About the PTAB Life Sciences Report:  Each week we will report on recent developments at the PTAB involving life sciences patents.

Medtronic Xomed, Inc. v. Neurovision Medical Products, Inc.

PTAB Petition:  IPR2016-01847; filed September 19, 2016

Patent at Issue:  U.S. Patent No. 8,467,844 ("Electrode for prolonged monitoring of laryngeal electromyography," issued June 18, 2013) claims a device for use in monitoring electrical signals during laryngeal electromyography.

Petitioner Medtronic Xomed, Inc. is challenging the '844 patent on two grounds as being obvious under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a).  View the petition here.

Related Matters:  According to the petition, the '844 patent is involved in litigation in the Eastern District of Texas, captioned Neurovision Medical Products, Inc v. Medtronic Public Limited Company et al., 2:16-cv-00127.

HyperBranch Medical Technology, Inc. v. Incept LLC

PTAB Petition:  IPR2016-01836; filed September 16, 2016

Patent at Issue:  U.S. Patent No. 7,009,034 ("Biocompatible crosslinked polymers," issued March 7, 2006) claims a method of preparing a composition suitable to coat a tissue of a patient where nucleophilic functional groups and electrophilic functional groups crosslink to form a hydrogel.

Petitioner HyperBranch Medical Technology is challenging the '034 patent on six grounds as being anticipated under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) (grounds 1 and 4) or obviousness under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) (grounds 2, 3, 5, and 6).  View the petition here.

Related Matters:  According to the petition, the '034 patent is involved in litigation in the District of Delaware, captioned Integra LifeSciences Corp., et al., v. HyperBranch Med. Tech., Inc., 15-819-LPS- CJB.

Natus Medical Incorporated v. Nox Medical EHF

PTAB Petition:  IPR2016-01822; filed September 15, 2016

Patent at Issue:  U.S. Patent No. 9,059,532 ("Biometric belt connector," issued June 16, 2015) claims an electrode belt and belt connector for electrically connecting a conductor of the electrode belt to a male portion of a snap connector electrode connected to a biometric device.

Petitioners Natus Medical Inc., Natus Neurology Inc., Embla Systems LLC, and Embla Systems LTD. are challenging the '532 patent on eight grounds as being anticipated under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) (ground 1) or obviousness under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) (grounds 2-8).  View the petition here.

Related Matters:  According to the petition, the '532 patent is involved in litigation in the District of Delaware, captioned Nox Medical Ehf. v. Natus Neurology Inc., Civil Action No. 15-709-RGA.

Minerva Surgical, Inc. v. Hologic, Inc.

PTAB Petition:  IPR2016-00680; filed March 4, 2016; institution denied September 12, 2016

Patent at Issue:  U.S. Patent No. 9,095,348 ("Moisture transport system for contact electrocoagulation," issued August 4, 2015) claims a device for ablating the interior linings of body organs such as the uterus.

Petitioner Minerva Surgical Inc. challenged the '348 patent on two grounds as being obviousness under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a).  View the petition here.  The PTAB denied institution of Inter Partes Review stating that Petitioner did not show a reasonable likelihood that it would prevail with respect to at least one of the challenged claims.  View the PTAB Decision here.

Related Matters:  According to the petition, the '348 patent is involved in litigation in the District of Delaware, captioned Hologic, Inc. et al v. Minerva Surgical, Inc., 1:15-cv-01031-SLR.  The petition also indicates that the '348 patent is involved in IPR2016-00685 (Petitioner Minerva; filed on 03/04/2016; Institution denied 09/12/2016).

Minerva Surgical, Inc. v. Hologic, Inc.

PTAB Petition:  IPR2016-00685; filed March 4, 2016; institution denied September 12, 2016

Patent at Issue:  U.S. Patent No. 9,095,348 ("Moisture transport system for contact electrocoagulation," issued August 4, 2015) claims a device for ablating the interior linings of body organs such as the uterus.

Petitioner Minerva Surgical Inc. challenged the '348 patent on one ground as being obviousness under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a).  View the petition here.  The PTAB denied institution of Inter Partes Review stating that Petitioner did not show a reasonable likelihood that it would prevail with respect to at least one of the challenged claims.  View the PTAB Decision here.

Related Matters:  According to the petition, the '348 patent is involved in litigation in the District of Delaware, captioned Hologic, Inc. et al v. Minerva Surgical, Inc., 1:15-cv-01031-SLR.  The petition also indicates that the '348 patent is involved in IPR2016-00680 (Petitioner Minerva; filed on 03/04/2016; Institution denied 09/12/2016).