In this episode, Kevin, Neil and I discuss how to think about intellectual property as a medical device company, when to think about it, and how IP fits into the overall company strategy.
Neil Thompson Bio: Neil is a patent agent who worked for years in the medical device industry as a product development engineer. He became a patent agent while working as an engineer to lessen the load of outside counsel drafting patent applications. Working at both startups and larger companies, Neil has been involved with the patenting process in both environments.
In addition to drafting and prosecuting patent applications, Neil has led workshops in IP for SCORE and IP webinars for Orthopedic Research Society and the Society for Biomaterials. He currently hosts a meetup group for patent practitioners. Right before joining Torrey Pines Law Group, he worked as a freelance patent agent. He also uses his medical device background to advise small companies on packaging design and development.
Neil is also passionate about public speaking for those in STEM. He created a course, Teach the Geek to Speak, to help engineers and scientists with their public speaking, especially when presenting in front of decision makers and those outside of STEM. He is also the author of a children's book, “Ask Uncle Neil: why is my hair curly?” The story focuses on Neil’s nephew asking him why his hair is the way it is, and Neil uses science to answer the question.
Neil received a Bachelor of Science degree in Materials Engineering from the University of Toronto, and graduate degrees in Bioengineering and Biomedical Engineering from Clemson University and Columbia University, respectively. He is also a Professional Engineer.
Kevin Buckley Bio: I am first, and foremost, a patent attorney. There are currently about 30,000 of us worldwide, and I am proud to be a part of this group. As a *biotech* patent attorney, however, I focus on helping our clients protect and bring lifesaving technologies to the world.
This certainly involves international patent law, but also involves international commercial competition, government regulations, litigation, medical device/drug/biological regulatory approvals, product branding, R&D strategy, and business strategy.
I am a biochemist by training but spent the past 20+ years as a patent attorney helping our clients commercialize their innovations. I was previously:
· a partner in a large US law firm where I led the Life Sciences Practice,
· Chief Legal Officer to the Research Foundation of the largest US university, and
· in-house counsel to a variety of startup companies where I developed complex legal strategies for commercializing artificial intelligence (AI) implemented technologies.
Technical fields in which I specialize include medical device, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, diagnostics, and AI technologies.