Overview

Representing innovative, technology-driven businesses whose products improve the lives of patients with renal, cardiac, orthopedic, vision care, and other medical needs, litigator Todd Miller helps them protect their innovations and fight infringers.

For more than 20 years, Todd has fought long and hard to help clients in the medical device field achieve their business and intellectual property objectives. He asserts and defends infringement claims and represents his clients in post-grant proceedings. He has achieved impressive successes for clients at the leading edge of innovation, protecting their transformative inventions and enabling them to serve patients worldwide.

Todd takes a highly developed and pragmatic approach to litigation case management, creating efficient teams, handling complex litigation matters on budget, and delivering exceptional results for his clients. As a registered patent attorney, Todd is particularly skilled in devising and coordinating post-grant and litigation strategies. Todd is also experienced in negotiating and structuring complex patent licensing deals and resolving licensing disputes both in and out of court.

Todd is a graduate of National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) courses in instructor training and many aspects of litigation practice. Before joining Fish & Richardson, he was an extern law clerk to the Honorable David R. Thompson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

Experience

Representing the Johns Hopkins University in multiple patent licensing and prosecution matters including matters involving significant advances in sequencing, cancer diagnostics and cancer therapies.  Also representing JHU in litigation against Alcon Laboratories, Inc. in which JHU’s transformative technology for retina surgery has allowed surgeons to save the vision of millions of patients worldwide.

St. Jude Medical, et al. v. Volcano Corp. (D. Del): Successfully defended Volcano Corp. in multi-case patent litigation resulting in favorable global “walk-away” settlement and covenant not to sue. The technology at issue related to pressure sensing guide wires used to quantify a patient’s need for cardiac stenting. At trial, a Delaware jury found two St. Jude patents invalid and two others not infringed; a fifth patent was declared not infringed by the court on the eve of trial. In a precedential decision, the Federal Circuit dismissed St. Jude’s appeal of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board’s decision NOT to institute inter partes review of Volcano patents.

NuVasive, Inc. adv. various Medtronic entities (S.D. Cal.): Successfully defended NuVasive in multi-patent infringement litigation concerning surgical methods and devices for performing spine surgery. NuVasive’s asserted patent was found valid and infringed after litigation that included consideration by the United States Supreme Court.

Baxter Healthcare Corp. v. Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc. (N.D. Cal.): Successfully defended Fresenius against Baxter’s allegation that Fresenius infringed nine patents relating to peritoneal dialysis systems. Before trial, Baxter dismissed seven of its asserted patents. At trial, a jury found the remaining two patents not infringed.

Fresenius USA, Inc. v. Baxter International, Inc. (N.D. Cal.): After assuming the defense of this case from another firm, successfully defended Fresenius against Baxter’s allegation that Fresenius infringed four patents relating to hemodialysis systems. At trial, a jury invalidated all asserted claim of the four patents-in-suit. The district court subsequently overturned the jury’s verdict as to one of the four patents. The Federal Circuit then affirmed the cancellation by the Patent Office of all claims of that patent leading the Federal Circuit en banc to deem moot a subsequent damage determination. The Supreme Court denied review. The net result was that Fresenius owed no money to Baxter.

Intuitive Surgical v. Vital Care, Inc. (N.D. Cal.). Successfully represented Intuitive Surgical in patent and trademark infringement action involving components of Intuitive’s surgical robotic system. Obtained consent judgment precluding further sales of these components and ensuring the continued safety of daVinci surgical patients.

Intuitive Surgical, Inc. v. Computer Motion, Inc. (D. Del. and C.D. Cal.). Represented Intuitive Surgical in multi-case patent infringement litigation relating to surgical robotic systems. The jury verdict that Computer Motion infringed Intuitive’s patent set the stage for Intuitive’s acquisition of Computer Motion.

Brookhill-Wilk v. Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (S.D.N.Y. 2000). Successfully defended Intuitive Surgical against patent infringement claims directed to Intuitive’s surgical robotic system. Obtained summary judgment of non-infringement on behalf of Intuitive.

Testimonials

“Todd Miller handles some of our most valuable IP. … He is able to understand complex matters and he is strategic. I think he has a nuanced and good understanding of how to handle our most valuable assets.” — Client Testimonial, 2023 Chambers and Partners USA

“Todd has helped us with numerous disputes related to patents, including … matters where we had to defend our organization. In every instance, Todd has been extraordinary in how he has protected us. I appreciate it.”  Client Testimonial, 2023 Chambers and Partners USA