Examiner: RODGERS, ARIEL M

Analysis

Ariel M Rodgers serves in Tech Center 1700 and Art Unit 1791. The examiner has 39 resolved cases with an allowance rate of 15.4 percent. This low allowance rate suggests a rigorous examination environment where a majority of cases do not result in a grant. Practitioners should be prepared for a challenging prosecution path and may need to consider robust arguments or significant claim amendments to overcome rejections in this art unit.

The interview lift is 26.9 percent, which indicates a substantial positive impact from direct communication. Engaging in an interview appears to be a highly effective strategy for increasing the chances of allowance, as the 26.9 percent lift is significantly higher than the base allowance rate of 15.4 percent. This data point suggests that verbal discussion can help clarify technical points that might otherwise lead to a final rejection.

The median days to allowance is 1416. This duration reflects a lengthy prosecution cycle for applications that eventually reach a successful conclusion. Applicants should factor the 1416 days into their long-term planning and budget for the extended time required to navigate the 1791 art unit. The combination of a 15.4 percent allowance rate and a 1416-day timeline underscores the difficulty of obtaining a patent under this examiner.