Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026

Examiner: HANKS, BENJAMIN L

Tech Center 3600 • Art Units: 2124 3626 3684

This examiner grants 21% of resolved cases

Analysis

Benjamin L. Hanks is an examiner in Art Unit 2124 within Tech Center 3600. The examiner has 145 resolved cases and an allowance rate of 21.4 percent. This allowance rate is relatively low, suggesting that applicants may face significant hurdles during the prosecution process in this computer architecture or software technology area. The 145 resolved cases provide a solid foundation for understanding the examiner's rigorous approach to patentability.

The median time to allowance for these cases is 1169 days. This figure indicates a lengthy prosecution timeline, which practitioners should factor into their overall strategy. The 1169-day duration represents the typical path for applications that successfully overcome rejections. Managing client expectations around this 1169-day benchmark is essential for those navigating the 3600 Tech Center and Art Unit 2124.

The data shows an interview lift of 30.3 percent. This suggests that conducting an interview is an effective way to improve the odds of success, potentially moving an application from the baseline toward a grant. The 30.3 percent lift is a critical metric for this examiner, indicating that direct communication is a vital tool for resolving outstanding issues. Practitioners should prioritize scheduling a formal discussion to navigate the challenges reflected in the 21.4 percent allowance rate.

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

Performance Statistics

21.4%
Allow Rate
-30.6% vs TC avg
177
Total Applications
+30.3%
Interview Lift
1169
Avg Prosecution Days
Based on 145 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Rejection Statute Breakdown

37.7%
§101 Eligibility
12.6%
§102 Novelty
33.8%
§103 Obviousness
12.8%
§112 Clarity

Currently Pending Office Actions

App #TitleStatusAssignee
18380513 CUSTOMIZABLE NEUROMODULATION DEVICE TREATMENT JOURNEY Non-Final OA Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation
18661407 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE-BASED SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETECTING ANOMALOUS DATA Non-Final OA MASTERCARD INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED
19206304 LLM TIME SERIES ANALYSIS FOR MEDICAL DECISION MAKING Non-Final OA NEC Laboratories America, Inc.
18471564 DYNAMIC CAUSAL DISCOVERY IN IMITATION LEARNING Final Rejection NEC Laboratories America, Inc.
18806292 CUSTOMIZING HEALTHCARE APP DASHBOARD BASED ON CLINICAL RECORDS Final Rejection CERNER INNOVATION, INC.
18145504 SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS FOR OPTIMIZING MEDICAL PROCEDURE ERGONOMICS Non-Final OA MAKO Surgical Corporation

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