Michele Van Patten Frank
Michele frequently appears before the USPTO's Patent Trial and Appeal Board, U.S. federal courts, and the DC Circuit. She represents numerous companies in the healthcare industry, including those with medical device, orthopedic implant, smart contact lens, respiratory technology, ultrasonic periodontal system, medical diagnostic, and home healthcare monitoring system patents. Michele has additional direct experience assisting organizations in the consumer products, sporting goods, spectroscopy, optical disc, water desalination, telecommunications, and surveillance system sectors. She is adept at securing and defending patents covering business methods, Internet technology, data storage, global positioning systems, computer graphics, software, clinical trial and research data software, electronic medical records, and superconductors.
Early in her career, Michele worked as a patent examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Experience
Government Experience
- Patent Examiner, United States Patent and Trademark Office
Representative Matters
- Led a California-based medical device company's patent strategy from inception through product development, culminating in a $25 million valuation; led patent diligence through funding rounds by investors, including two major venture capital firms; developed a fully integrated international patent strategy for the company's respiratory product, systems, and functionalities across multiple indications for use, to build protection for the commercial technology, and block infringers and design-around technologies
- Secured critical patents for a medical device company that deals with aneurysms and was seeking an attorney with combined patent examiner, prosecutor, and litigator experience to expedite applications stalled in the USPTO. Worked with the client and the USPTO to obtain valuable patents that cover the client’s inventive contributions, while maintaining strategic blocking coverage, and positioned client to withstand the scrutiny of diligence and enforcement challenges
- Led U.S. product clearance, diligence, and patent portfolio development for European and Israeli medical device companies, including those in the areas of neurostimulation and stents. Advised on the timing of a U.S. product launch, supported the company through diligence and acquisition by U.S. entities, and managed the strategy and prosecution of a U.S. patent portfolio
Litigation
- Enforced a patent involving RF laser technology for skin
- Defended a precision instruments supplier against the holder of a camera system patent
- Defended an online retailer against the holder of Internet patents
- Enforced patents involving safety needles (Becton-Dickenson v. Tyco)
- Defended against patents involving stents (Cordis Corp. v. Medtronic AVE, et al.)
- Enforced patents involving compact disks (DiscoVision Associates v. Disc Manufacturing, Inc.)
Insights
Credentials
Education
- J.D. American University, Washington College of Law 1994
- B.S. Mechanical Engineering Union College 1988
Bar Admissions
- District of Columbia
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Virginia
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Recognition
- Recommended for Prosecution by IAM Patent 1000 – The World's Leading Patent Professionals, 2018
- Recognized as a Top Lawyer of Washington, DC by Martindale-Hubbell, 2014 – 2018
Community
Pro Bono
- Serves as a professional mentor, Larta Institute
Volunteerism
- Charter Member, Rotary International of Great Falls, Virginia