Judge Robinson recently considered cross motions for summary judgment of invalidity, infringement, and non-infringement in ongoing litigation over patents covering methods for analyzing cellular, biological samples. Focusing on the lighting system required by the patents-in-suit, Judge Robinson first engaged in the claim construction necessary to decide the dispute. She then denied all of the pending motions except for the defendant’s motion for summary judgment of invalidity based on inadequate written description. See Helicos Biosciences Corp. v. Illumina, Inc., C.A. No. 10-735-SLR, at 27 (D. Del. Aug. 28, 2012).
The defendant, Illumina contended that the asserted claims were invalid for lack of an adequate written description, lack of enablement, and anticipated and/or rendered obvious in view of the prior art. The parties also disputed whether any accused product infringed any of the asserted claims. In order to resolve summary judgment motion on these issues, however, Judge Robinson needed to engage in claim construction. In the parties’ briefing, Illumina proffered constructions for two terms, while the plaintiff, Helicos, did not propose any constructions, arguing that the plain meaning should apply to both terms at issue. While Judge Robinson considered Illumina’s constructions unduly narrow, she also disagreed with Helicos that no construction was required, stating that “a lay jury requires context for such unfamiliar technical language.” Id. at 13. She therefore crafted her own constructions for the two disputed terms and proceeded to consider the summary judgment motions based on these constructions.
With respect to lack of written description and lack of enablement, Judge Robinson concluded that summary judgment of invalidity should be granted: “Illumina has demonstrated, by clear and convincing evidence, that the written description requirement has not been met. Although the parties seem to agree on the ordinary meaning of the word “focus” (to wit, “to make an image sharper”), the complete limitation is in dispute . . . . The court has been unable to reconcile the language chosen by the inventor to describe his invention and the science at issue. Given this hobson’s choice, the court finds the ‘109 patent invalid for lack of written description and enters judgment in favor of Illumina.” Id. at 22-23.
Judge Robinson did not rule on several remaining issues of invalidity because they “hinge[d] on a central issue” that had not been addressed in the parties’ briefing. Id. at 23-24. Similarly, Judge Robinson found that “the record does not sufficiently address infringement under the court’s nowadopted construction. . . . Because the court takes up claim construction and summary judgment simultaneously, and neither party advocated for the construction ultimately adopted by the court, the parties’ summary judgment arguments are not framed in [the proper terms].” Id. at 25-26. Accordingly, Judge Robinson ordered further briefing on infringement and claim construction and denied the balance of the pending motions.
Helicos Biosciences Corp. v. Illumina, Inc., C.A. No. 10-735-SLR (D. Del. Aug. 28, 2012).
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