Medical Technology: Recent Decisions At the Federal Circuit and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board

Recent developments at the Federal Circuit and the USPTO may inform evolving patent strategy on medical technology. In one case, the Federal Circuit invalidated a patent relating to catheter insertion technology. In addition, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) considered subject matter eligibility of medical technology inventions in two decisions issued less than a year apart. In the first decision, the PTAB upheld the validity of claims involving medical device location. In the second decision, the PTAB affirmed a final rejection of claims involving heart failure stratification.

On Sale Bar and the Federal Circuit

In a decision that may have escaped due attention, the Federal Circuit provided another reason for medical technology companies not to delay patent application filings. One basis for early action has been legal consequences arising from preparations for marketing and sale of a medical device invention, including regulatory compliance. In this regard, medical technology companies should be familiar with patent validity issues that can arise for a medical device invention through, for example, an early 510(k) summary filed with the FDA or even a referenced predicate device. Recently, the Federal Circuit has provided a reminder that sales and marketing activities in other contexts also can bar patent rights on medical technology.