Wound Healing Technologies Corp. v. Solventum Corporation

This patent infringement case, Wound Healing Technologies Corp. v. Solventum Corporation, was filed on November 15, 2024, in the Texas Western District Court. The plaintiff, Wound Healing Technologies Corp. ("WHT"), has asserted U.S. Patent No. 10,639,404 against Solventum Corporation. The patent generally relates to wound dressings, specifically apparatus and methods for providing a wound dressing that may include a wound-fluid negative pressure treatment (NPT) drain and a vacuum/drainage tube, fluid-absorbing material, and draping layers. Solventum Corporation is a global healthcare company specializing in various medical technologies, including advanced wound care products such as negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) systems and dressings. The complaint alleges that Solventum's wound care products infringe the asserted patent, though specific accused products are not detailed in the provided search snippets beyond the general category of wound care.

The case is being heard in the Western District of Texas, a venue known for its significant patent litigation docket, largely influenced by the practices of Judge Alan Albright, who sought to attract patent cases. Although judicial assignments for patent cases in the Waco Division were randomized in July 2022, this case, 6:24-cv-00589, is currently assigned to Judge Robert Pitman. The Western District of Texas remains a popular choice for patent plaintiffs due to its historically fast-paced schedules and rules that aim for quick resolutions. The notability of this case is further heightened by the ongoing inter partes review (IPR) proceeding, IPR2025-01042, filed by Solventum Corporation against the '404 patent at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) on June 13, 2025, demonstrating a parallel challenge to the patent's validity.

Wound Healing Technologies Corp. initiated a patent infringement lawsuit against Solventum Corporation on November 15, 2024, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, assigned case number 6:24-cv-00589 and presided over by Judge Robert Pitman. The suit asserts U.S. Patent No. 10,639,404, which pertains to wound dressings for administering negative pressure wound therapy (NPT), specifically combining conventional NPT components with a vapor sealant sheet made from a hydrocolloid material.

Key legal developments in the case thus far include:

• Filing & Initial Pleadings: The lawsuit was filed on November 15, 2024. Details regarding the specific content of the complaint, such as alleged infringing products, or Solventum's answer and any counterclaims, are not explicitly detailed in the readily available public summaries beyond the initial filing.
• Pre-trial Motions of Substance: On April 14, 2026, the court issued an order granting the plaintiff's (Wound Healing Technologies Corp.) motion to withdraw attorneys Craig Uhrich and Ariel Reinitz of Bochner PLLC from the case.
• Parallel PTAB IPR Proceedings: Solventum Corporation, the defendant in the district court case, filed an Inter Partes Review (IPR) petition, IPR2025-01042, against U.S. Patent No. 10,639,404 on June 13, 2025. The IPR challenges claims 1-13 of the patent, asserting grounds of obviousness over prior art references Argenta and Hu. The IPR proceeding notes that the '404 patent is also being asserted in the co-pending district court litigation, 6:24-cv-00589. On April 23, 2026, an update was filed in the IPR proceeding concerning the patent owner's (Wound Healing Technologies Corp.) counsel, confirming Joel Weiss as lead counsel and Edward M. Arons as back-up counsel, and requesting the removal of Ariel Reinitz as back-up counsel. The status of institution for IPR2025-01042 (whether the PTAB has decided to institute the review) is not immediately available from the provided search results. There is no information yet on whether a motion to stay the district court litigation pending the outcome of the IPR has been filed or ruled upon.

As of May 19, 2026, the case is ongoing in the Western District of Texas. There is no public information available from the provided searches regarding claim construction (Markman) outcomes, discovery milestones with strategic significance, trial events, verdict, post-trial motions, settlement, dismissal, or judgment.

Plaintiff Wound Healing Technologies Corp. is represented by a team of attorneys from several firms.

Joel Weiss

• Role: Lead Counsel (pro hac vice)
• Firm: Weiss Arons, LLP. Office location information was not immediately available through the provided search results for the firm, but an email address of jweiss@weissarons.com was provided in a USPTO filing.
• Experience Note: Joel Weiss is identified as lead counsel for Wound Healing Technologies Corp. in the related Inter Partes Review (IPR2025-01042) concerning U.S. Patent No. 10,639,404, which is also at issue in this district court case. His registration number with the USPTO is 44,398.

