Stephen E. Zweig

Experienced patent attorney with a strong technical background, over 250+ issued patents, and many trademarks.

In addition to my legal background, I have a Biophysics STEM background (PhD) and experience with medical devices, software, electronics, and biotech. I have a lot of experience with startups, due diligence, and litigation support.

California

State Bar of California

ID Number: 283095

Since 2012

USPTO patent bar (Federal Jurisdiction)

ID Number: 60144

Since 2007

Owner (Solo Practice)

PatentAssociate - Stephen E. Zweig, PhD JD, Patent Attorney

2007 - Current

IP attorney with an emphasis on patent drafting and prosecution, as well as trademarks. I handle a broad range of topics, from simple to complex, but I particularly like technically difficult and interdisciplinary (electronics-software or medical device-biotech) cases.

Medical device and IP strategic advisor

CliniSense Corp.

2002 - 2007

Ran consulting company focusing on Intellectual Property (patents), and medical devices for Beckman-Coulter and other firms. Among other work, developed a new type of electronic stability monitoring technology (LifeTrack®) to detect deteriorated drugs, vaccines, medical supplies, and other materials.

Founder, Chairman and CTO

Avocet Medical, Inc.

1991 - 2001

Founded VC backed medical diagnostics company that produced a point-of-care home diagnostic test for anticoagulants (warfarin, Coumadin). CEO 1991-96, Chairman and CTO 1997-2001. Ran R&D, Engineering, and Intellectual Property departments. The product was FDA cleared, and is still marketed as the Acon Laboratories, Inc. "Mission PT Coagulation Monitoring System"

Director R&D and Operations

LifeScan, a Johnson and Johnson Company

1985 - 1991

Headed up the R&D/operations department that scaled up the "One-Touch", which was the first highly successful blood glucose test strip for diabetes (sales approached nearly a billion dollars a year). After the One-Touch was launched, headed up the R&D team that did the initial R&D for the successful "SureStep" diabetes test strip system.

William Howard Taft University

J.D. (2011) | Law School

Honors: Graduated with Honors

University of California - San Diego

Ph.D. (1980) | Biophysics - Biology

Studied how cell membranes work using techniques from biophysics, immunochemistry, and protein chemistry, with focus on red cell maturation during erythropoiesis. Also studied protein chemistry of myosin heavy chain isozymes.

Activities: Worked under John Singer, discoverer of the fluid mosaic model of cell membranes, now taught in every biology textbook.

University of California - Santa Barbara

B.A. (1974) | Physics, Biology

Double major in Physics and Biology, with additional courses in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering.

Best research paper of 1997

American Association of Biomedical Instrumentation (AAMI)

1997

SBIR Phase I and II award

National Institutes of Health

1992

Postdoctoral Fellow

Arthritis Foundation

1980

American Bar Association  # 02064556

Member

Current

Advances in vaccine stability monitoring technology

Vaccine

August 14, 2006

Mobile robotic system with web server and digital radio links

USPTO patent 6,658,325

February 11, 2002

Verification device for optical clinical assay systems

USPTO patent 6,061,128

May 9, 2000

Membrane-based dry-reagent prothrombin time tests

Biomed. Instrum. Tech.

June 30, 1996

Q. What type of lawyer should I consult to protect and patent university-related product ideas?

July 17, 2025

A: A patent attorney is the most suitable professional for your idea.

If your idea is for a product that may be particularly useful for universities, then it might be patentable. However, if your idea is about how to run universities more effectively, it may be considered "abstract" and therefore not patent eligible. Software for automating some university functions is in a gray area. It may or may not be patent-eligible.

This is a complex area of patent law, and reasonable attorneys may differ. However, before investing a significant amount of time and money, consider these questions.

A trademark will only protect the name of your idea. If you start a business and begin selling products or services, a trademark may be a suitable option. You can reserve a trademark on an "intent to use" basis, but the USPTO will only issue a trademark if you are actually in business. Most patent attorneys also do trademarks. ... Read More

Q. How to protect my SOS beacon light design despite finding a similar patent from 2010?

April 20, 2025

A: It is pretty common to find patents and prior art that may have been previously overlooked. So this is quite possible. You can check for authenticity by looking up the patent online.

Here, the details of what this other patent teaches become very important. If there is 100% overlap with your design, then you are out of luck. But if there are some significant differences, you still may be able to proceed by focusing your claims on these significant differences. Remember, however, that SOS signalling devices are well known in any event.

If you are trying for a US patent, you should cite this prior-art patent at the patent office. Other countries have different rules.

Q. Could I develop a video game using the story and characters from "The Little Prince" and sell it in the US?

May 28, 2024

A: Not yet. According to a quick search of copyright law. Copyrights last a long time, often 95 years from the publication date. In this case, "The Little Prince" will become public domain in the US in 2039.

So, come back in 15 years.