Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026

Examiner: WHEELER, THURMAN MICHAEL

Tech Center 1600 • Art Units: 1619 1621

This examiner grants 46% of resolved cases

Analysis

Thurman Michael Wheeler is a patent examiner assigned to Art Unit 1619 within Tech Center 1600. The examiner's professional record includes 625 resolved cases. The data indicates an allowance rate of 45.8% for these applications. This figure serves as a primary indicator of the probability of success for cases on this docket. Additionally, the median days to allowance is 1412, which establishes a specific timeframe for the prosecution process. These metrics offer a foundational understanding of the examiner's approach to patent applications.

The interview lift for this examiner is 23.5%. This 23.5% lift shows the change in the likelihood of allowance when an interview is conducted compared to the 45.8% base rate. With 625 resolved cases, the data provides a view of the examiner's historical performance. The 1412-day median pendency is a key metric for managing client expectations regarding the duration of the patent application process in Tech Center 1600. Practitioners should evaluate the allowance rate and the interview lift to determine the most effective strategy for their specific cases.

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

Performance Statistics

45.8%
Allow Rate
-14.2% vs TC avg
658
Total Applications
+23.5%
Interview Lift
1412
Avg Prosecution Days
Based on 625 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Rejection Statute Breakdown

1.0%
§101 Eligibility
8.7%
§102 Novelty
53.5%
§103 Obviousness
24.2%
§112 Clarity

Currently Pending Office Actions

App #TitleStatusAssignee
17821371 Functionalized Mesoporous Silica via an Aminosilane Surfactant Ion Exchange Reaction: Controlled Scaffold Design and Nitric Oxide Release Final Rejection The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
17800494 DEVICE AND METHODS FOR ENGINEERING 3D COMPLEX TISSUES Final Rejection University of Washington
16623591 COSMETIC COMPOSITION COMPRISING TWO SPECIFIC CATIONIC SURFACTANTS AND A SILICONE EMULSION, AND A COSMETIC TREATMENT PROCESS Non-Final OA L'OREAL
17370101 DECELLULARIZATION OF TISSUES USING SUPERCRITICAL CARBON DIOXIDE Non-Final OA UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
17672894 Microemulsion Delivery Systems for Alcohol-Soluble Species Including Nonderivatized Hormones Final Rejection Quicksilver Scientific, Inc.
18309894 ANTIMICROBIAL COMPOSITIONS Non-Final OA TAKASAGO INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
18433538 METHODS OF CANCER TREATMENT VIA REGULATED FERROPTOSIS Non-Final OA Cornell University
17053409 BIOSCAFFOLD COMPOSITIONS OF MATTER Non-Final OA Ethicon, Inc.

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