Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 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
256
Total Applications
+27.7%
Interview Lift
866
Avg Prosecution Days
Based on 210 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Rejection Statute Breakdown

0%
§101 Eligibility
29.8%
§102 Novelty
38.3%
§103 Obviousness
27.0%
§112 Clarity

Currently Pending Office Actions

App #TitleStatusAssignee
19229215 STAPLE CARTRIDGE FOR A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT Non-Final OA INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, 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.
19033171 POWER TOOL Non-Final OA Techtronic Cordless GP
19196143 POWER TOOL HAVING MULTIPLE OPERATING MODES Non-Final OA BLACK & DECKER INC.
18987355 ANVIL COMPRISING AN ARRANGEMENT OF FORMING POCKETS PROXIMAL TO TISSUE STOP Non-Final OA Cilag GmbH International
18810119 PROCESSING AND DISPLAY OF TISSUE TENSION Final Rejection Cilag GmbH International
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
18379826 JAW CONTROL SURFACES ON A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT JAW Non-Final OA Cilag GmbH International
18084102 NON-FIBROUS ADJUNCTS FOR TREATING TISSUE Final Rejection Cilag GmbH International
19225570 METHOD AND FILLING DEVICE FOR FILLING FLEXIBLE CONTAINERS WITH POURABLE PRODUCTS Non-Final OA Alfa Laval Corporate AB
18846941 Method for Operating a Machine Tool with a Gentle Start-Up Final Rejection Robert Bosch GmbH
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.
19069659 POWERED SURGICAL TOOL WITH TRANSMISSION Non-Final OA GLOBUS MEDICAL, INC.
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
18811700 WASTE CONTAINERS WITH ODOR SEALS Final Rejection MUNCHKIN, INC.

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