Mindy N. RittnerPh.D.

Patent Agent | Ph.D.

Patent Agent | Ph.D.

Chicago
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Areas of Focus

Overview
Representative Matters
Recognition
Insights
Related Practices/Industries

Overview

Having worked in the nanotechnology space in academia and industry for more than a decade, Mindy Rittner brings deep experience to her clients and colleagues as both a scientific adviser and a patent agent. Mindy has prepared and prosecuted hundreds of patent applications for a wide range of technologies, including nanostructures, shape memory materials, 3D printing, electrochemical systems, light-emitting devices, electronic components, semiconductors, composite materials, metal alloys, biomedical devices, and magnetic materials and systems.

Mindy sees her hands-on research experience as the chief reason she can effectively communicate with and relate to inventors, many of whom are scientists and engineers. Additionally, scaling the learning curve in a complex field early on in her career gave Mindy the ability to quickly understand other emerging technologies. Today she is one of the most versatile new technology resources in the firm.

Mindy combines her extensive knowledge base with a dedication to do whatever it takes to help clients achieve their objectives, an attitude that moves her practice forward and brings clients back. Prior to joining Crowell & Moring, Mindy worked for 16 years as a patent prosecutor at Brinks Gilson & Lione, formerly a boutique intellectual property firm in Chicago.

Career & Education

BCC Research, Inc.
Director of Nanotechnology Research and Industry Analyst, 1996–2005

Northwestern University and Argonne National Laboratory
Research Fellow and Assistant, 1991–1996
- BCC Research, Inc.
  Director of Nanotechnology Research and Industry Analyst, 1996–2005
- Northwestern University and Argonne National Laboratory
  Research Fellow and Assistant, 1991–1996
Princeton University, B.S.E., cum laude, mechanical engineering
Northwestern University, Ph.D., materials science and engineering
- Princeton University, B.S.E., cum laude, mechanical engineering
- Northwestern University, Ph.D., materials science and engineering
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

Mindy's Insights

Client Alert | 7 min read | 07.24.24

Supercharge Patent Prosecution With Examiner Interviews

Examiner interviews are an optional but important and effective part of patent examination process that are beneficially conducted early and, in some cases, more than once during patent prosecution. Interviews are in-person, telephone or online conferences between the Examiner and the patent attorney or patent agent representing the patent applicant. When conducted early in the patent examination process, interviews may reduce the time required to obtain a patent and increase the odds of obtaining an allowance. As discussed below, interviews can help foster a cooperative interaction with the examiner to supercharge the prosecution process....

