Paul Fordenbacher, Esq.*, became an aerospace engineer in 1982, a patent agent in 1997, and a registered patent attorney in 1999 practicing patent law in the mechanical and electro-mechanical arts, with special emphasis on medical devices, computer hardware, microelectronic packaging, electro-chemical, materials, and aerospace technologies. Before founding the firm in 2005, Paul led a very successful practice at Ganz Law and Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt, both in Portland, OR where he focused his practice on patent drafting and prosecution, client counseling, and infringement/validity opinion work in the mentioned technologies. From 1999 to 2001, he was an associate with the highly rated firm of Schwegman Lundberg Woessner & Kluth in Minneapolis.

Prior to that, Paul enjoyed a diversified 16-year career as an aerospace engineer in the biomedical, aerospace and defense industries. He was a captain in the US Air Force directing advanced technology efforts, including rocket technology, an engineer with a number of defense contractors, and an engineer with SciMED Life Systems and St. Jude Medical.

Paul, our resident rocket scientist, has a history of innovation himself, from developing advanced aerospace systems and spacecraft to inventing improved mechanical heart valves, angioplasty catheters, and vascular stents. His 10 years as an engineer in defense R&D, and 6 years in medical device R&D, has provided him with a remarkable breath of experience in medical devices, materials, aerospace structures, electro-chemical systems (batteries), thermal systems and mechanical systems.  The patents where Paul is named as an inventor include:

US Patent No. 6,582,461 Tissue supporting devices

US Patent No. 6.451,052 Tissue supporting devices

US Patent No. 6,395,025 Mechanical heart valve prosthesis

US Patent No. 6,176,876 Leaflet positioning for a mechanical heart valve

US Patent No. 5,733,328 Expandable stent using sliding members

US Patent No. 5,591,129 Perfusion balloon angioplasty catheter

US Patent No. 5,549,662 Expandable stent using sliding members

Paul has successfully applied his engineering experience into the area of patent law.  His past and present clients are involved in cutting-edge and emerging technologies in the areas of medical devices and systems, micro-electronic devices and packaging, mechanical systems including internal combustion engines and automotive components, electro-mechanical systems including motors, generators, and magnetic induction heating. Some patents that he has worked on for his clients include:

US Patent No. D503,687 Illuminated remote control device

US Patent No. 6,830,281 Power tonneau cover actuator

US Patent No. 6,797,900 Modular contact switch

US Patent No. 6,715,266 Bottle unpack/repack apparatus and methods

US Patent No. 6,711,856 Door opener assist device

US Patent No. 6,650,542 Piezoelectric actuated jet impingement cooling

US Patent No. 6,642,531 Contamination control on lithography components

US Patent No. 6,623,062 Power tonneau cover actuator

US Patent No. 6,426,882 Housing for electronic components
US Patent No. 6,381,500 Cardiac stimulator lead with two-stage extendable/retractable fixation and method for using same
US Patent No. 6,371,406 Progressive 3-axis multi-variable propulsion vectoring aerial and spacecraft vehicle
US Patent No. D455,585 Expandable shelf
US Patent No. 6,364,878 Percutaneous transluminal ablation catheter manipulation tool
US Patent No. 6,354,779 Self-drilling anchor bolt
US Patent No. 6,305,126 Window jamb component assembly
US Patent No. 6,296,615 Catheter with physiological sensor
US Patent No. 6,295,474 Defibrillator housing with conductive polymer coating US Patent No. 6,289,803 Method and apparatus for screen printing
US Patent No. 6,288,344 Integrated EMI shield utilizing a hybrid edge
US Patent No. 6,286,169 Tessellated cylindrical brush
US Patent No. 6,269,272 Cardiac pacemaker lead with dual pitch fixation apparatus
US Patent No. D445,620 Expandable shelf
US Patent No. 6,251,219 Method and apparatus for use in assembling electronic devices
US Patent No. 6,234,077 Method and apparatus for screen printing
US Patent No. 6,205,026 Heat sink retention components and system
US Patent No. 6,186,716 Anchor bolt
US Patent No. 6,182,357 Method and apparatus for dicing electronic substrate
US Patent No. 6,164,526 Paper-based cooler
US Patent No. 6,112,121 Implantable medical device with positive indication of lead connection and connector therefor
US Patent No. 6,108,582 Cardiac pacemaker lead with extendable/retractable fixation
US Patent No. 6,070,792 Reusable envelope
US Patent No. 5,916,709 Bipolar lead-acid battery

Education
Pennsylvania State University, Bachelor of Science, Aerospace Engineering (1982)
William Mitchell College of Law, St. Paul, MN, Juris Doctor (1999)

*Admitted to Practice in Minnesota State Courts and the
United States Patent and Trademark Office, not admitted to the Oregon State Bar.