Lapsed Dec 12, 2025 on the fee record · Medium confidence
20-year base term ends Sep 30, 2030
Why Medium: A terminal disclaimer is on file (approved) with no resolved reference, so the term may end earlier.
Second maintenance fee unpaid; grace period ended.
Sep 30, 2010
Dec 12, 2025
Dec 12, 2017
Nov 18, 2033
Its term would have run to Nov 18, 2033: its 20-year base term plus 1145 days of term adjustment for prosecution delay. A terminal disclaimer is on file with no resolved reference, so no cap is applied and none is guessed. Confidence: Medium. from the record
How we calculated this date
| Step | Input | Date after this step | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base term, 20 years from filing | Clock starts Sep 30, 2010, when application 12/894,377, the earliest non-provisional in its chain, was filed (this one was filed Mar 28, 2012) | Sep 30, 2030 | High confidence |
| Continuity chain | Every parent in the chain resolved | no change | High confidence |
| Patent term adjustment | +1145 days, USPTO patent term adjustment record | Nov 18, 2033 | High confidence |
| Terminal disclaimer cap | Disclaimer on file (approved), reference document not resolved | no cap applied, and none guessed | Medium confidence |
| Patent term extension | None on file | no change | High confidence |
| Fee events | 1 of 3 maintenance fees paid | lapsed Dec 12, 2025 | High confidence |
| Computed term end | The steps above, in order | Dec 12, 2025 | Medium confidence |
This family
| US 8,393,514 | In force May 2031 | May 2031 |
| US 8,864,009 | Lapsed on the fee record Oct 2026 | Oct 2026 |
| Application PCT/US2011/053542 | PCT application no patent term | no patent term |
| Application 13/433,163 | Abandoned not computed | not computed |
| US 9,220,501 | In force Nov 2032 | Nov 2032 |
| US 10,123,798 | Grace period ended Feb 2033 | Feb 2033 |
| US 9,301,753 | In force Feb 2033 | Feb 2033 |
| US 9,839,420 | this patent Dec 2025 | Dec 2025 |
Assignments
| Recorded | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 14, 2012 Reel 28377, frame 415 | Shelton, Frederick E., IV; Schmid, Katherine J.; Scheib, Charles J.; Aronhalt, Taylor W.; Lang, Matthew M.; Hall, Steven G.; Baxter, Chester O., III | Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. | Assignment of Assignor's Interest |
| Dec 5, 2015 Reel 37219, frame 749 | Ethicon Endo-Surgery Inc. | Ethicon Endo-Surgery, LLC | Assignment of Assignor's Interest |
| Jun 22, 2017 Reel 42941, frame 565 | Ethicon Endo-Surgery, LLC | Ethicon LLC | Change of Name |
| Apr 27, 2021 Reel 56601, frame 339 | Ethicon LLC | Cilag GmbH International | Assignment of Assignor's Interest |
Sources
Google Patents · The patent document at USPTO · Assignment records at USPTO
USPTO account required: This application in Patent Center · USPTO's maintenance fee lookup
Maintenance fee events come from USPTO's own fee records. Its fee lookup asks for the patent number and the application number.
What's changing
A terminal disclaimer is on file (approved) and its reference document is not resolved. A disclaimer would cap the term earlier than Dec 12, 2025. We will not guess the cap.