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  • PTAB · Feb 17, 2026 · IPR2024-01261 · APJ Jamie T Wisz · IPR · Final written decision

    Claims 1–20 were not shown unpatentable because the asserted combinations did not teach the claimed predetermined cycle for controlling distal fluid flow.

    RulingsFinal written decision
    • Skill levelSkill level petitioner adoptedDecided for petitioner

      “(1) a person with a B.S. in engineering or an equivalent field, with two-four years of academic or industry experience in aspiration embolectomy and thrombectomy or comparable industry experience who would, where appropriate, work or consult with others, including a physician, to develop embolectomy or thrombectomy devices; or (2) an interventional neurosurgeon with at least three years of experience developing and/or using medical devices in embolectomy or thrombectomy procedures, and who would, where appropriate, work or consult with others, including an engineer, to develop such a medical device. Pet. 11 (citing Ex. 1005 ¶ 48). Petitioner also contends that, “[a] person with less education but more relevant practical experience, or more relevant education but less practical experience, may also meet this standard.” Id. Patent Owner states that for purposes of its PO Response, it “accepts ¶ 44). We adopt Petitioner’s characterization because it is consistent with the level of skill in the art at the time of the invention as reflected by the ’402 patent and the cited prior art. See Okajima v. Bourdeau, 261 F.3d 1350, 1355 (Fed. Cir. 2001) (explaining that specific findings regarding ordinary skill level are not required “where the prior art itself reflects an appropriate level and a need for testimony is not shown” (quoting Litton Indus. Prods., Inc. v. Solid State Sys. Corp., 755 F.2d 158, 163 (Fed. Cir. 1985))).” slip op. at 8

    • Claim Construction › Intrinsic evidence (Phillips canons) › Plain and ordinary meaning to a POSITATerm construed patent owner constructionDecided for patent owner

      “specification explicitly includes sensors similar to those in the prior art in support of their argument that the claimed “predetermined cycle” must not exclude the use of such sensors. Pet. Reply 15 (citing Ex. 1001, 32:55–33:7, 40:66–41:5, 44:9–29). We reviewed the portions of the specification cited by Petitioner. We agree with Patent Owner that one excerpt discussing sensor use appears to be directed to triggering the predetermined cycle rather than causing timing changes during the cycle itself (Ex. 1001, 32:55–66) (describing use of a pressure sensor to “determine when the vacuum channel 3 is clogged by a thrombus and automatically perform the unclogging procedures described herein”), while another excerpt discusses a sensor that Petitioner that the ’402 patent discusses the use of sensors to “tune” the system and that such “tuning” can be done statically (setting the cycle timing in advance) or dynamically (adjusting the timing during the cycle itself). See Ex. 1001, 48:19–49:50. Overall, we find that these disclosures involving sensors demonstrate that sensors may be used in various ways in different embodiments. However, none of these disclosures explicitly discuss the use of sensors in conjunction with a “pre-determined cycle.” Therefore, we find that the ’402 patent specification’s discussion of “sensors” are not particularly informative as to the appropriate construction of a “predetermined cycle” and do not outweigh the other explicit disclosures of “predetermined cycle” in the patent. We next turn to the other intrinsic evidence discussed by the parties — the prosecution history. As discussed by Patent Owner, in the Notice of Allowance, the Examiner found that Garrison did not teach or suggest a “predetermined cycle” because Garrison’s controller “changed the cycle of opening and closing the valves based on feedback from sensors.” Ex. 1004, 86. We acknowledge that the patent applicant filed subsequent comments during prosecution in which they stated that they “do[] not concede that the Examiner’s characterizations of the terms of the claims and the prior art are correct.” Id. at 29. However, we agree with Patent Owner that the importance of the Examiner’s statement in the Notice of Allowance does not rely on it being an express disclaimer (a standard which it does not meet). PO Sur-reply 8. We also considered Petitioner’s contention that the Examiner’s interpretation of Garrison may have been in error (PO Resp. 16); however, even if this were true, the Examiner’s statement still provides helpful insight into how the Examiner was interpreting the term sensors to change the opening and closing of valves during a cycle was not a “predetermined cycle.” Id. at 86. In sum, we find that Patent Owner’s proposed construction is consistent with the usage of the term “predetermined cycle” in the ’402 patent specification and prosecution history. Thus, after considering all of the cited evidence, we construe “predetermined cycle” to mean that “the timing of the sequence of valve operations in the cycle is determined beforehand, i.e., fixed, rather than varying based on feedback after operation begins.”” slip op. at 14

    • Claim Construction › Threshold & procedure › Whether a term needs construction (O2 Micro)No construction neededNot reached

      “2. Other Terms The parties also provided proposed constructions for the limitations of “[limited/limiting] to a positive amount of exit flow” and “control[ling] fluid flow in and out from the distal end of the catheter.” See Pet. 15–16; Pet. Reply 1–8; PO Resp. 22–24; PO Sur-Reply 2–6. However, having evaluated the arguments and evidence before us, we determine that construction of these terms is not necessary for purposes of this Decision. See Nidec Motor Corp. v. Zhongshan Broad Ocean Motor Co., 868 F.3d 1013, 1017 (Fed. Cir. 2017) (citing Vivid Techs., Inc. v. Am. Sci. & Eng’g, Inc., 200 F.3d 795, 803 (Fed. Cir. 1999) (“[O]nly those terms need be construed that are in controversy, and only to the extent necessary to resolve the controversy.”)).” slip op. at 16

    • Obviousness (§103) › Motivation to combine / reasonable expectation of successNot shown unpatentableNot shown unpatentable

