Intellectual property (IP) protection is critical to medtech innovation. Our team of medtech patent attorneys help our clients to create strong IP portfolios which are used as a strategic asset to secure financial returns, foster investor confidence, ensure safe collaboration, and deter copycats.
Why Gateley IP?
Medical technologies represent key practice area of Gateley IP, complementing our strength in the life science sector. Our medtech patent attorneys have a diverse range of technical backgrounds covering physics, mechanical engineering, life sciences, software and AI, and electronics.
Medtech innovations are not usually restricted to a single scientific field, and our collaborative multi-disciplinary expertise means our team understand how best to protect all elements of a client’s innovation. We also have extensive experience guiding companies through the commercial challenges of this sector, whether that is developing a patent portfolio for attracting investment or a comprehensive IP strategy to protect market share.
What do we do?
We understand the potential value of innovations in the medical technologies sector and work closely with clients in invention mining and developing a strategy for patent protection that reflects our clients’ commercial plans.
We carry out freedom-to-operate analyses and risk assessments in relation to competitor patents, which is particularly important for medical devices in view of the large number of patent applications that are filed in this sector, and the prevalence of patent thickets that can make market access difficult.
This freedom-to-operate work often includes guiding product development to minimise risk and generating innovative solutions, which we then protect with new patent applications, thereby protecting our clients’ investment in their product development. Furthermore, where appropriate, we take aggressive action to invalidate and clear away obstructive patents that impede our clients’ activities.
We advise clients in respect of registered and unregistered design rights that protect the shape and appearance of medical devices, which is an important aspect of IP protection that is often overlooked, particularly in relation to easily-copied consumables.
Our team of trade mark attorneys also have particular expertise in handling the trade mark portfolios of medtech companies, including companies exporting internationally with valuable brands that require protection and enforcement around the world.
Technical specialisms
As specialist medtech patent attorneys, we help clients obtain effective patent protection covering the complete range of products and processes in this field, for example:
- Surgical instruments
- Drug delivery devices
- Respiratory apparatus
- Wound care
- Implantable devices
- Patient monitoring
- Manufacturing technology
- Diagnostics and sensors
- Instrumentation
Relevant sector experience
- Assisting a leading manufacturer of medical devices in building their in-house IP management function, navigating competitor patents, and creating an extensive patent portfolio around the company’s product range.
- Advising a UK medical devices company in respect of their development of inhaler technology, in particular to avoid infringement of numerous patents, which resulted in a licensing deal with a multinational pharmaceutical company.
- Took over a significant IP portfolio for a drug delivery devices company from another patent attorney firm, following major concerns around the status of the portfolio, and provided improved portfolio management services.
- Undertook on behalf of our client, a UK medical devices company, a detailed review of patents and registered designs owned by a third party. Provided our opinions and evidence on the matter of infringement to our client to respond to the third party. The matter was settled out of court.
- Undertook patent prosecution work for an NHS Trust with regards to apparatus for treatment of strabismic amblyopia (an eye condition).