WaveCel, LLC

WaveCel, LLC is a private company headquartered in Wilsonville, Oregon, founded in 2016 by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Steve Madey and biomechanical engineer Dr. Michael Bottlang. The company has 16 total employees. WaveCel's research and development have been supported in part by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH).

WaveCel designs and manufactures advanced helmet technology focused on reducing brain injuries from impacts. Their core product is a spatial cellular structure, made from a thermoformable copolymer, which behaves like a network of interconnected shock absorbers designed to flex, crumple, and glide to absorb impact energy, including rotational forces. This technology is integrated into various helmets, including bicycle helmets (notably with Trek Bicycle and Bontrager), snow sports helmets (with Burton's Anon brand), and industrial hard hats. During the COVID-19 pandemic, WaveCel also manufactured plastic face shields.

WaveCel, LLC currently appears as a plaintiff in one tracked patent litigation case, "WaveCel, LLC v. Studson, Inc.," filed in May 2025 in the Oregon District Court. This indicates a posture of asserting its patent portfolio against other companies, rather than primarily defending against infringement claims. The case involved WaveCel asserting U.S. Patent No. 8,073,681 B2 against Studson's SHK-1 helmets, covering protective headgear technology, and concluded in January 2026, likely through a negotiated resolution.

The company's technology has been a subject of other legal disputes, although not directly involving WaveCel, LLC as a defendant in the provided case list. Notably, Koroyd has pursued patent infringement claims against Burton for its use of WaveCel technology in snow helmets in both German and U.S. courts, alleging infringement of Koroyd's patents related to helmet safety. Additionally, Trek Bicycle, a partner utilizing WaveCel technology, faced a class-action lawsuit in 2021 regarding alleged misleading safety claims about WaveCel helmets.