      “We agree with Patent Owner that neither Petitioner nor Mr. Brown propose any combination of Yang and Mullins that does not include Mullins’s pressure sensor in order “to control fluid flow in and out from the distal end of the catheter.” Indeed, in addressing the “predetermined cycle” limitation, Mr. Brown contends that Mullins discloses a “cycling controller that ‘varies aspiration pressure according to sensed pressure within the catheter lumen.’” Ex.1005 ¶¶ 131–32 (citing, e.g., Ex.1008, 27:40–28:20 (“[a] novel aspect of this pump system is the incorporation of feedback into the pump algorithm in order to produce more effective pressure cycling”)). This use of a sensor to change pressure during a cycle, is not a “predetermined cycle” under our construction. combinations is its discussion of distal end flow control, not for its sensors.” Pet. Reply 17 (citing Ex. 1035 ¶ 83). However, Petitioner’s obviousness grounds rely on the combination of Yang and Mullins, especially with regard to Mullins’s disclosure of “a controller” in order “to control fluid flow in and out.” As discussed above, Mullins relies on the sensor-feedback approach in order to control flow and we find that Petitioner has not presented persuasive evidence of how the combined disclosures of Yang and Mullins would control flow without using Mullins’s sensor feedback approach. See W.L. Gore & Assocs., Inc. v. Garlock, Inc., 721 F.2d 1540, 1550 (Fed. Cir. 1983) (error to “consider[] … references in less than their entireties, i.e., in disregarding disclosures in [them] … that diverge from and teach away from the invention”). Therefore, we determine that Petitioner has not sufficiently shown that the combination of Yang and Mullins discloses or renders obvious “a controller configured to open and close the vacuum valve and the vent valve in a predetermined cycle to change a level of vacuum at the distal end of the catheter and to control fluid flow in and out from the distal end of the catheter.” Accordingly, having considered the parties’ respective evidence and arguments, we find that Petitioner has not shown by a preponderance of the evidence that claim 1 of the ’402 patent would have been unpatentable as obvious over the combination of Yang and Mullins.” slip op. at 27

    Patent outcomesUS 11,406,402 not shown unpatentable
    Claim construction§ 103 obviousnesscites Phillips · KSR · Graham
    Patents in suitUS 11,406,402
  • PTAB · Feb 2, 2026 · IPR2024-01467 · APJ David Cotta · IPR · Final written decision

    Claims 1–8 and 11–15 were not shown unpatentable over Xu-752 and Jones because the proposed combination did not establish obvious millisecond time resolution.

    RulingsFinal written decision
    • Skill levelSkill level petitioner adoptedDecided for petitioner

      “B. Level of Ordinary Skill in the Art Petitioner contends a person of ordinary skill in the art (“POSA”) as of May 2009 “would have had a B.S. in electrical/mechanical/biomedical engineering or biological science, or a related field, and approximately 2 years of relevant experience or equivalent study in systems and methods for bioanalysis of cells.” Pet. 14 (citing Ex. 1003 ¶¶ 23–25). Patent Owner adopts this definition for purposes of this proceeding. PO Resp. 9 (citing Ex. 2009 ¶ 19). We find Petitioner’s description of the level of ordinary skill in the art to be consistent with the level of skill reflected in the ’508 patent and in the prior art of record. Accordingly, we apply Petitioner’s definition in this decision.” slip op. at 7

    • Claim Construction › Intrinsic evidence (Phillips canons) › Lexicography (patentee as own lexicographer)Term construed petitioner constructionDecided for petitioner

      “As used herein, “impedance measurement at millisecond time resolution” refers to the ability to perform a series of at least two consecutive impedance measurements within milliseconds of one another for each and every well of the system where each well is associated with an electrode array for impedance measurement. In each instance the time between two consecutive impedance measurements are less than 300 milliseconds from one another. Id. at 10:8–15. There does not appear to be any dispute as to the definitional nature of the first sentence in the passage above. That is, the parties agree that millisecond time resolution should be construed to mean: “the time between two consecutive impedance measurements for each and every well being evaluated in the claimed apparatus or system.” PO Resp. 15 (proposing construction); Pet. Reply. 23 (“Axion also agrees that the term ‘millisecond time resolution’ is ‘the time between two consecutive impedance measurements for each and every well being evaluated in the claimed apparatus or system.’”). The parties also agree that we do not need to determine whether the time interval between two consecutive impedance measurements is less than 300 milliseconds, as set forth in the definition portion of the specification, or whether it can be met by some other time interval, as suggested by other portions of the specification. See e.g., Ex. 1001, 23:49–55 (explaining that “[i]n some embodiments 500 millisecond time resolution is sufficient”), 24:37–39 (similar); PO Resp. 15 (arguing that “the distinction between 300 milliseconds and 500 milliseconds is immaterial to the dispute in this IPR because Jones teaches a 1.5 second update period, thus at least three times longer than the 500 milliseconds formulation”); Pet. Reply 23–24 (section headed “[Petitioner] Agrees That, In This IPR, The 300 Versus 500 Milliseconds Distinction is Immaterial To Addressing the Unpatentability of the Challenged Claims”), see also, Pet. Reply 24–26 (asserting that the claims are indefinite because it is not clear whether they require a 300 or a 500 millisecond time interval, but arguing that “the claims’ unpatentability can be determined without resolving the 300 versus 500 milliseconds indefiniteness issue”). We agree with the parties that “millisecond time resolution” should be construed to mean: “the time between two consecutive impedance measurements for each and every well being evaluated in the claimed apparatus or system.” PO Resp. 15; Pet. Reply. 23. We further agree that resolution of this case does not require that we determine whether the period between two consecutive impedance measurements is less than 300 or less than 500 milliseconds because Petitioner has not carried its burden under either time interval.” slip op. at 7

    • Expert testimonyPetitioner expert discountedDecided for patent owner

      “Ex. 1003 ¶ 179. But Dr. Kim does not cite to any additional supporting evidence or provide any technical reasoning to support his statements. The notion that one can reduce the time between measurements by, e.g., reducing the number of frequencies measured, has intuitive appeal and appears mathematically correct. However, the absence of technical reasoning and supporting evidence diminishes the persuasiveness of Dr. Kim’s testimony that the POSA would made such modifications to reduce the time between measurements. Dr. Kim does provide some technical reasoning in connection with his discussion of eliminating all reference channels as a way to get the time resolution down to the levels required by, e.g., claim 14, which recites a millisecond time resolution of “less than 5 milliseconds.” See e.g., Ex. 1003 ¶ 172 (“A POSA seeking to study biological cell phenomena occurring on the order of a few milliseconds would have recognized that after measuring the reference network channels at the start, the reference network channels would not need measured again for some time, e.g., because temperature and other drift factors do not change appreciably on a millisecond time scale.”). However, even if we were to credit this testimony, Dr. Kim still lacks support and reasoning for the selection of the other parameters in his noreference-channel calculations. See, e.g., id. ¶ 173 (positing, but not providing technical reasoning for using, a no-reference-channel impedance system with 16 wells, a single 10kHz measurement frequency, and 16 daughter boards that measure simultaneously rather than sequentially).” slip op. at 29

