Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026

Examiner: HODGE, LINDA J

Tech Center 3700 • Art Units: 3731

This examiner grants 87% of resolved cases

Performance Statistics

87.1%
Allow Rate
+17.1% vs TC avg
259
Total Applications
+27.5%
Interview Lift
799
Avg Prosecution Days
Based on 224 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Rejection Statute Breakdown

0%
§101 Eligibility
18.7%
§102 Novelty
58.4%
§103 Obviousness
17.4%
§112 Clarity

Currently Pending Office Actions

App #TitleStatusAssignee
18781566 STAPLE CARTRIDGE WITH STATIC ANGLED ARBORS TO FORM THREE-DIMENSIONAL (3D) STAPLES Non-Final OA Cilag GmbH International
18650562 SURGICAL STAPLER WITH FIRING LOCKOUT FEATURE COUPLED TO END EFFECTOR KNIFE Non-Final OA Cilag GmbH International
18627029 IN-DEVICE DISPLACEMENT SENSING Final Rejection Cilag GmbH International
18379826 JAW CONTROL SURFACES ON A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT JAW Non-Final OA Cilag GmbH International
19069659 POWERED SURGICAL TOOL WITH TRANSMISSION Non-Final OA GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
19225570 METHOD AND FILLING DEVICE FOR FILLING FLEXIBLE CONTAINERS WITH POURABLE PRODUCTS Non-Final OA Alfa Laval Corporate AB
19210381 END TOOL OF SURGICAL INSTRUMENT, AND SURGICAL INSTRUMENT COMPRISING SAME Non-Final OA LIVSMED INC.
19007903 END TOOL AND SURGICAL INSTRUMENT Non-Final OA LIVSMED INC.
19197926 STAPLE CARTRIDGE FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT Non-Final OA Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
18809504 ACTUATION MECHANISMS FOR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS Non-Final OA INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
18601714 SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS HAVING A REINFORCED STAPLE CARTRIDGE Non-Final OA Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
19117876 PALLET WITH STRAP CHANNELS, STRAPPING MACHINE, AND METHODS OF STRAPPING A LOAD Non-Final OA Signode Industrial Group LLC
19116809 WELDING DEVICE Non-Final OA ZHEJIANG WEIPAI PACKAGING EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.
19090091 Impact Driver Anvil Non-Final OA Jacobs Chuck Manufacturing (Suzhou) Company, LTD.
19070958 CHAMBER MACHINE WITH CUTTING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CUTTING OFF A BAG NECK Final Rejection MULTIVAC SEPP HAGGENMÜLLER SE & CO. KG
18818127 SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND RELATED METHODS FOR FASTENING TISSUE Non-Final OA Multi-Scale Medical Robotics Center Limited
18811700 WASTE CONTAINERS WITH ODOR SEALS Final Rejection MUNCHKIN, INC.
18776330 SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS FOR ROBOTIC-ASSISTED SURGERY AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME Non-Final OA Standard Bariatrics, Inc

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