Christina Sperry

Member

[email protected]

+1.617.348.3018

Share:

Christina is a seasoned patent attorney who has deep capabilities around drafting and prosecuting patents related to the electrical, mechanical, and electro-mechanical fields. She represents companies and academic institutions across the medical technology spectrum as well as a variety of other technology companies. She helps patent innovations related to medical and surgical instruments and devices, mechanical products and processes, digital health and other technology apps, telecommunications, computer hardware, and software. Providing opinions on infringement, validity, and right-to-use is also integral to her practice.

Christina is an experienced patent attorney whose clients are focused in mechanical, electrical, and electro-mechanical technology spaces, from start-ups to large corporations and academic institutions. She advises on patent preparation, prosecution, and portfolio management and provides opinions on infringement, validity, and right-to-use for clients in the US and internationally.

The areas of technology in which Christina is particularly focused include medical and surgical instruments and devices including endoscopic, soft tissue, and spinal technologies; printer and imaging technology; wireless technology including 4G, 5G, and 6G; computer hardware; computer network technology; software such as database management systems, communication protocols, and graphics interfaces; financial services; cell sorting technology; and radar technology.

While in law school, Christina served as the executive editor of the Journal of Science & Technology Law.

Christina is a seasoned patent attorney who has deep capabilities around drafting and prosecuting patents related to the electrical, mechanical, and electro-mechanical fields. She represents companies and academic institutions across the medical technology spectrum as well as a variety of other technology companies. She helps patent innovations related to medical and surgical instruments and devices, mechanical products and processes, digital health and other technology apps, telecommunications, computer hardware, and software. Providing opinions on infringement, validity, and right-to-use is also integral to her practice.

Experience

  • Represent private equity-owned Wayne Fueling Systems, formerly a division of General Electric, which manufactures fuel dispensers for petroleum retailers and commercial fleets, and compressed natural gas fueling pumps. Mintz handles worldwide patent and trademark strategy and prosecution, and enforces those protections in the US and abroad. The firm's relationship attorney serves as outside patent counsel and sits on the patent review committee, working directly with the company's stakeholders in developing patent strategy.
  • Advised medical device client on developing and implementing a post-litigation strategy. Having lost a patent litigation (in which they were represented by another law firm), Mintz attorneys helped the company assess whether they could keep their product on the market during the appeal process. We then provided advice on how to create possible design-arounds for the product to ensure it was clear of infringing the patents at issue, in the event that the appeal was unsuccessful.
  • Developed an IP strategy for a start-up company that designed a cap for user in monitoring compliance for inhalers to treat asthma. Built a successful portfolio based on the strategy, which led to a successful exit.
Read less

viewpoints

Year in Review: The Most Popular IP Posts of 2020

January 14, 2021 | Blog | By Christina Sperry

As 2021 begins and intellectual property (IP) strategies are being developed for the new year, it is a good time to reflect on what IP issues were prominent in 2020.  According to many readers, hot topics included Chinese foreign filing licenses, patenting involving either artificial intelligence (AI) or COVID-19, inter partes review, and attorney fee awards.
Read more

Overview of USPTO Webinar: Understanding Patenting in China

December 17, 2020 | Blog | By Christina Sperry

Patent protection in China has been a hot topic of discussion and strategy for U.S. companies. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) China team within the USPTO's Office of Policy and International Affairs is a dedicated group of intellectual property (IP) attorneys and specialists with knowledge and experience on China manners from the U.S. law perspective as well as the Chinese law perspective.
Read more

Procuring U.S. Patents without a Signed Assignment of Patent Rights

October 27, 2020 | Blog | By Christina Sperry, Mark Hammond

Increased employee mobility, health challenges, and the economic downturn due to the COVID-19 pandemic may result in more inventors than usual being unavailable to assign patent rights.  Fortunately, applicants may procure a U.S. patent even if an assignment document cannot be obtained for the application to be filed.  
Read more

Patent Application Declarations for Unavailable or Uncooperative Inventors

September 14, 2020 | Blog | By Christina Sperry, Mark Hammond

Increased employee mobility, health challenges, and the economic downturn due to the COVID-19 pandemic may result in more inventors than usual being unavailable to sign declarations for patent applications as required by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for all applications. 
Read more

USPTO Weighs in on IT Modernization in CXOTalk Interview

August 31, 2020 | Blog | By Christina Sperry

How does an important U.S. government agency modernize its operations, especially during a global health crisis? What IT modernization approach can U.S. patent and trademark practitioners expect from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)?
Read more

Strategic Considerations for Obtaining a Foreign Filing License in China

April 27, 2020 | Blog | By Christina Sperry, Mark Hammond

As more U.S. businesses employ inventors abroad, the need for foreign filing licenses increases, especially if patent rights are first sought domestically.  Obtaining foreign filing licenses may present financial and linguistic obstacles, potentially jeopardizing the priority date of your application or patent rights within the foreign country. 
Read more

An Informative PTAB Decision on Patent Eligibility under 35 U.S.C. § 101

January 30, 2020 | Blog | By Christina Sperry

The U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board (“PTAB”) recently designated its decision in Ex Parte HANNUN (Appeal 2018-003323) (“HANNUN”) as being informative regarding the application of the latest 2019 revised guidance on patent-eligible subject matter. 
Read more