    • Obviousness (§103) › Motivation to combine / reasonable expectation of success › HindsightMotivation not foundNot shown unpatentableNot shown unpatentable

      “Given that Jones’s only exemplified embodiment targets a 1.5 second update period, that Jones does not suggest reducing the update period, and that much of Jones’s focus is on benefits other than speed of measurement, Jones’s impedance analyzer seems an unlikely choice for a POSA seeking to take measurements having millisecond time resolution. Put another way, we find no persuasive non-hindsight reason that supports Petitioner’s assertion that the POSA would have sought to apply Jones’s impedance analyzer to Xu-752’s system in order to take measurements in millisecond time resolution.” slip op. at 22

    Patent outcomesUS 11,906,508 not shown unpatentable
    Claim construction§ 103 obviousnesscites KSR · Graham
    Patents in suitUS 11,906,508
  • PTAB · Feb 19, 2025 · IPR2024-00666 · APJ Stacey G White · IPR · Final written decision

    Claims 1–4 and 6–23 were not shown unpatentable because the asserted combinations did not establish the required determination that access occurred during a predetermined period.

    RulingsFinal written decision
    • Skill levelSkill level petitioner adoptedDecided for petitioner

      “Petitioner asserts that a person of ordinary skill in the art “would have possessed a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or computer science, and two years of work experience in the field of network-based computer systems, such as systems for sending and receiving information over local networks and wide area networks (such as the Internet or World Wide Web).” Pet. 5 (citing Ex. 1002 ¶¶ 10–14). Patent Owner does not challenge Petitioner’s description of the level of ordinary skill in the art. See Ex. 2001 ¶ 26 (adopting Petitioner’s proposed level of skill in the art for the purposes of this proceeding). We are persuaded that Petitioner’s description is consistent with the prior art and patent specification. Accordingly, we adopt Petitioner’s description.” slip op. at 8

    • Claim Construction › Threshold & procedure › Whether a term needs construction (O2 Micro)No construction neededDecided for petitioner

      “Petitioner “does not believe claim construction is necessary at this time.” Pet. 7. “Patent Owner does not contend that any terms in the challenged claims require express construction for purposes of evaluating the Petition’s invalidity grounds.” PO Resp. 7. We determine that no claim terms require express construction for purposes of this Decision. See Nidec Motor Corp. v. Zhongshan Broad Ocean Motor Co., 868 F.3d 1013, 1017 (Fed. Cir. 2017) (quoting Vivid Techs., Inc. v. Am. Sci. & Eng’g, Inc., 200 F.3d 795, 803 (Fed. Cir. 1999) (“[O]nly those terms need be construed that are in controversy, and only to the extent necessary to resolve the controversy.”)).” slip op. at 9

    • Novelty / Anticipation (§102) › Prior-art status of a reference › Patents / published applications (effective date, provisional support)Reference is prior artDecided for petitioner

      “date of Provisional Application No. 60/858,204 (Ex. 1004, “’204 Provisional”), and is prior art to the ’878 Patent under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. § 102(e). Pet. 9. Petitioner asserts that the ’204 Provisional provides support for the disclosure of Baig and provides § 112 support for at least one claim in Baig. Id. Petitioner asserts that there are no material differences between Baig and the ’204 Provisional. Id. at 10 (citing Ex. 1002 ¶ 43 (citing Ex. 1005 (redline comparison of Ex. 1003 and Ex. 1004))). Petitioner further contends that the ’204 Provisional includes 17 claims that are identical to the claims in Baig, and, therefore, provides written description support for the corresponding claims in Baig. Id. Petitioner also asserts the ’204 Provisional provides enablement. Id. Patent Owner has not challenged the status of Baig as prior art. See PO Resp. Based on our review of the complete record, we find that Petitioner has shown sufficiently that Baig is entitled to the earlier effective filing date of the ’204 Provisional Application.” slip op. at 12

    • Obviousness (§103) › Graham factors (scope of art, differences, level of skill)Not shown unpatentableNot shown unpatentable

      “Patent Owner that the plain language of the claim requires there to be a determination that devices accessed the LAN during the predetermined period of time. The claim language recites that the determining of limitation (a) (which recites the determination of an association between the identifiers) is done using the stored association-detection information (which is alleged to be the cookies and session table of the cited art) “to determine” that the mobile devices have separately accessed the internet through a LAN “during a predetermined period of time.” See Ex. 1001, 24:29–49. Thus, we read this language to require that a determination be made that the required access occurred during a predetermined period of time. This reading of the claim language is accord with the opinion expressed by Petitioner’s expert, Mr. Schmandt, at his deposition.” slip op. at 17

    Patent outcomesUS 10,715,878 not shown unpatentable
    Claim construction§ 102 anticipation§ 103 obviousnesscites Graham
    Patents in suitUS 10,715,878
  • PTAB · Feb 19, 2025 · IPR2024-00701 · APJ Stacey G White · IPR · Final written decision

    Claims 1–4 and 6–23 were not shown unpatentable because the prior-art combinations did not establish a determination that devices accessed the Internet during a predetermined period.

    RulingsFinal written decision
    • Skill levelSkill level petitioner adoptedDecided for petitioner

      “Petitioner asserts that a person of ordinary skill in the art “would have possessed a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or computer science, and two years of work experience in the field of network-based computer systems, such as systems for sending and receiving information over local networks and wide area networks (such as the Internet or World Wide Web).” Pet. 5 (citing Ex. 1002 ¶¶ 10–14). Patent Owner does not challenge Petitioner’s description of the level of ordinary skill in the art. See Ex. 2001 ¶ 26 (adopting Petitioner’s proposed level of skill in the art for the purposes of this proceeding). We are persuaded that Petitioner’s description is consistent with the prior art and patent specification. Accordingly, we adopt Petitioner’s description.” slip op. at 8

    • Claim Construction › Threshold & procedure › Whether a term needs construction (O2 Micro)No construction neededOther

      “Petitioner “does not believe claim construction is necessary at this time.” Pet. 7. “Patent Owner does not contend that any terms in the challenged claims require express construction for purposes of evaluating the Petition’s invalidity grounds.” PO Resp. 7. We determine that no claim terms require express construction for purposes of this Decision. See Nidec Motor Corp. v. Zhongshan Broad Ocean Motor Co., 868 F.3d 1013, 1017 (Fed. Cir. 2017) (quoting Vivid Techs., Inc. v. Am. Sci. & Eng’g, Inc., 200 F.3d 795, 803 (Fed. Cir. 1999) (“[O]nly those terms need be construed that are in controversy, and only to the extent necessary to resolve the controversy.”)).” slip op. at 9

