Christensen, Fonder, Dardi

Firm overview:

Christensen Fonder Dardi Busse is a Minneapolis- and Atlanta-based IP boutique that focuses on helping technology-driven companies protect innovations that ultimately support safer products, improved medical devices, and more reliable industrial systems. The firm concentrates on patent prosecution and portfolio management, with a particular emphasis on medical devices, mechanical systems, and advanced manufacturing technologies.

The firm represents US and international clients before the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), supporting inventions from early-stage development through global portfolio expansion. Its attorneys work closely with inventors and in-house teams to align patent strategies with regulatory pathways and long-term product lifecycles, particularly in medical and healthcare-adjacent technologies where durability, safety, and incremental innovation are critical.

Christensen, Fonder, Dardi offers streamlined prosecution workflows and examiner-focused strategies to improve allowance rates and reduce pendency, helping clients bring protected technologies to market more efficiently. While the firm maintains litigation capability, its core strength remains patent drafting, prosecution, and counselling.

Team overview:

Doug Christensen is a partner and practising patent attorney. He focuses on mechanical, electromechanical, medical device, and semiconductor technologies, and is known for long-term involvement with client innovation teams. Christensen has obtained hundreds of US and international patents and regularly advises on infringement risk and portfolio strategy, particularly for medical device companies where patent scope can directly influence product design, safety improvements, and market access. His practice combines deep technical understanding with practical counselling across the full patent lifecycle.

Partner Timothy Busse has a prosecution practice that spans aerospace, chemical, and medical device technologies. Drawing on prior in-house experience at Polaris Industries, Busse advises clients on aligning patent filings with commercial development and manufacturing realities. His work frequently involves drafting and prosecuting patents for devices and systems with safety-critical applications, including healthcare-adjacent technologies.

Key matters:

• Post‑grant review (Willis Electric)

Christensen, Fonder, Dardi served as counsel for the patent owner in this Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) proceeding, preparing filings, strategy, and submissions to defend the patent against challenges. The firm’s involvement ensured that the patent (US patent number 10,222,037) remained enforceable, protecting innovations in electromechanical technology that can impact the reliability and safety of devices used in industrial and medical applications.

Clients:

BioInteractions, Dermalog Jenetric, Hui Zhou Haiyun Electronics, Institute of Microelectronics Chinese Academy of Sciences, JENOPTIK Optical Systems, Laser Aiming Systems, Northrop Grumman Systems, Savage Arms, siOPTICA