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Representative Matters

U.S. Patent 11,053,411, “Reusable Attaching Apparatus and Methods of Making and Using a Reusable Attaching Apparatus,” issued July 6, 2021.
U.S. Patent 11,046,620, “Method of Processing a Ceramic Matrix Composite (CMC) Component,” issued June 29, 2021.
U.S. Patent 11,035,800, “Portable Device for Colorimetric or Fluorometric Analysis, and Method of Conducting Colorimetric or Fluorometric Analysis,” issued on June 15, 2021.
U.S. Patent 11,031,456, “Rolled-up Electromagnetic Component for On-Chip Applications and Method of Making a Rolled-up Electromagnetic Component,” issued June 8, 2021.
U.S. Patent 11,014,852, “Flowable Slag-Fly Ash Binders for Construction or Repair,” issued on May 25, 2021.
U.S. Patent 11,001,532, “Method to Process a Ceramic Matrix Composite Component with a Protective Ceramic Coating,” issued May 11, 2021.
U.S. Patent 10,982,363, “Thermoplastic Non-Woven Textile Elements,” issued April 20, 2021.
U.S. Patent 10,947,162, “Braze Alloys for Joining or Repairing Ceramic Matrix Composite (CMC) Components, issued on March 16, 2021.
U.S. Patent 10,935,866, “Optical Modulator,” issued March 2, 2021.
U.S. Patent 10,920,002, “3D Printing of Thermoset Polymers and Composites,” issued February 16, 2021.
RE48,407, “Metal Assisted Chemical Etching to Produce III-V Semiconductor Nanostructures,” issued January 26, 2021.
U.S. Patent 10,874,774, “Active Implantable Medical Device and Method of Using an Active Implantable Medical Device,” issued December 29, 2020.
U.S. 10,879,433, “Stabilized Quantum Dot Composite and Method of Making a Stabilized Quantum Dot Composite,” issued December 29, 2020.
U.S. 10,822,710, “Aluminized Metallic Scaffold for High Temperature Applications and Method of Making an Aluminized Metallic Scaffold,” issued November 3, 2020.
U.S. 10,804,103, “Microassembly of Heterogeneous Materials,” October 13, 2020.
U.S. 10,796,831, “Magnetically-Responsive Surface and Method of Manipulating Properties of a Surface,” issued October 6, 2020.
U.S. 10,759,711, “Method of Controllably Coating a Fiber Preform During Ceramic Matrix Composite (CMC) Fabrication,” issued September 1, 2020.
U.S. Patent 10,752,809, “Reusable Attaching Apparatus and Methods of Making and Using a Reusable Attaching Apparatus,” issued August 25, 2020.
U.S. 10,752,994, “Apparatus and Method for Depositing a Coating on a Substrate at Atmospheric Pressure,” issued August 25, 2020.
U.S. 10,752,556, “Method of Processing a Ceramic Matrix Composite (CMC) Component,” issued August 25, 2020.
U.S. 10,748,781, “Catalyst-Assisted Chemical Etching with a Vapor-Phase Etchant,” issued August 18, 2020.
U.S. 10,745,803, “Method of Forming a Moisture-Tolerant Coating on a Silicon Carbide Fiber,” issued August 18, 2020.
U.S. 10,741,705, “Optoelectronic Device Having an Antireflective Surface,” issued August 11, 2020.
U.S. 10,741,730, “Stabilized Luminescent Nanoparticles Comprising a Perovskite Semiconductor and Method of Fabrication,” issued August 11, 2020.
U.S. 10,738,749, “Reinforced Oxide-Oxide Ceramic Matrix Composite (CMC) Component and Method of Making a Reinforced Oxide-Oxide CMC Component,” issued August 11, 2020.
U.S. 10,717,116, “Method of Slurry Infiltration and Cleaning to Fabricate a Ceramic Matrix Composite (CMC) Component with an Internal Cavity or Bore,” issued July 21, 2020.
U.S. 10,612,986, “Printed Stretchable Strain Sensor,” issued April 7, 2020.
U.S. 10,596,016, “Endovascular Device Configured for Sequenced Shape Memory Deployment in a Body Vessel,” issued March 24, 2020.
U.S. 10, 597,545, “Foam Ink Composition and 3D Printed Hierarchical Porous Structure,” issued March 24, 2020.
U.S. 10,563,291, “Method of Forming a Sintered Nickel-Titanium-Rare Earth (Ni-Ti-RE) Alloy,” issued February 18, 2020.
U.S. 10,556,428, “Acoustophoretic Printing Apparatus and Method,” issued February 11, 2020.
U.S. Patent 10,539,508, “Portable Device for Colorimetric or Fluorometric Analysis, and Method of Conducting Colorimetric or Fluorometric Analysis,” issued January 21, 2020.