    • Novelty / Anticipation (§102) › Priority / effective filing date / continuation supportReference is prior artDecided for petitioner

      “date of Provisional Application No. 60/858,204 (Ex. 1004, “’204 Provisional”), and is prior art to the ’878 Patent under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. § 102(e). Pet. 9. Petitioner asserts that the ’204 Provisional provides support for the disclosure of Baig and provides § 112 support for at least one claim in Baig. Id. Petitioner asserts that there are no material differences between Baig and the ’204 Provisional. Id. at 10 (citing Ex. 1002 ¶ 43 (citing Ex. 1005 (redline comparison of Ex. 1003 and Ex. 1004))). Petitioner further contends that the ’204 Provisional includes 17 claims that are identical to the claims in Baig, and, therefore, provides written description support for the corresponding claims in Baig. Id. Petitioner also asserts the ’204 Provisional provides enablement. Id. Patent Owner has not challenged the status of Baig as prior art. See PO Resp. Based on our review of the complete record, we find that Petitioner has shown sufficiently that Baig is entitled to the earlier effective filing date of the ’204 Provisional Application.” slip op. at 12

    • Obviousness (§103) › Graham factors (scope of art, differences, level of skill)Not shown unpatentableNot shown unpatentable

      “Patent Owner that the plain language of the claim requires there to be a determination that devices accessed the LAN during the predetermined period of time. The claim language recites that the determining of limitation (a) (which recites the determination of an association between the identifiers) is done using the stored association-detection information (which is alleged to be the cookies and session table of the cited art) “to determine” that the mobile devices have separately accessed the internet through a LAN “during a predetermined period of time.” See Ex. 1001, 24:29–49. Thus, we read this language to require that a determination be made that the required access occurred during a predetermined period of time. This reading of the claim language is accord with the opinion expressed by Petitioner’s expert, Mr. Schmandt, at his deposition. Q So is it your opinion that the – the limitation 1B requires that the system determines whether or not the accesses by the -- the two electronic devices occurred within a predetermined period of time? A Yes.” slip op. at 17

    Patent outcomesUS 10,715,878 not shown unpatentable
    Claim construction§ 102 anticipation§ 103 obviousnesscites Graham
    Patents in suitUS 10,715,878
  • PTAB · Feb 19, 2025 · IPR2023-01281 · APJ Stacey G White · IPR · Final written decision

    Claims 1–4 and 6–23 were not shown unpatentable because the cited combinations did not establish a determination that devices accessed the Internet during a predetermined period.

    RulingsFinal written decision
    • Skill levelSkill level petitioner adoptedDecided for petitioner

      “we consider the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art at critical time. Graham v. John Deere Co. of Kan. City, 383 U.S. 1, 17 (1966). The resolution of this question is important because it allows us to “maintain[] objectivity in the obviousness inquiry.” Ryko Mfg. Co. v. Nu–Star, Inc., 950 F.2d 714, 718 (Fed. Cir. 1991). In assessing the level of ordinary skill in the art, various factors may be considered, including the “type of problems encountered in the art; prior art solutions to those problems; rapidity with which innovations are made; sophistication of the technology; and educational level of active workers in the field.” In re GPAC, Inc., 57 F.3d 3 U.S. Pat. Pub. 2008/0113674 A1, published May 15, 2008 (Ex. 1003, “Baig”). 4 U.S. Pat. Pub. 2004/0128547 A1, published July 1, 2004 (Ex. 1006, “Laidlaw”). 5 U.S. Pat. No. 6,427,170 B1, issued July 30, 2002 (Ex. 1007, “Sitaraman”). 6 Harley Hahn, The Internet Complete Reference (2d ed. 1996) (Ex. 1008, “Hahn”). 7 U.S. Pat. No. 7,730,030 B1, issued June 1, 2010 (Ex. 1009, “Xu”). 8 U.S. Pat. Pub. 2006/0282328 A1, published Dec. 14, 2006 (Ex. 1010, “Gerace”). 1573, 1579 (Fed. Cir. 1995). Generally, it is easier to establish obviousness under a higher level of ordinary skill in the art. Innovention Toys, LLC v. MGA Entm’t, Inc., 637 F.3d 1314, 1323 (Fed. Cir. 2011) (“A less sophisticated level of skill generally favors a determination of nonobviousness . . . while a higher level of skill favors the reverse.”). Petitioner asserts that a person of ordinary skill in the art “would have possessed a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or computer science, and two years of work experience in the field of network-based computer systems, such as systems for sending and receiving information over local networks and wide area networks (such as the Internet or World Wide Web).” Pet. 5 (citing Ex. 1002 ¶¶ 10–14). Patent Owner does not challenge Petitioner’s description of the level of ordinary skill in the art. See Ex. 2001 ¶ 26 (adopting Petitioner’s proposed level of skill in the art for the purposes of this proceeding). We are persuaded that Petitioner’s description is consistent with the prior art and patent specification. Accordingly, we adopt Petitioner’s description.” slip op. at 7

    • Claim Construction › Threshold & procedure › Whether a term needs construction (O2 Micro)No construction neededOther

      “using the same claim construction standard that would be used to construe the claim in a civil action under 35 U.S.C. § 282(b). 37 C.F.R. 42.100(b) (2023). Our rule adopts the same claim construction standard used by Article III federal courts, which follow Phillips v. AWH Corp., 415 F.3d 1303 (Fed. Cir. 2005) (en banc), and its progeny. Under this standard, the words of a claim are generally given their “ordinary and customary meaning,” which is the meaning the term would have to a person of ordinary skill at the time of the invention, in the context of the entire patent including the specification. See Phillips, 415 F.3d at 1312–13. Petitioner “does not believe claim construction is necessary at this time.” Pet. 7. “Patent Owner does not contend that any terms in the challenged claims require express construction for purposes of evaluating the Petition’s invalidity grounds.” PO Resp. 7. We determine that no claim terms require express construction for purposes of this Decision. See Nidec Motor Corp. v. Zhongshan Broad Ocean Motor Co., 868 F.3d 1013, 1017 (Fed. Cir. 2017) (quoting Vivid Techs., Inc. v. Am. Sci. & Eng’g, Inc., 200 F.3d 795, 803 (Fed. Cir. 1999) (“[O]nly those terms need be construed that are in controversy, and only to the extent necessary to resolve the controversy.”)).” slip op. at 8