Year in Review: The Most Popular IP Posts of 2019

January 6, 2020 | Blog | By Christina Sperry

As 2020 begins and intellectual property (IP) strategies are being developed for the new year, it is a good time to reflect on what IP issues were prominent in 2019.  According to many readers, hot topics included § 112 written description, prosecution history estoppel, and venue in the wake of TC Heartland.
Read more

Help from the PTAB in Applying USPTO § 101 Subject Matter Eligibility Guidance

July 12, 2019 | Blog | By Christina Sperry

In July 2019 the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) newly designated four decisions as informative to highlight the PTAB’s general consensus on issues considered in these cases.  All four cases involve the PTAB applying the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s January 2019 guidance for determining subject matter eligibility under 35 U.S.C. § 101.  The decisions focus on whether claims integrate a judicial exception into a practical application so as to be subject matter eligible. 
Read more

Effect of A Restriction Requirement on Prosecution History Estoppel

July 2, 2019 | Blog | By Christina Sperry

The decision whether to issue a Restriction Requirement during patent prosecution lies with the patent examiner, not the patent applicant.  A Restriction Requirement can nevertheless trigger prosecution history estoppel that limits the scope of an applicant’s issued claim.  The Federal Circuit’s recent decision in UCB, Inc. v. Watson Laboratories Inc. helps show how this situation can happen and how applicants can help prevent an examiner’s decision from adversely affecting patent scope.
Read more
Read less

News & Press

Press Release Thumbnail Mintz

The Best Lawyers in America 2025 Recognizes 184 Mintz Attorneys across 56 Practice Areas

August 15, 2024

187 Mintz attorneys have been recognized by Best Lawyers® in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Notably, three Mintz attorneys received 2025 “Lawyer of the Year” awards, and 64 firm attorneys were included in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.

News Thumbnail Mintz

Patent Ruling Shows a Minor Typo Can Lead to a Major Loss

July 17, 2024

Press Release Thumbnail Mintz

One Hundred Twenty Mintz Attorneys Ranked as Leaders by Best Lawyers 2024

August 17, 2023

Mintz is pleased to announce that 120 firm attorneys have been recognized as leaders by Best Lawyers® in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.

Press Release Thumbnail Mintz

Fifty-Four Mintz Attorneys Recognized by 2020 Massachusetts Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

October 13, 2020

Press Release Thumbnail Mintz

Sixty-Eight Mintz Attorneys Recognized by 2019 Massachusetts Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

October 21, 2019

Seventy Mintz Attorneys Named 2018 Massachusetts Super Lawyers and Rising Stars

October 18, 2018

Mintz Expands Renowned Intellectual Property Practice with Addition of Three New Members

April 10, 2014

Read less

Christina is a seasoned patent attorney who has deep capabilities around drafting and prosecuting patents related to the electrical, mechanical, and electro-mechanical fields. She represents companies and academic institutions across the medical technology spectrum as well as a variety of other technology companies. She helps patent innovations related to medical and surgical instruments and devices, mechanical products and processes, digital health and other technology apps, telecommunications, computer hardware, and software. Providing opinions on infringement, validity, and right-to-use is also integral to her practice.

Recognition & Awards

  • Included on the Massachusetts Super Lawyers list (2016 – 2020)

  • Best Lawyers in America: Patent Law (2024 - 2025)

Read less

Christina is a seasoned patent attorney who has deep capabilities around drafting and prosecuting patents related to the electrical, mechanical, and electro-mechanical fields. She represents companies and academic institutions across the medical technology spectrum as well as a variety of other technology companies. She helps patent innovations related to medical and surgical instruments and devices, mechanical products and processes, digital health and other technology apps, telecommunications, computer hardware, and software. Providing opinions on infringement, validity, and right-to-use is also integral to her practice.

Involvement

  • Member, Women’s Bar Association of Massachusetts
  • Member, Boston Intellectual Property Law Association
  • Member, Boston Bar Association
Read less

Offices

  • Boston

    • Admissions

  • Massachusetts
  • United States Patent and Trademark Office

    • Related Industries

  • Technology
  • Sustainable Energy & Infrastructure
  • Digital Health

    • Related Practices

  • Patent Prosecution & Strategic Counseling
  • Patent Prosecution
  • Patent Opinions
  • Patent Portfolio Strategy
  • IP Due Diligence
  • Trademark & Copyright

    • Education

    • Boston University School of Law (JD)
    • University of Texas - Austin (BS, Electrical Engineering)

    Recent Insights

    Intellectual Property Viewpoints Thumbnail

    Avoiding the Provisional Application Filing Pitfall of Narrowed Claim Interpretation

    January 29, 2025| Article|

    Intellectual Property Viewpoints Thumbnail

    Year in Review: The Most Popular IP Posts of 2024

    January 6, 2025| Blog|

    Intellectual Property Viewpoints Thumbnail

    USPTO Takes a Hint from European Practice in Addressing Late Continuation Concerns

    December 19, 2024| Blog|

    Christina Sperry

    Member

    Boston