Navigating Shockwave Medical: Applicant Admitted Prior Art, Standing, and Obviousness

This Federal Circuit opinion analyzes various key issues in patent litigation, including the role of applicant admitted prior art (“AAPA”), standing, and obviousness. Background – Shockwave Medical, Inc. (“Shockwave”) owns U.S. Patent No. 8,956,371 (“the ’371 patent”). This patent is directed to the treatment of atherosclerosis through intravascular lithotripsy (“IVL”). The patent describes a shockwave balloon catheter system used in angioplasty procedures to break up calcified plaque in blood…
By: Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP