There will be very few of us whose lives are not improved, prolonged or even sustained through use of medical devices. From the everyday consumer health products such as wound dressings, contraceptive devices and asthma inhalers that can be picked up from the local chemists, the in vitro diagnostic devices, sensors and monitors that help doctors determine patient conditions, to the high-tech pacemakers, neurostimulators and infusion pumps that are implanted by surgeons to help keep patients alive.
The rate of innovation in the medical devices sector is phenomenal with many products having a very short commercial life span before they are rendered obsolete by yet further new developments. And whilst it’s readily apparent that medical devices such as cochlear/retinal implants or surgical lasers are the result of significant investment of time and money on research and development, even the seemingly simple mechanical devices such as stents, orthopaedic fixings, dental braces and surgical instruments contain a myriad of innovations.
Innovators in the field of medical devices are often small, entrepreneurial companies who need to create strong IP to capitalise on their innovation. At Mewburn Ellis, our Engineering patent team has a vast array of experience protecting medical devices. Our team is made up of mechanical engineers, electrical engineers, physicists and material scientists so can work with you across the whole gambit of medical devices to advise on IP strategy to help you integrate your IP into your business plan and so ensure it is fully aligned to your future goals and objectives.