Edward M. Arons

• Role: Back-up Counsel (for related IPR, likely involved in district court).
• Firm: Weiss Arons, LLP. Office location information was not immediately available through the provided search results for the firm, but an email address of earons@weissarons.com was provided in a USPTO filing.
• Experience Note: Edward M. Arons is identified as back-up counsel for Wound Healing Technologies Corp. in the related IPR proceeding for U.S. Patent No. 10,639,404. His registration number with the USPTO is 44,511.

Caitlin E. Olwell

• Role: Counsel
• Firm: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP. Office location was not specified in the search results.
• Experience Note: Specific patent litigation experience for Caitlin E. Olwell was not detailed in the provided search results beyond her appearance for the plaintiff.

Jason Weil

• Role: Counsel
• Firm: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP. Office location was not specified in the search results.
• Experience Note: Specific patent litigation experience for Jason Weil was not detailed in the provided search results beyond his appearance for the plaintiff.

Daniel L. Moffett

• Role: Counsel
• Firm: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP. Office location was not specified in the search results.
• Experience Note: Specific patent litigation experience for Daniel L. Moffett was not detailed in the provided search results beyond his appearance for the plaintiff.

Michael P. Kahn

• Role: Counsel
• Firm: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP. Office location was not specified in the search results.
• Experience Note: Specific patent litigation experience for Michael P. Kahn was not detailed in the provided search results beyond his appearance for the plaintiff.

Craig L. Uhrich

• Role: Counsel
• Firm: Firm affiliation and office location were not specified in the provided search results.
• Experience Note: Specific patent litigation experience for Craig L. Uhrich was not detailed in the provided search results beyond his appearance for the plaintiff.

Ariel Reinitz was previously listed as back-up counsel for Wound Healing Technologies Corp. in the related IPR but has since been removed as he no longer represents WHT.

The defendant, Solventum Corporation, is represented by attorneys from Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP.

The counsel of record for Solventum Corporation include:

• Caitlin E. Olwell

  • Role: Partner (Lead Counsel / Trial Attorney)
  • Firm: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, New York, NY
  • Relevant Experience: Ms. Olwell focuses on high-stakes patent and trade secret disputes, particularly in the medical device and pharmaceutical sectors. Her bio explicitly states she is "Representing Solventum Corporation in a patent infringement lawsuit involving wound dressings for negative pressure therapy systems." She has extensive experience in all stages of IP litigation, including examining witnesses at trial, depositions, and arguing motions.

• Daniel L. Moffett

  • Role: Partner (Lead Counsel / Lead Technical Counsel)
  • Firm: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, San Antonio, TX
  • Relevant Experience: Mr. Moffett is a lead trial lawyer specializing in complex patent, trade secret, and trademark litigation. He has first-chair experience before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) and advises on strategies for navigating parallel PTAB and district court proceedings. He has represented clients in the medical device and biotechnology industries. He is specifically listed as counsel for Solventum Corporation in the related IPR2025-01042 concerning patent 10,639,404.

• Michael P. Kahn

  • Role: Partner (Lead Trial Lawyer)
  • Firm: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, New York, NY
  • Relevant Experience: Mr. Kahn is a Chambers USA-ranked lead trial lawyer with a practice focused on patent infringement and trade secret litigation. He handles cases across various technologies, including life sciences, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals, and has experience in district courts, the International Trade Commission (ITC), and the Patent Trial and Appeals Board (PTAB).

• Jason Weil

  • Role: Senior Counsel
  • Firm: Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
  • Relevant Experience: Mr. Weil focuses on patent litigation, including matters before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. He has experience representing pharmaceutical companies in patent infringement actions and successfully represented Cornell University before the PTAB.

While not explicitly listed as counsel of record in the district court case in the provided snippets, Solventum also has in-house intellectual property counsel:

• Sandra Nowak

  • Role: Chief Intellectual Property Counsel, Solventum
  • Firm: In-house, Solventum Corporation
  • Relevant Experience: Ms. Nowak leads Solventum's strategic IP efforts, managing a global team and driving efforts to create, defend, enforce, and protect the company's intellectual property. She transitioned into this role as 3M spun off its healthcare business.

• Cynthia Mitchell

  • Role: Assistant Chief IP Counsel, Director, Solventum
  • Firm: In-house, Solventum Corporation
  • Relevant Experience: Ms. Mitchell brings extensive IP, M&A, divestiture, and spin experience from various Fortune 500 companies in medical device, electronics, telecom, and renewable energy sectors. She manages global offensive and defensive IP disputes for Solventum.