    • Obviousness (§103) › Graham factors (scope of art, differences, level of skill)Not shown unpatentableNot shown unpatentable

      “We are persuaded by Patent Owner’s arguments. First, we agree with Patent Owner that the plain language of the claim requires there to be a determination that devices accessed the LAN during the predetermined period of time. The claim language recites that the determining of limitation (a) (which recites the determination of an association between the identifiers) is done using the stored association-detection information (which is alleged to be the cookies and session table of the cited art) “to determine” that the mobile devices have separately accessed the internet through a LAN “during a predetermined period of time.” See Ex. 1001, 24:29–49. Thus, we read this language to require that a determination be made that the required access occurred during a predetermined period of time. This reading of the claim language is accord with the opinion expressed by Petitioner’s expert, Mr. Schmandt, at his deposition.” slip op. at 17

    Patent outcomesUS 10,715,878 not shown unpatentable
    Claim construction§ 103 obviousnesscites Graham
    Patents in suitUS 10,715,878
  • PTAB · Jun 5, 2024 · IPR2023-00234 · APJ Sheridan K Snedden · IPR · Final written decision

    The Board held claims 1–28 not shown unpatentable because the asserted combinations did not establish simultaneous delivery of overlapping and non-overlapping laser beams.

    RulingsFinal written decision
    • Skill levelSkill level petitioner adoptedDecided for petitioner

      “Pet. 19; Ex. 1002 ¶ 77. Patent Owner does not dispute this proposed level of skill, but offers that a “POSA may have alternatively held a degree in electrical engineering.” PO Resp. 10; Ex. 4–10, 13, 15–17. We adopt Petitioner’s proposed level of ordinary skill in the art because it is consistent with the cited prior art and is undisputed on this record, and also consider Patent Owner’s additional proposal. See Okajima v. Bourdeau, 261 F.3d 1350, 1355 (Fed. Cir. 2001) (indicating that the prior art itself may reflect an appropriate skill level).” slip op. at 9

    • Claim Construction › Intrinsic evidence (Phillips canons) › Specification disavowal / 'present invention' languageTerm construed patent owner constructionDecided for patent owner

      “In this case, the Specification is devoted to the teaching simultaneous delivery of multiple laser beams. The Specification begins by stating that “[t]here are no lasers or laser handpieces on the market today that can simultaneously deliver two or more wavelengths of laser energy in spacial, fractional form.” Ex. 1001, 1:12–14. The Specification explains that “laser treatment usually requires different modalities of energy in order [to] successfully treat the pathologies to which they are applied,” but that “the sequential application of multiple wavelengths of laser energy compromises the treatment.” Id. at 1:16–25. The Specification then continues to explain various problems associated with the sequential application of multiple wavelengths. Id. at 1:25–52. The Specification concludes its introduction as follows: What is needed in the art therefore is an effective laser therapy system that can simultaneously deliver multiple wavelengths of laser energy through the use of a single laser unit without producing interference between the wavelengths within the treated tissue.” slip op. at 13

    • Obviousness (§103) › Motivation to combine / reasonable expectation of successNot shown unpatentableMotivation not foundNot shown unpatentable

      “summarized above, we find Patent Owner to have the better position. In particular, we agree with Patent Owner that the combination of Hsia and Black fail to teach or suggest simultaneously delivering non-overlapping beams. The combination also fails to teach or suggest producing beam patterns that include both overlapping and non-overlapping beams. PO Resp. 34. To begin, while we recognize that Hsia discloses overlapping and non-overlapping treatment patterns, those patterns are achieved by the sequential delivery of laser beams as a user physically moves a single handpiece that delivers a single beam across the skin of a patient. Ex. 1004 ¶ 68, Figs. 8 and 9; Ex. 2001 ¶¶ 73–74. Black does not cure that deficiency as Black does not disclose treatment with non-overlapping beams. Ex. 2001 ¶ 99. Black discloses using a “refractive optics, mirror-based optical delivery device” for the simultaneous delivery of multiple overlapping laser beams. Ex. 1006 ¶¶ 12– 13. The beams align on an optical path and, using different laser beam parameters, deliver treatment at various depths within a combined beam path. Id. ¶¶ 54, 58–59. Thus, while Black may be characterized as creating overlapping beams, we do not find sufficient support for a finding that Black teaches or suggests creating non-overlapping beams for simultaneous delivery, and the claims require both. We also do not find sufficient support for Petitioner’s claim that a POSA would have found it obvious to combine Black and Hsia to simultaneously produce both overlapping beams and nonoverlapping beams, based on the disclosures in these references. See, e.g.,” slip op. at 31

    • BurdenFwd all claims patentableNot shown unpatentable

      “Claims Claims Not 35 U.S.C. § Reference(s)/ Claims Shown Shown Basis Unpatentable Unpatentable 1–28 103 Hsia, Black 1–28 Hsia, Black, 23 103 23 Negus Hsia, Black, 27, 28 103 27, 28 Altshuler Altshuler, 1–28 103 1–28 Black Altshuler, 23 103 23 Black, Negus Overall Outcome 1–28 IV. ORDER In consideration of the foregoing, it is hereby: ORDERED that Petitioner has not shown by a preponderance of the evidence that claims 1–28 of the ’481 patent are unpatentable; and” slip op. at 41

    Patent outcomesUS 10,675,481 not shown unpatentable
    Claim construction§ 103 obviousnesscites Phillips · Graham
    Patents in suitUS 10,675,481
  • PTAB · May 31, 2024 · IPR2023-00441 · APJ Gregg I Anderson · IPR · Final written decision

    Claims 1–15 and 17–18 were not shown unpatentable because the prior art did not disclose a “pre-set UE number” under the adopted construction.