U.S. Patent 10,533,429, “Tip Structure for a Turbine Blade with Pressure Side and Suction Side Rails,” issued on January 14, 2020.
U.S. Patent 10,533,080, “Transfer Printing Using Shape Memory Polymers,” issued on January 14, 2020.
U.S. Patent 10,510,550, “Polarization-Dependent Laser-Assisted Plasma Etching,” issued on December 17, 2019.
U.S. Patent 10,493,456, “Structured Surface Comprising a Shape Memory Polymer for Manipulating Liquid Droplets,” issued on December 3, 2019.
U.S. Patent 10,490,328, “Rolled-up Power Inductor and Array of Rolled-up Power Inductors for On-Chip Applications,” issued on November 26, 2019.
U.S. Patent 10,462,907, “Printed Three-Dimensional (3D) Functional Part and Method of Making,” issued on October 29, 2019.
U.S. Patent 10,441,114, “Inner Ring for a Bearing and Method for Proportioning Lubricant to a Bearing,” issued on October 22, 2019.
U.S. Patent 10,436,040, “Airfoil with Dual-Wall Cooling for a Gas Turbine Engine,” issued on October 8, 2019.
U.S. Patent 10,377,922, “Composite Dry Adhesive and Methods of Making and Using a Composite Dry Adhesive,” issued on August 13, 2019.
U.S. Patent 10,374,105, “Optoelectronic Device Including a Buried Metal Grating for Extraordinary Optical Transmission (EOT)” issued on August 6, 2019.
U.S. Patent 10,347,799, “Stabilized Quantum Dot Composite and Method of Making a Stabilized Quantum Dot Composite,” on July 9, 2019.
U.S. Patent 10,347,497, “Catalyst-Assisted Chemical Etching with a Vapor-Phase Etchant,” issued on July 9, 2019.
U.S. Patent 10,332,731, “Method of and Magnet Assembly for High Power Pulsed Magnetron Sputtering,” issued on June 25, 2019.
U.S. Patent 10,283,681, “Phosphor-Converted Light Emitting Device,” issued on May 7, 2019.
U.S. Patent 276,942, “Helical Antenna and Method of Modulating the Performance of a Wireless Communications Device,” issued on April 30, 2019.
U.S. Patent 10,266,767, “Phosphor Composition,” on April 23, 2019.
U.S. Patent 10,238,466, “Method of Making a Superelastic Medical Device with a Radiopaque Marker,” issued on March 26, 2019.
U.S. Patent 10,221,492, “Electrocatalyst for Acidic Media and Method of Making an Electrocatalyst for Acidic Media,” issued on March 5, 2019.
U.S. Patent 10,214,013, “Acoustophoretic Printing Apparatus and Method,” issued on February 26, 2019.
U.S. Patent 10,167,556, “Apparatus and Method for Depositing a Coating on a Substrate at Atmospheric Pressure,” issued on January 1, 2019.
U.S. Patent 10,161,807, “Thin-Film Thermocouple for Measuring the Temperature of a Ceramic Matrix Composite (CMC) Component,” issued on December 25, 2018.
U.S. Patent 10,161,062, “Composition Comprising an Engineered Defect Concentration,” on December 25, 2018.
U.S. Patent 10,151,649, “Printed Stretchable Strain Sensor,” issued on December 11, 2018.
U.S. Patent 10,150,708, “Surface-aided Melt Infiltration for Producing a Ceramic Matrix Composite,” issued on December 11, 2019.
U.S. Patent 10,138,168, “Method of Melt-Infiltration Utilizing a Non-Wetting Coating for Producing a Ceramic Matrix Composite,” issued on November 27, 2019.
U.S. Patent 10,134,599, “Self-Anchored Catalyst Metal-Assisted Chemical Etching,” issued on November 20, 2018.
U.S. Patent 10,073,293, “Optical Microcavity for a High-Contrast Display,” issued on September 11, 2018.
U.S. Patent 10,058,437, “Surface Structure of a Component of a Medical Device and Method of Forming the Surface Structure,” issued on August 28, 2018.
U.S. Patent 10,062,904, “Scaffold-Free 3D Porous Electrode and Method of Making a Scaffold-Free 3D Porous Electrode,” issued on August 28, 2018.
U.S. Patent 10,053,760, “Method of Thermomagnetically Processing an Aluminum Alloy,” issued on August 21, 2018.
U.S. Patent 10,046,353, “Microscale Stamp with Reversible Adhesion for Transfer Printing,” issued on August 14, 2018.
U.S. Patent 10,038,199, “Noble Metal-Based Electrocatalyst and Method of Treating a Noble Metal-Based Electrocatalyst,” issued on July 31, 2018.
