Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026

Examiner: BALLMAN, CHRISTOPHER D

Tech Center 3700 • Art Units: 3733 3753

This examiner grants 77% of resolved cases

Analysis

Christopher D. Ballman is an examiner in Tech Center 3700, working within Art Unit 3733. He has resolved 488 cases, maintaining an allowance rate of 77.0%. This baseline success rate is further enhanced by an interview lift of 20.7%, indicating that direct communication with the examiner is a productive strategy. The 488 resolved cases provide a substantial dataset for these performance metrics. Practitioners can rely on the 77.0% allowance rate as an indicator of potential outcomes in his docket.

The median days to allowance for his cases is 923. This pendency of 923 days reflects the timeline for successful applications in Art Unit 3733. When compared to the 77.0% allowance rate, the 20.7% interview lift suggests that while the standard process is effective, interviews offer a measurable advantage. Applicants should factor the 923 days median into their prosecution planning within Tech Center 3700. The data from his 488 resolved cases highlights an efficient examination process.

Written from this page's own data; every figure is computed from USPTO records and verified before publication.

Performance Statistics

77.0%
Allow Rate
+7.0% vs TC avg
517
Total Applications
+20.7%
Interview Lift
923
Avg Prosecution Days
Based on 488 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Rejection Statute Breakdown

0.3%
§101 Eligibility
30.5%
§102 Novelty
49.9%
§103 Obviousness
19.0%
§112 Clarity

Currently Pending Office Actions

App #TitleStatusAssignee
19085660 VAPOR CYCLE REFRIGERATION SYSTEM, AIRCRAFT GALLEY UNIT, AIRCRAFT GALLEY AND AIRCRAFT Final Rejection Airbus Operations GmbH
19247816 FLUID CONTROL VALVE Non-Final OA DENSO CORPORATION
19246136 FLUID CONTROL VALVE Non-Final OA DENSO CORPORATION
18372811 LARGE DIAMETER POROUS PLUG FOR ARGON DELIVERY Non-Final OA Applied Materials, Inc.
18830271 FLOW RESTRICTOR FOR A MASS FLOW CONTROLLER Non-Final OA Festo SE & Co. KG
18638692 SUBSTRATE PROCESSING METHOD AND SUBSTRATE PROCESSING APPARATUS Non-Final OA SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd.
19188192 MODULAR VALVE APPARATUS AND SYSTEM Non-Final OA DEKA Products Limited Partnership
18868642 MIXING APPARATUS, AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING MIXED SOLUTION Final Rejection SUMITOMO SEIKA CHEMICALS CO., LTD.

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