Patent: Medical Devices

The overall health and well-being of our society has been enhanced through the development of medical devices. Securing and protecting patents for medical devices is essential to maintaining their integrity. Our Patent practice for Medical Devices has been particularly rewarding as the benefits of our work have tangibly improved the quality of life of the treated patients. We have had the distinct pleasure of working extensively with inventors and companies who have developed medical devices that address various conditions affecting large sections of our population. Steptoe attorneys have significant experience in patent prosecution in the area of medical devices and over the years have developed a keen sense of the strategies required to procure useful intellectual property.

We have helped to build and prosecute strategic patent portfolios for numerous medical device companies including those developing relief from chronic pain such as osteoarthritis, those developing surgical devices for urological disorders, and those developing robotics for aesthetic surgeries, among many others. Steptoe attorneys perform clearance and patentability studies, conduct weekly reviews of competitor patents, write patent applications, respond to office actions, strategize on claim approaches, and file continuation and divisional applications. Our attorneys prepare claims which read on competitor approaches and write claims to carve out areas of value for the client. With respect to patents with an international aspect, we handle due dates associated with foreign patent application filings, manage foreign associates, and coordinate positions taken domestically and abroad.

In addition to patent portfolio prosecution, we provide ongoing, comprehensive IP counseling; draft and prosecute patent applications; draft and negotiate patent licenses and transfer agreements; conduct IP due diligence investigations, patent audits, and portfolio assessments; and formulate and carry out defensive and offensive patent strategies, including litigation when necessary.

Our experience has extended to the following areas:

Aortic grafts, implants with sensors
Vascular stents, filters, guidewires, and balloon catheters
Wound closure and biocompatible materials
Ocular, cranial and breast implants
Dermal fillers
BPH treatment
Sinus treatment/sinuplasty
Joint/arthritis treatment
Contact lenses
Tissue ablation
CPAP, BiPAP
Infusion systems
Temperature probe covers
Heart valves, annulplasty
Follicular implants

Select News & Events

Publications

Intellectual Property Advisory: Effective Timeline for the America Invents Act
November 4, 2011
America Invents Act Revamps US Patent Law
September 1, 2011