Polymer-Based Materials Applied to Hydrophobic and Adhesion-Resistant Surfaces
ChangeBridge: EPO Bulletin - Medical Devices (A61M)
Summary
The European Patent Office published patent application EP3970763A1 for Cook Medical Technologies, covering polymer-based coating materials applied to hydrophobic and adhesion-resistant surfaces on medical devices. The patent, filed by inventors Gittard, Hardy, and Martinez, includes claims for coating methods applicable to intravascular devices, surgical instruments, and implantable materials across 35 designated European member states.
What changed
EPO published patent application EP3970763A1 for Cook Medical Technologies LLC, covering polymer-based materials for coating medical device surfaces. The invention addresses hydrophobic and adhesion-resistant surfaces applicable to guidewires (A61M 25/09), surgical cutting devices (A61B 17/3205), electrosurgical instruments (A61B 18/14), and implantable device coatings (A61L 29/04, A61L 31/04, A61L 31/10). The patent includes IPC classifications in the A61M, A61B, A61L, and C09D chemical coating categories.
Medical device manufacturers utilizing polymer coatings on intravascular, surgical, or implantable devices should review this patent for freedom-to-operate considerations in European markets. The 35 designated contracting states (AL, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LI, LT, LU, LV, MC, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SI, SK, SM, TR) mean broad territorial coverage for potential enforcement actions.
What to do next
- Conduct freedom-to-operate analysis for polymer coating processes in EU markets
- Review existing medical device coating formulations for potential infringement
- Monitor EPO register for patent grant and opposition deadlines
Source document (simplified)
APPLICATION OF POLYMER-BASED MATERIALS TO HYDROPHOBIC AND ADHESION-RESISTANT SURFACES
Publication EP3970763A1 Kind: A1 Mar 25, 2026
Applicants
Cook Medical Technologies, LLC
Inventors
GITTARD, Shaun, HARDY, Gregory J., MARTINEZ, Michelle D.
IPC Classifications
A61L 29/04 20060101AFI20220216BHEP A61L 29/14 20060101ALI20220216BHEP A61B 17/3205 20060101ALI20220216BHEP A61B 18/14 20060101ALI20220216BHEP A61M 25/09 20060101ALI20220216BHEP C09D 11/52 20140101ALI20220216BHEP A61L 31/04 20060101ALI20220216BHEP A61L 31/10 20060101ALI20220216BHEP
Designated States
AL, AT, BE, BG, CH, CY, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HR, HU, IE, IS, IT, LI, LT, LU, LV, MC, MK, MT, NL, NO, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SI, SK, SM, TR
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