U.S. Patent 10,016,846, “System, Method, and Apparatus for Repair of Components,” issued on July 10, 2018.
U.S. Patent 10,003,317, “Tubular Resonant Filter and Method of Making a Tubular Resonant Filter,” issued on June 19, 2018.
U.S. Patent 10,000,827, “Method of Forming a Sintered Nickel-Titanium-Rare Earth (Ni-Ti-RE) Alloy,” issued on June 19, 2018. U.S. Patent 9,945,011, “Magnesium-Based Alloy for Wrought Applications,” issued on April 17, 2018.
U.S. Patent 9,914,106, “Method of Producing Silicone Microspheres,” issued March 12, 2018.
U.S. Patent 9,896,954, “Dual-Walled Ceramic Matrix Composite (CMC) Component with Integral Cooling and Method of Making a CMC Component with Integral Cooling,” issued February 20, 2018.
U.S. Patent 9,878,536, “Acoustophoretic Printing Apparatus and Method,” issued January 30, 2018.
U.S. Patent 9,873,933, “Nickel-Titanium Alloy Including a Rare-Earth Element,” issued January 23, 2018.
U.S. Patent 9,855,538, “Ultrasonic Method and Apparatus for Producing Particles Having a Controlled Size Distribution,” issued January 2, 2018.
U.S. Patent 9,780,266, “Stabilized Quantum Dot Structure and Method of Making a Stabilized Quantum Dot Structure,” issued October 3, 2017.
U.S. Patent 9,704,951, “Apparatus and Method for Magnetic Field Guided Metal-Assisted Chemical Etching,” issued on July 11, 2017.
U.S. Patent 9,675,481, “Hybrid Balloon-Expandable/Self-Expanding Prosthesis for Deployment in a Body Vessel and Method of Making,” issued on June 13, 2017.
U.S. Patent 9,680,161, “Noble Metal-Based Electrocatalyst and Method of Treating a Noble Metal-Based Electrocatalyst,” issued on June 13, 2017.
WO/2017/095773, “Hydrogel Composite Ink Formulation and Method of 4D Printing a Hydrogel Composite Structure,” published June 8, 2017.
WO/2017/079130, “Block Copolymer Ink Formulation for 3D Printing and Method of Making a 3D Printed Radiofrequency (RF) Device,” published May 11, 2017.
U.S. Patent 9,643,358, “Multinozzle Deposition System for Direct Write Applications,” issued on May 9, 2017.
WO/2017/074925, “Architecture for Achieving Stable Wave Propagation through a Soft Material,” published May 4, 2017.
U.S. Patent 9,617,189, “Apparatus and Method for Materials Processing Utilizing a Rotating Magnetic Field,” issued on April 11, 2017.
U.S. Patent 9,601,234, “Three-Dimensional (3D) Porous Device and Method of Making a 3D Porous Device,” issued on March 21, 2017.
U.S. Patent No. 9,559,349, “Method of Fabricating a Three-Dimensional (3D) Porous Electrode,” issued on January 31, 2017.
U.S. Patent No. 9,537,052, “Coated Phosphors and Light Emitting Devices Including the Same,” issued January 3, 2017.
U.S. Patent 9,517,939, “Method of Enhancing the Connectivity of a Colloidal Template, and a Highly Interconnected Porous Structure,” issued on December 13, 2016.
WO/2016/187097, “Foam Ink Composition and 3D Printed Hierarchical Porous Structure,” published November 24, 2016.
U.S. Patent 9,475,120, “Apparatus and Method for Dispersing Particles in a Molten Material without using a Mold,” issued on October 25, 2016.
WO/2016/153886, “Biphasic Electrode Suspension for a Semi-Solid Flow Cell,” published September 29, 2016.
WO/2016/149032, “Printhead and Method for 3D Printing of Multiple Materials,” published September 22, 2016.
U.S. Patent 9,447,319, “Yellow Phosphor Having an Increased Activator Concentration and a Method of Making a Yellow Phosphor,” issued on September 20, 2016. WO/2016/145309, “3D Printed Flexible Electronic Device,” published September 15, 2016.
WO/2016/144944, “Method of Making an Electrode Structure and a Microbattery Cell, published September 15, 2016.
U.S. Patent 9,437,788, “Light Emitting Diode (LED) Component Comprising a Phosphor with Improved Excitation Properties,” issued on September 6, 2016.
U.S. Patent 9,406,938, “Three-Dimensional (3D) Porous Electrode Architecture for a Microbattery,” issued on August 2, 2016.
U.S. Patent 9,375,790, “Continuous Flow Reactor and Method for Nanoparticle Synthesis,” issued on June 28, 2016.
