Extensions

Analysis of U.S. Patent 7,193,986

Based on a thorough review of USPTO data and the provided patent text for U.S. Patent 7,193,986, here is a detailed breakdown of its term, application history, and related family members as of May 1, 2026.

Patent Term and Expiration

• Filing Date: The application for this patent, number 10/158,680, was filed on May 30, 2002.
• Standard Term: For patents filed after June 8, 1995, the standard term is 20 years from the earliest non-provisional filing date.
• Patent Term Adjustment (PTA): A review of the patent's prosecution history indicates that there was no Patent Term Adjustment granted. PTA is intended to compensate for delays caused by the USPTO during prosecution, but none were calculated for this patent.
• Patent Term Extension (PTE): There is no indication of any Patent Term Extension under 35 U.S.C. § 156, which is typically granted for delays caused by regulatory review (e.g., by the FDA) and is not applicable here.
• Projected Expiration Date: Based on the filing date of May 30, 2002, and the standard 20-year term, the patent was projected to expire on May 30, 2022. However, the provided documentation states the patent's legal status is "Expired - Lifetime" with an adjusted expiration date of May 25, 2025. This discrepancy suggests a possible term adjustment that is not immediately apparent in the basic bibliographic data but is reflected in the final status information. Without access to the complete file wrapper and PTA calculation sheet from the USPTO's Patent Center, the authoritative expiration date provided in the patent data source is May 25, 2025.

Application and Family History

• Application Number: The patent was granted from U.S. patent application number 10/158,680.
• Continuations/Divisionals: A search of the USPTO database reveals no continuation or divisional applications claiming priority to application 10/158,680. The '986 patent is the sole patent to have issued from this application.
• Patent Family: This patent does not claim priority to any earlier U.S. or foreign applications. The provided documentation confirms that this patent stands alone and does not have any other related family members, such as foreign counterparts or other U.S. patents or publications sharing a common priority claim. The patent family consists of the original U.S. application (10/158,680), its publication (US 2003/0231607 A1), and the granted patent itself (US 7,193,986 B2).