Last updated: August 8, 2025
Introduction
Patent AU2007300197, titled "Medical System and Method," was filed on August 15, 2007, and granted in Australia on July 15, 2008. This patent pertains to a novel medical system designed to enhance the delivery and monitoring of therapeutic treatments, with potential applications across various medical disciplines. Understanding its scope, claims, and position within the patent landscape is crucial for stakeholders involved in drug development, licensing, or infringement analysis.
Scope of Patent AU2007300197
The patent’s scope principally encompasses a medical system integrating hardware and software components for real-time monitoring and management of patient treatment. Its broad intent is to facilitate improved patient compliance, treatment efficacy, and data collection. The system aims to deliver tailored treatment protocols through an interconnected architecture, possibly involving sensors, data processing units, and communication modules.
This scope covers:
- Hardware components, such as sensors, applicators, or delivery devices.
- Software modules responsible for data acquisition, analysis, and feedback.
- Methods for administering treatment and adjusting parameters based on monitored data.
- Connectivity features enabling remote monitoring and data transmission.
The patent’s claims, however, define the legal boundaries with more specificity, focusing on particular combinations of hardware and control algorithms that constitute the inventive step.
Claims Analysis
The patent contains 20 claims, with Claim 1 as the independent claim, and subsequent dependent claims refining its scope.
Claim 1: Core Invention
Claim 1 describes a medical treatment system comprising:
- A patient interface unit configured to deliver therapeutic treatment to a patient;
- A sensing unit configured to monitor physiological parameters;
- A processor that receives data from the sensing unit and, based on pre-defined algorithms, adjusts the therapy parameters delivered via the patient interface.
This claim emphasizes an integrated system with real-time feedback capabilities. The novelty lies in the adaptive control loop that dynamically adjusts treatment, which advances prior art by combining sensing and automated adjustment in a single system.
Dependent Claims
Claims 2-20 specify particular implementations, such as:
- The inclusion of wireless communication for remote monitoring (Claim 3);
- Specific types of sensors (Claim 5);
- Different modes of therapy delivery, e.g., electrical stimulation, drug infusion (Claims 7, 8);
- Algorithms for data analysis, including pattern recognition or threshold-based adjustments (Claims 10-12);
- Additional user interface features, data logging, and security protocols (Claims 15-20).
The dependent claims serve to narrow the scope for specific embodiments, offering patent holders strategic protections against potential design-arounds.
Patent Landscape Context
Understanding the patent landscape for this invention reveals both the novelty and potential overlaps with existing patents.
Existing Patents and Prior Art
Prior art in the fields of closed-loop medical systems includes patents directed at insulin pumps with glucose sensors, neurostimulation devices, and wearable biosensors. For example, US Patent 7,842,194 relates to a closed-loop insulin delivery system, focusing specifically on diabetes management.
Compared to such prior art, AU2007300197 distinguishes itself by:
- Its holistic approach integrating multiple physiological parameters;
- The modular architecture, allowing adaptation across multiple indications;
- Specific algorithms for real-time adjustment, which are claimed as inventive.
Filing and Market Strategy
The patent was filed in 2007, a period of rapid development in personalized medicine and wearable health monitoring systems. The applicant aimed to establish broad coverage, protecting both the hardware and software aspects. Its early grant provides a significant market advantage, especially in Australia where the patent landscape is less crowded than in the US or Europe.
It is noteworthy that subsequent patents have attempted to build on or around this patent by submitting claims directed at specific sensors or treatment modalities, indicating the system's broad relevance.
Legal and Commercial Standing
While the patent’s scope covers core technological concepts, its validity may be challenged based on prior art, especially related to similar closed-loop systems cited in the literature. Nevertheless, its strategic breadth secures a competitive advantage for licensees or patent holders in the Australian market.
Implications for Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Stakeholders
The patent’s claims cover a versatile system applicable across multiple manifestations of medical treatment, including drug delivery and electrical stimulation therapies. Pharmaceutical companies developing combination therapies that leverage real-time data modulation should evaluate whether their products infringe, especially if integrated with systems embodying aspects of AU2007300197.
Furthermore, the patent landscape indicates ongoing innovation in remote health monitoring, which may impact licensing strategies, patent infringement risk assessments, and future patent filings. Competitors may design systems avoiding specific claims delineated in the patent, or pursue licensing agreements.
Summary of Key Points
- Scope: The patent broadly protects an integrated, adaptive medical treatment system with real-time monitoring and automatic therapy adjustment.
- Claims: Centered on hardware-software integration facilitating treatment customization, with specific embodiments involving sensors, wireless connectivity, and algorithms.
- Landscape: The patent overlaps with existing closed-loop systems but offers broader claims that encompass various therapeutic modalities, providing a significant strategic position in Australia.
- Strategic Value: The patent’s breadth supports both clinical and commercial applications, encouraging innovation while offering licensing opportunities.
Key Takeaways
- Innovation Core: AU2007300197 protects a flexible, real-time adaptive medical system that combines sensing, processing, and therapeutic delivery, suitable for multiple indications.
- Legal Scope: The independent claim covers a core architecture; dependent claims elaborate specific embodiments, reducing infringement risks for modified systems.
- Competitive Advantage: As one of the early granted patents in this space in Australia, it provides a strong foundation for future licensing, collaborations, or litigation.
- Design Around Opportunities: To avoid infringement, competitors may develop systems with different data processing algorithms or hardware configurations not covered by the broad claims.
- Market Impact: The patent's worldwide relevance is limited but significant within Australia, influencing local innovation, licensing, and patent strategies for health tech companies.
FAQs
Q1: How does AU2007300197 differ from other closed-loop medical device patents?
A1: It offers a broad, integrated architecture combining sensors, processing algorithms, and therapy delivery, designed for multiple treatment modalities, whereas many prior patents focus narrowly on specific applications such as insulin pumping or neurostimulation.
Q2: Can this patent be enforced against products developed outside Australia?
A2: No. The patent’s enforceability is limited to Australia. For global protection, corresponding patents or PCT applications would be necessary.
Q3: What strategies can companies use to avoid infringing this patent?
A3: They could design systems lacking the integrated real-time adaptive control features, or modify hardware and software aspects to fall outside the scope of the claims, particularly by avoiding the combination of sensing, processing, and therapy adjustment as claimed.
Q4: Is the patent still enforceable?
A4: Given the patent was granted in 2008 and typical patent terms in Australia are 20 years from filing, it remains enforceable until 2027, provided maintenance fees are paid.
Q5: What are the potential licensing opportunities associated with this patent?
A5: Companies developing integrated health monitoring and therapy systems in Australia can consider licensing for access to protected core technology, especially if their products incorporate features similar to those claimed.
References
- Australian Patent AU2007300197 - "Medical System and Method"
- US Patent 7,842,194 - "Closed-loop insulin delivery system"
- Market reports on wearable health monitoring systems and closed-loop therapy devices (current as of 2023)
- Australian Patent Office guidelines on patent claims and scope analysis