    RulingsFinal written decision
    • Prior constructionPrior construction adoptedDecided for patent owner

      “We are not persuaded to maintain our preliminary construction. Indeed, as already noted, Petitioner does not argue for the preliminary construction. Neither does Petitioner question the validity of the reasons given for the District Court’s construction. Rather, Petitioner repeats its position that it “takes no position on the District Court’s construction” and Petitioner does not have any reason “as to why that construction is wrong or right.” Tr. 18:24–19:6. We do not see any reason to construe “pre-set UE number” contrary to what the District Court has determined. Indeed, we find the District Court’s analysis of the issue highly persuasive and adopt it as our own. And Petitioner has not provided any argument regarding construction of the term, simply taking no position on its correctness.” slip op. at 12

    • Claim Construction › Functional claiming / §112(f) means-plus-function › Whether §112(f) applies (Williamson, nonce words)§112(f) appliesDecided for patent owner

      “Petitioner has forfeited the indefiniteness argument. Regardless, we are given no reason to find construction of the two means-plus function terms impossible given the District Court determination. We agree that the scope of the terms is based on a means-plus function analysis. We are not persuaded that structure is not sufficiently described.” slip op. at 14

    • Strike new argumentNew argument disregardedDecided for patent owner

      “Patent Owner argues that this argument was not presented in the Petition and is too late and/or incorrect. Sur-reply 5. We agree with Patent Owner. Neither Patent Owner nor the Board were given any notice of this argument in the Petition. Regardless, we find no merit in Petitioner’s argument. Fundamentally, our jurisdiction regarding patentability is limited to Sections 102 and 103 of the Patent Act. 35 U.S.C. § 311(b). We do not find that claim 18 is so indefinite that a patentability determination is impossible. See Intel Corp. v. Qualcomm Inc., 21 F.4th 802, 812–813 (Fed. Circ. 2021) (claim construction obligation “does not mean that the Board must reach a determination of the patentability of a claim on the presented prior-art grounds if such a determination is rendered impossible because of the indefiniteness of an essential claim limitation.”). Indeed, the District Court determined that the corresponding structure is a processor programmed to either (1) descramble a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) of Downlink Control Information (DCI) for scheduling the RAR according to a pre-set RA-RNTI or an RA-RNTI corresponding to the preamble, and receive the RAR, the RAR including at least one TCRNTI and/or at least one Uplink (UL) grant. Ex. 2008, 23 (quoting Ex. 1001, 2:66–3:4). (2) determine corresponding RA-RNTIs according to respective IDs and/or preambles, descramble a CRC of DCI for scheduling the RAR according to the corresponding RA-RNTIs, and receive corresponding RARs, the RAR including a TCRNTI and/or a UL grant allocated to the first UE or second UE.” slip op. at 13

    • Novelty / Anticipation (§102) › Anticipation standard (single reference, every element)Not shown unpatentableNot shown unpatentable

      “Our construction of “pre-set UE number” is dispositive of this proceeding. See Section III.B.1 above. Petitioner agrees that both Li and Kim “don’t disclose that the message 3 includes a ‘pre-set number of UEs’” under our final construction of “pre-set UE number.” Pet. Reply 4; see also Tr. 7:20–22 (“Under [the District Court] construction, Li and Kim would not disclose Claim 1, at least Claim 1, of the ’430 patent”); 11:3–17 (Petitioner’s counsel arguing claim 18 is indefinite but agreeing neither claim 1 nor 18 have been shown unpatentable under the District Court construction of “preset UE number”). For the reasons set forth above, Petitioner has not shown a by a preponderance of the evidence that claims 1 and 18 are anticipated by Li.” slip op. at 18

    Patent outcomesUS 10,448,430 not shown unpatentable
    Claim construction§ 102 anticipation§ 103 obviousnesscites Phillips · KSR · Graham
    Patents in suitUS 10,448,430
  • PTAB · Mar 29, 2024 · IPR2022-01598 · APJ Gregg I Anderson · IPR · Final written decision

    The Board held claims 1, 2, 6, 8–11, 15, 17, and 18 not shown unpatentable over Kannan because Kannan did not disclose the construed transmission blocks.

    RulingsFinal written decision
    • Claim Construction › Threshold & procedure › Whether a term needs construction (O2 Micro)Term construed board ownDecided for patent owner

      “We are not persuaded that “single entity” requires a separate construction or additional clarification, presumably by “testimonial evidence.” See Pet. Supp. Br. 4 n.1. Here, we need not determine the precise outer bounds of the term “transmission block,” including all the different types of single entities, because the Board is required to construe the claim to only the extent necessary to resolve the dispute. See Realtime Data, LLC v. Iancu, 912 F.3d 1368, 1375 (Fed. Cir. 2019) (citing Vivid Techs., Inc. v. Am. Sci. & Eng’g, Inc., 200 F.3d 795, 803 (Fed. Cir. 1999)). The relevant context for understanding what is a single entity is the disclosures of Kannan and the ’443 patent regarding “code block,” “transport block,” and “transmission block.” Those are the “single entities” and are the focus of the dispute. For the preceding reasons we adopt our preliminary construction of “transmission blocks” as our final construction. No additional terms are in dispute that require construction.” slip op. at 16

    • Skill levelSkill level petitioner adoptedDecided for petitioner

      “invention of the ’443 patent “would have had an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science or a related field along with at least two years of work experience in the field of wireless communication technology.” Pet. 3–4 (citing Ex. 1003 ¶¶ 23–24). Patent Owner does not propose a level of ordinary skill and “takes no position with respect to Petitioner’s proposed level of ordinary skill in the art” because “it does not affect the ultimate analysis.” PO Resp. 11–12. For purposes of this Decision, we adopt Petitioner’s proposed level of ordinary skill because we are satisfied that it comports with the level of skill necessary to understand and implement the teachings of the ’443 patent. The proposed level of skill is consistent with the field of the invention as indicated by the cited prior art.” slip op. at 7

    • Expert testimonyPatent owner expert creditedPetitioner expert discountedDecided for patent owner

      “Kannan is based on the OSI model and describes control and data transmission on the MAC and PHY layers. Ex. 1006 ¶ 63. Kannan explains that “[w]ireless devices may exchange data using Medium Access Control (MAC) layer units known as transport blocks that may include a number of CBs.” Id. ¶ 8. Further, at the PHY layer, “a transport block may be divided into CBs.” Id. ¶ 52. Kannan continues to describe that “code blocks” “may be bundled into multiple bundles having a certain number of CBs.” Id. These parts of Kannan support the Akl Rebuttal Declaration conclusion’s regarding the OSI model in Kannan. Ex. 2007 ¶¶ 31–37, 49–50. Thus, we credit the Akl Rebuttal Declaration on this issue (id.) over Dr. Ding’s testimony (Ex. 1016 ¶ 13) because it is better supported by Kannan. Based on the preceding, we find that “code blocks” on the PHY layer are found only with “transport blocks” and are not a “separate entity.” See PO Supp. Br. 2.” slip op. at 21

