RatnerPrestia works closely with clients in the medical device industry, providing strategies on how to protect intellectual property and avoid issues with third party rights.  Medical devices obviously come in a variety of forms, and are not limited to a single field of technology.  Moreover, many medical devices are conceived through the collaborative efforts of doctors, surgeons, engineers, scientists and other technical professionals.  Our attorneys and agents have education, training, and professional experience in a variety of areas that are relevant to medical devices, including mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, chemistry (inorganic, organic, physical, and biochemistry), biotechnology, physics and materials science.  This breadth of experience enables us to understand a wide range of medical devices, including complex devices that merge together different technologies.

 

The medical device industry is an extremely competitive business, presenting both opportunities and risks that must be assessed.  It is critical to identify medical devices having commercial potential as early as possible, and form a comprehensive IP strategy for protecting the device and its potential applications.  At the same time, we understand that medical devices can undergo changes throughout the development process, including modifications made in response to clinical trials and regulatory review.  Therefore, we assist clients in determining the appropriate time to pursue patent protection, so that patenting decisions are made in a timely manner, but not prematurely.  Whether the invention is in the early design stage, in the process of 510(k) clearance, on the verge of premarket approval (PMA), or already launched, we help clients maintain a business-oriented IP strategy and constantly refine that strategy to support the client’s business objectives.

 

RatnerPrestia’s attorneys and agents have extensive experience in all phases of domestic and foreign patent prosecution.  We have prosecuted patent applications directed to a variety of medical devices and healthcare products, including spinal implants, surgical instruments, surgical localization systems, orthopedic implants, patient monitoring systems, respiratory therapy devices, cochlear implants, magnetic nanoparticles, stents, drug compounding systems, dialysis machines, catheters and sharps disposal containers.  We also have experience filing appeals to the U.S. Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences, appeals to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, reexamination proceedings and reissue proceedings. 

 

Our attorneys have many years of experience preparing opinions of counsel regarding patent validity and patent infringement issues.  We provide opinions for clients in various contexts, including situations where the client wishes to assess their risk prior to launching a new medical device, or prior to acquiring rights from a third party.  Our attorneys also monitor medical device patent litigation, reexamination proceedings and reissue proceedings that are relevant to our clients’ business interests.

 

RatnerPrestia represents a number of clients engaged in research and development of medical devices, including Fortune 500 medical device manufacturers, startup companies, and universities.