U.S. Patent 9,331,253, “Light Emitting Diode (LED) Component Comprising a Phosphor with Improved Excitation Properties,” issued on May 3, 2016.
U.S. Patent 9,330,910, “Method of Forming an Array of Nanostructures,” issued on May 3, 2016.
U.S. Patent 9,330,829, “Rolled-Up Transformer Structure for a Radiofrequency Integrated Circuit (RFIC),” issued on May 3, 2016. U.S. Patent 9,289,820, “Apparatus and Method for Dispersing Particles in a Molten Material Without Using a Mold,” issued on March 22, 2016. U.S. Patent 9,263,636, “Light-Emitting Diode (LED) for Achieving an Asymmetric Light Output,” issued on February 16, 2016. U.S. Patent 9,255,343, “Iron-Based Composition for Magnetocaloric Effect (MCE) Applications and Method of Making a Single Crystal,” issued on February 9, 2016. U.S. Patent 9,224,532, “Rolled-Up Inductor Structure for a Radiofrequency Integrated Circuit (RFIC),” issued on December 29, 2015.
U.S. Patent 9,224,809, “Field Effect Transistor Structure Comprising a Stack of Vertically Separated Channel Nanowires,” issued on December 29, 2015.
U.S. Patent 9,212,409, “Mixture of Powders for Preparing a Sintered Nickel-Titanium-Rare Earth Metal (Ni-Ti-RE) Alloy,” issued on December 15, 2015.
U.S. Patent 9,173,983, “Surface Structure of a Component of a Medical Device and Method of Forming the Surface Structure,” issued on November 3, 2015.
U.S. Patent 9,171,733, “Method of Selectively Etching a Three-Dimensional Structure,” issued on October 27, 2015.
U.S. Patent 9,138,338, “Two-Stage Method of Compressing a Stent,” issued on September 22, 2015.
WO/2015/120429, “Three-Dimensional (3D) Printed Composite Structure and 3D Printable Composite Ink Formulation,” published August 13, 2015.
WO/2015/120430, “3D-Printed Polishing Pad for Chemical Mechanical Planarization (CMP),” published August 13, 2015.
U.S. Patent 9,103,006, “Nickel-Titanium Alloy Including a Rare Earth Element,” issued on August 11, 2015.
U.S. Patent 9,045,657, “Viscoelastic Ink for Direct Writing of Hydrogel Structures,” issued on June 2, 2015.
WO/2015/073944, “Printed Stretchable Strain Sensor,” published May 21, 2015.
U.S. Patent 9,035,328, “Light-Emitting Diode Component,” issued on May 19, 2015.
WO/2015/069619, “Method of Printing a Tissue Construct with Embedded Vasculature,” published May 14, 2015.
U.S. Patent 9,018,050, “Rolled-up Transmission Line Structure for a Radiofrequency Integrated Circuit (RFIC),” issued on April 28, 2015.
U.S. Patent 8,998,974, “Woven Fabric with Carbon Nanotube Strands,” issued on April 7, 2015.
U.S. Patent 8,980,185, “Microreactor and Method for Preparing a Radiolabeled Complex or a Biomolecule Conjugate,” issued on March 17, 2015.
U.S. Patent 8,980,656, “Method of Forming an Array of High Aspect Ratio Semiconductor Nanostructures,” issued on March 17, 2015.
U.S. Patent 8,956,577, “Microfluidic Device Comprising a Biodegradable Material and Method of Making Such a Microfluidic Device,” issued February 17, 2015.
U.S. Patent 8,951,430, “Metal Assisted Chemical Etching to Produce III-V Semiconductor Nanostructures,” issued February 10, 2015.
WO/2014/209994, “Printed Three-Dimensional (3D) Functional Part and Method of Making,” published December 31, 2014.
U.S. Patent 8,920,767, “Array of Titanium Dioxide Nanostructures for Solar Energy Utilization,” issued December 30, 2014.
U.S. Patent 8,810,009, “Method of Fabricating a Planar Semiconductor Nanowire,” issued August 19, 2014.
U.S. Patent 8,795,444, “Method and Apparatus for Thermomagnetically Processing a Workpiece,” issued August 5, 2014.
U.S. Patent 8,632,745, “Method and Apparatus for Controlling Stoichiometry in Multicomponent Materials,” issued January 21, 2014.
U.S. Patent 8,608,992, “Carbon Nanofibers Derived from Polymer Nanofibers and Method of Producing the Nanofibers,” issued December 17, 2013.
U.S. Patent 8,529,749, “Electrochemical Cell Including a Plasma Source and Method of Operating the Electrochemical Cell,” issued September 10, 2013.
U.S. Patent 8,460,782, “Array of Aligned and Dispersed Carbon Nanotubes and Method of Producing the Array,” issued June 11, 2013.