    • Novelty / Anticipation (§102) › Anticipation standard (single reference, every element)Not shown unpatentableNot shown unpatentable

      “Kannan is based on the OSI model and describes control and data transmission on the MAC and PHY layers. Ex. 1006 ¶ 63. Kannan explains that “[w]ireless devices may exchange data using Medium Access Control (MAC) layer units known as transport blocks that may include a number of CBs.” Id. ¶ 8. Further, at the PHY layer, “a transport block may be divided into CBs.” Id. ¶ 52. Kannan continues to describe that “code blocks” “may be bundled into multiple bundles having a certain number of CBs.” Id. These parts of Kannan support the Akl Rebuttal Declaration conclusion’s regarding the OSI model in Kannan. Ex. 2007 ¶¶ 31–37, 49–50. Thus, we credit the Akl Rebuttal Declaration on this issue (id.) over Dr. Ding’s testimony (Ex. 1016 ¶ 13) because it is better supported by Kannan. Based on the preceding, we find that “code blocks” on the PHY layer are found only with “transport blocks” and are not a “separate entity.” See PO Supp. Br. 2. Thus, Petitioner has not shown that claims 1, 8, 10, and 17 are unpatentable by a preponderance of the evidence.” slip op. at 21

    Patent outcomesUS 10,594,443 not shown unpatentable
    Claim construction§ 102 anticipationcites Phillips
    Patents in suitUS 10,594,443
  • PTAB · Aug 28, 2023 · IPR2022-00633 · APJ Michael R Zecher · IPR · Final written decision

    Claims 1–17 were not shown unpatentable because Lurie, alone or combined with the other cited references, did not teach proactive task retrieval; the contingent motion to amend was dismissed as moot.

    RulingsFinal written decision
    • Claim Construction › Intrinsic evidence (Phillips canons) › Plain and ordinary meaning to a POSITATerm construed board ownDecided for patent owner

      “Based on the fully developed trial record, we apply the ordinary and customary meaning of the claim term “proactively” and, therefore, we construe this claim term as initiating change rather than reacting to events (i.e., not being told to act or not reactionary). Beginning with the intrinsic evidence, both parties appear to agree that the ’275 patent does not define the claim term “proactively” with reasonable clarity, deliberateness, and precision. For example, during the oral hearing, counsel for Amazon indicated that the specification of the ’275 patent provides “some examples” of what it means to act “proactively,” but it does not provide a lexicographic definition. See Tr. 7:8–11:21. In the same vein, during oral argument, counsel for Swarm stated that “[w]e haven’t advocated for anything other than the plain and ordinary meaning of proactively.” Id. at 34:23–24. We” slip op. at 12

    • Skill levelSkill level petitioner adoptedDecided for petitioner

      “In its Petition, Amazon argues that a person of ordinary skill in the art “would have had a bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, or a related field, and about five years of industry or academic research experience in parallel or distributed computing, system architecture, or an equivalent.” Pet. 4–5 (citing Ex. 1003 ¶¶ 42–44). Amazon further argues that “[a] post-graduate degree or additional formal education can compensate for less experience, and vice-versa.” Id. In its Patent Owner Response, Swarm does not address the level of skill in the art. See PO Resp. Accordingly, based on the fully developed trial record, we maintain our preliminary determination regarding the level of ordinary skill in the art. Dec. on Inst. 10–11. That is, we adopt Amazon’s proposed assessment of the level of ordinary skill in the art because it is consistent with the ’275 patent and the asserted prior art. We apply this assessment of the level of ordinary skill in the art in our obviousness evaluations below.” slip op. at 19

    • Expert testimonyPetitioner expert creditedDecided for petitioner

      “Amazon’s declarant, Dr. Lowenthal, provides testimony that supports our finding above. In his supplemental declaration in support of the Reply, Dr. Lowenthal testifies that, “[c]ertainly, Lurie initially sends an initial notification of ‘one or more tasks . . . becoming available.’ After that, . . . TCW [270] will obtain and process a first task.” Ex. 1040 ¶ 58 (quoting Ex. 1007 ¶ 86) (citing Ex. 1007 ¶¶ 87, 88) (second two alterations in original). He also testifies that the “one initial notification . . . kick[s] off the procedure” because it “informs all registered TCWs [270] that one or more tasks are available.” Id. ¶ 59. We credit the aforementioned testimony of Dr. Lowenthal’s because it is consistent with the disclosures in Lurie that we highlight above, most notably the kickoff notification.” slip op. at 30

    • Obviousness (§103) › Motivation to combine / reasonable expectation of successNot reached

      “As we explain in the claim construction section above, we accord the claim term “proactively” an ordinary and customary meaning of initiating change rather than reacting to events (i.e., not being told to act or not reactionary). See supra Section II.A. Contrary to our construction, Lurie’s TCW 270 only takes a task after receiving a kickoff notification and, therefore, it is not acting proactively. That is, Lurie’s TCW 270 reacts to the kickoff notification that a task is available or otherwise appears in object exchange repository 662 rather than initiates change by seeking a task from object exchange repository 662 without being notified to do so.” slip op. at 30

    Patent outcomesUS 10,592,275 not shown unpatentable
    Claim construction§ 103 obviousnesscites KSR · Graham
    Patents in suitUS 10,592,275
  • PTAB · Apr 26, 2023 · IPR2022-00141 · APJ Michael R Zecher · IPR · Final written decision

    Juniper failed to show claims 1–7 and 9–17 unpatentable under any asserted obviousness ground because the combinations did not teach adding a co-processor without any communication with the controller.

