CAFC Invalidates “Bedside Machine” Patent
Written March 12, 2019
The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on February 26, 2019, held that a “bedside machine” that displays medical information was patent-ineligible because it was directed to the abstract idea of using a computer to gather, analyze, and display data. Univ. of Fla. Research Found. v. Gen. Elec. Co., Fed. Cir., No. 2018-1284, 2/26/19.
The University of Florida Research Foundation owned U.S. Patent No. 7,062,251, covering a system for integrating medical data from bedside machines. The technology converts data streams into an independent format and displays them on a graphic interface.
GE argued that the technology was directed to an abstract idea and ineligible for patent protection. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida ruled the patent was invalid, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit agreed.
The University of Florida Research Foundation owned U.S. Patent No. 7,062,251, covering a system for integrating medical data from bedside machines. The technology converts data streams into an independent format and displays them on a graphic interface.
GE argued that the technology was directed to an abstract idea and ineligible for patent protection. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida ruled the patent was invalid, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit agreed.