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ARTICLE · 15 DECEMBER 2025

Fed. Circ. Rulings Refine Patent Claim Construction Standards

Taft, Stettinius & Hollister LLP
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In a series of decisions issued between March and August, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit clarified several important principles governing patent claim construction.

United StatesLitigation, Mediation & Arbitration
William K. Broman
William K. Broman
John Carpenter
John Carpenter
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In a series of decisions issued between March and August, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit clarified several important principles governing patent claim construction.

These rulings — Maquet Cardiovascular LLC v. Abiomed Inc., Eye Therapies LLC v. Slayback Pharma LLC, FMC Corp. v. Sharda USA LLC and Acufloor LLC v. EvenTile Inc. — offer valuable insights into the role of prosecution history, transitional phrases and specification evolution in defining patent scope.

The cases clarify doctrinal standards and provide practical guidance for patent prosecutors and litigators. Below, we summarize each decision and highlight key litigation and prosecution practice tips.

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