    RulingsFinal written decision
    • Skill levelSkill level petitioner adoptedDecided for petitioner

      “In its Petition, Juniper argues that a person of ordinary skill in the art “would’ve had at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science, electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a closely related field, and one or more years of experience in the design and development of parallel or distributed processing systems.” Pet. 11. Juniper further argues that a person of ordinary skill in the art could, alternatively, “have a master’s degree or similar post-graduate work in computer science, electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a closely related field, and less design and development experience.” Id. (citing Ex. 1003 ¶¶ 60, 61). In its Patent Owner Response, Swarm appears to agree with Juniper because it repeats verbatim the same assessment of the level of ordinary skill in the art offered by Juniper in its Petition. Compare PO Resp. 11, with Pet. 11. Accordingly, based on the fully developed trial record, we maintain our preliminary determination regarding the level of ordinary skill in the art. Dec. on Inst. 10. That is, we adopt Juniper’s proposed formulation of the level of ordinary skill in the art, except that we delete the qualifier “or more” to eliminate vagueness as to the amount of practical experience. The qualifier expands the range indefinitely without an upper bound and, therefore, precludes a meaningful indication of the level of ordinary skill in the art. We apply this modified version of the level of ordinary skill in the art in our obviousness evaluations below.” slip op. at 14

    • Expert testimonyPetitioner expert discountedDecided for patent owner

      “In any event, even if we were to consider Juniper’s downstream theory, we do not find this belated argument persuasive. To support its downstream theory, Juniper relies on the Dr. Weissman’s testimony that “[t]echniques for avoiding [broadcast packets flooding the network] are well known in the art and may include downstream devices dropping, or filtering, broadcast packets to minimize processing load.” Ex. 1031 ¶ 36. We decline to credit this testimony for two reasons. First, apart from generically asserting that dropping or filtering broadcast packets minimizes processing load, Dr. Weissman does not attempt to explain how Leong’s surveying unit would be considered a “downstream device” from a newly added co-processor, much less why Leong’s surveying unit would need to filter or drop a broadcast packet sent by the newly added co-processor. Second, Dr. Weissman does not cite to any underlying evidence to support his testimony. See 37 C.F.R. § 42.65(a) (“Expert testimony that does not disclose the underlying facts or data on which the opinion is based is entitled to little or no weight.”).” slip op. at 32

    • Claim Construction › Threshold & procedure › Whether a term needs construction (O2 Micro)No construction neededOther

      “In any event, we need not construe any of the sixteen claim terms identified by Swarm in its Patent Owner Response because, when evaluating the merits of Juniper’s Petition in light of the arguments and evidence presented by Swarm during trial, the scope and meaning of the sixteen claim terms are not in controversy. Accordingly, it is not necessary to reach those particular issues for purposes of deciding whether Juniper has met its burden of demonstrating by a preponderance of the evidence that the challenged claims are unpatentable. See, e.g., Nidec Motor Corp. v. Zhongshan Broad Ocean Motor Co., 868 F.3d 1013, 1017 (Fed. Cir. 2017) (“[W]e need only construe terms ‘that are in controversy, and only to the extent necessary to resolve the controversy.’” (quoting Vivid Techs., Inc. v. Am. Sci. & Eng’g, Inc., 200 F.3d 795, 803 (Fed. Cir. 1999))). In our obviousness evaluation below, we address the scope and meaning of the claim term “communication,” as this term pertains to the combined teachings of Leong and AppleTalkBook contested by the parties. More specifically, we address below whether Juniper’s proposed combination of Leong and AppleTalkBook teaches or suggests adding a coprocesser “on a plug-and-play basis without any communication with the controller,” as recited in each of independent claims 1, 6, and 11 of the ’275 patent.” slip op. at 11

    • Claim Construction › Intrinsic evidence (Phillips canons) › Plain and ordinary meaning to a POSITATerm construed board ownDecided for patent owner

      “We begin our analysis with the plain language of independent claims 1, 6, and 11. Each of these independent claims explicitly requires adding a co-processor “without any communication with the controller.” Ex. 1001, 14:40–44, 15:30–34, 16:30–34 (emphasis added). As we explained in the Final Written Decision in IPR2021-01445, the use of the word “any” precludes both communication with a response and communication without a response. IPR2021-01445, Paper 62 at 25. Turning to the disclosure in the specification of the ’275 patent cited by Juniper, we do not agree that those disclosures support limiting “communication” to only two-way messaging. The relevant passage in the specification states the following: Each cell 12 [is] configured to perform one or a plurality of specialized tasks, as illustrated in the following sequence of events. During a poll phase each cell periodically sends an agent to the task pool until a matching task is found. To facilitate this matching, both the cell and the task pool may be equipped with a transceiver. In the case of the task pool, the transceiver maybe [sic] located in the task pool itself or in the switching fabric to which the task pool is connected. When a task match is found within a task pool, the task pool transmits an acknowledgement to the cell. The next step is the “communication channel” phase. During the communication channel phase, the cell receives the task and begins to execute the task. In one implementation, once the first task is completed, the communication channel is maintained so that the solidar[it]y cell can fetch another task without having to repeat the “poll” and “acknowledge” phase. Ex. 1001, 6:33–48 (emphases added). We fail to see how each cell 12 transmitting an acknowledgement message during the “poll phase” or each cell 12 receiving a task during the “communication channel” phase implicates adding a co-processor “on a plug-and-play basis,” as required by each of independent claims 1, 6, and 11. Regardless, we do not view the cited disclosure in the specification as limiting the “communication” required by these independent claims to only two-way messaging. Instead, we view the cited disclosure as merely examples of how each cell 12 may communicate with the task pool. The U.S. Court of Appeal for the Federal Circuit “has repeatedly ‘cautioned against limiting the claimed invention to preferred embodiments or specific examples in the specification.’” Williamson v. CitrixOnline, LLC, 792 F.3d 1339, 1346–47 (Fed. Cir. 2015) (quoting Teleflex, Inc. v. Ficosa N. Am. Corp., 299 F.3d 1313, 1328 (Fed. Cir. 2002)). Stated differently, these two examples of transmitting an acknowledgment message and receiving a task in the specification, by themselves, are not enough to prevent a broad interpretation of “communication” that includes, among other things, one-way messaging that does not require a response.” slip op. at 27

    Patent outcomesUS 10,592,275 not shown unpatentable
    Claim construction§ 103 obviousnesscites KSR · Graham
    Patents in suitUS 10,592,275
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Holdings, summaries, rulings, issues, outcomes, winners and claim constructions shown for a decision were generated by a large language model reading the opinion. They are a guide to the decision, not the decision. Confirm every one against the court's own text before relying on it. Outcomes read from the patent owner’s side. Party names are extracted from the decision and are missing on about 900 short Director denials and scans, which carry the trial number instead.