By: Joshua Finley

In the complex world of medical devices and technology, intellectual property plays a pivotal role in securing competitive advantage. For innovators and startups, protecting novel concepts and methods through strong patents can be the difference between runaway success and costly infringement battles. According to seasoned inventor John Ashley, robust patent portfolios not only defend market share but also communicate value to investors and partners.

With over 100 issued patents under his belt, John knows firsthand how strategic IP development benefits medical enterprises. Now as a seasoned advisor, he guides emerging companies to expand and fortify their patent shields. For both John and the leadership teams he assists, patents represent far more than legal technicalities – they embody the promise of advancing healthcare through creativity and diligence.

Traversing The Patent Landscape Early On

John’s passion for medical IP blossomed early in his product development career. While working for Medtronic on an innovative cardiac rhythm device, he learned how a single word choice could strengthen or weaken claims.

“It was the word ‘attached’,” John recalls. “I suggested a way to perform the function without physically attaching it. Just put it into a slot instead of gluing or screwing it on. The attorney said that solved the problem, since it wasn’t attached.”

This nuance sparked John’s interest in the intersection between engineering and language within patents. As he moved to executive roles in startups, he took on increasingly hands-on patent work – describing inventions, detailing figures, drafting claims, and negotiating with examiners.

“I went from being excited about the process to really doing 90% of the work to get a patent approved,” he notes.

Quantifying The Power Of Diverse IP

Over the years, John has helped enterprises big and small expand their IP power through both organic invention and strategic acquisitions.

One method he employs with emerging companies is to re-work provisional filings into multiple robust utility applications. By dividing one general disclosure into targeted claims, a single invention breeds an entire patent family.

“I took the one original filing from this doctor and turned it into five distinct patents,” he explains. “It really increased the potential protection for his core technology.  And from there, the overall value of his emerging enterprise grew exponentially.”

John also aids startups in IP mining – brainstorming creative extensions of existing portfolios. During regular virtual sessions, he and patent attorneys engage in free-flowing discussions about new embodiments, methods, and applications.

“In a few months, we had generated 20 or 30 new patent applications just through these idea calls,” John notes. “Now, years later, that company’s patent portfolio is valued at over $120 million dollars.”

Connecting With Key Opinion Leaders

According to John, a robust patent shield alone does not guarantee success in medical technology. Creators must collaborate with experts across specialties to ensure real-world utility.

By regularly engaging with clinicians, medical societies, and key opinion leaders, innovators receive invaluable feedback. Surgeon partners assist with designing intuitive, needs-based products and planning realistic human trials. Their hands-on perspectives keep development grounded in practical application.

“These doctors know I can’t help them treat that particular patient on the table,” John explains. “But I can take what I learn to potentially help them improve outcomes for the next hundred.”

In recent months, John has focused on building relationships with pediatric and adult spine surgeons across exceptional institutions. From UCLA to Mayo Clinic, these specialists provide clinical wisdom and research connections for his scoliosis treatment technology.

“I’m looking forward to collaborating with them not only on our current product, but also on new concepts their own innovation sparks,” he says.

Advancing Care Through IP And Insight

Throughout his career, John has explored the intersection between medical technology and intellectual property from all angles. He has experienced firsthand how a single word can alter a patent’s scope and how one brainstorming call can yield a game-changing portfolio.

However, John notes that success in this complex landscape relies on synergy between creativity and application: “At the end of the day, my role is to provide the tools and support for my team to do their best work so that we can create technologies that really help people.”

For John, intellectual property and human connection remain indispensable elements for improving patient outcomes through research and engineering. By merging these two pillars, medical innovators can continue pushing the boundaries of healthcare forward.

To learn more about John Ashley, you can visit his LinkedIn profile here.

Published By: Aize Perez