANG, ANDREW | — |
| 19270710 | SURGICAL PLATFORM SYSTEM | CONLEY, FREDRICK C | — |
| 19259599 | SPINAL IMPLANT SYSTEM AND METHOD | BECCIA, CHRISTOPHER J | — |
| 19256883 | EXPANDABLE INTER-BODY DEVICE, SYSTEM, AND METHOD | WEISS, JESSICA | — |
| Art Unit | Apps |
|---|---|
| 3773 | 4 |
| 3679 | 2 |
| 3775 | 2 |
| 3786 | 1 |
| 4100 | 1 |
| 1612 | 1 |
| 3799 | 1 |
| 3783 | 1 |
| 3798 | 1 |
| 3774 | 1 |
| App # | Title | Examiner | Art Unit | Statutes | Status | Due in | AI | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19478856 | ROD-TO-ROD CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY FOR SPINAL IMPLANT | MERENE, JAN CHRISTOP L | 3773 | §102 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Oct 27, 2025 |
| 19474133 | DEVICES AND SYSTEMS FOR TREATING SPINAL DISORDERS | LANE, HOLLY JOANNA | 3773 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Oct 09, 2025 |
| 19299985 | EXPANDABLE SPINAL IMPLANT SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USING SAME | BECCIA, CHRISTOPHER J | — | DP | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Aug 14, 2025 |
| 19271853 | SURGICAL INSTRUMENT AND METHOD | YANG, ANDREW | — | §102 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jul 17, 2025 |
| 19270710 | SURGICAL PLATFORM SYSTEM | CONLEY, FREDRICK C | 3679 | §102 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jul 16, 2025 |
| 19259599 | SPINAL IMPLANT SYSTEM AND METHOD | BECCIA, CHRISTOPHER J | — | §102§103Other | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jul 03, 2025 |
| 19256883 | EXPANDABLE INTER-BODY DEVICE, SYSTEM, AND METHOD | WEISS, JESSICA | 3773 | §102§112Other | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jul 01, 2025 |
| 19205890 | HEAD SUPPORT AND METHOD FOR USE OF THE HEAD SUPPORT FOR POSITIONING A PATIENT RELATIVE TO A SURGICAL FRAME | CARREIRO, CAITLIN ANN | 3786 | §102§103DP | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | May 12, 2025 |
| 19199702 | DUAL EXPANDABLE INTER-BODY DEVICE | WEISS, JESSICA | — | §102§112Other | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | May 06, 2025 |
| 19053204 | BONE MILL APPARATUS | SALONE, BAYAN | — | §102§103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Feb 13, 2025 |
| 19053197 | AUTOMATED BONE MILL APPARATUS | ISSA, JUEVARA SAOOD | — | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Feb 13, 2025 |
| 19050710 | NEUROMONITORING DILATORS, PROBES, AND CANNULATED BLADES FOR MODULAR TISSUE RETRACTOR | WAGGLE, JR, LARRY E | 3775 | §102§103 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Feb 11, 2025 |
| 19030479 | SPINAL IMPLANT SYSTEM AND METHOD | MERENE, JAN CHRISTOP L | 3773 | §103 | Final Rejection | 8d | Pending | Jan 17, 2025 |
| 18967745 | KNIFE FOR CANNULATED SURGERY | DANG, ANH TIEU | — | §102DP | Final Rejection | — | Pending | Dec 04, 2024 |
| 18931254 | SURGICAL IMPLANT BENDING SYSTEM AND METHOD | CHANG, OLIVIA C | 3775 | §102 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Oct 30, 2024 |
| 18922710 | SURGICAL TABLE WITH MOVEMENT CAPABILITIES OF LOWER BODY SUPPORT STRUCTURES | THROOP, MYLES A | 3679 | §102§103Other | Final Rejection | 29d | Pending | Oct 22, 2024 |
| 18892657 | SPINAL IMPLANT SYSTEM AND METHOD | HARVEY, JULIANNA NANCY | — | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Sep 23, 2024 |
| 18788415 | SPINAL IMPLANT SYSTEM AND METHODS OF USE | GREEN, MICHELLE CHRISTINE | — | §103Other | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Jul 30, 2024 |
| 18071500 | SMART SURGICAL INSTRUMENT SELECTION AND SUGGESTION | MALAMUD, DEBORAH LESLIE | 4100 | §102 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Nov 29, 2022 |
| 17988191 | METHODS, COMPOSITIONS AND APPARATUS FOR COATING BONE MATERIAL | WERTZ, ASHLEE ELIZABETH | 1612 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | 21d | Pending | Nov 16, 2022 |
| 17976540 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING ONE OR MORE SURGICAL TOOLS | BATES, DAVID W | 3799 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | — | Pending | Oct 28, 2022 |
| 17938792 | DRUG DELIVERY DEVICE AND METHOD HAVING AN OCCLUDING MEMBER | ZAMORY, JUSTIN L | 3783 | §102§103Other | Non-Final OA | 33d | Pending | Oct 07, 2022 |
| 17193570 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LIMITING DOSES OF ELECTRO-MAGNETIC RADIATION DURING SURGERY | DEUTSCH, TAYLOR M | 3798 | §103 | Final Rejection | 13d | Pending | Mar 05, 2021 |
| 17177916 | COMPOSITIONS COMPRISING COATED CERAMIC PARTICLES AND METHODS OF MAKING THEM | PRONE, CHRISTOPHER D | 3774 | §103§112 | Non-Final OA | 52d overdue | Pending | Feb 17, 2021 |
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