Protect the Brand Clinicians Trust
Device, diagnostic, and digital-health companies need brands that clear in a regulated market and travel to distributors abroad. We register medical technology brands, protect designs, act against counterfeit and gray-market devices, and file through Madrid for Latin American distribution.
What medical technology brands run into
South Florida's medical device manufacturers and its distribution links to Latin America make Madrid filings and distributor agreements key issues.
Device and diagnostic names
Medical names are often descriptive or close to existing drug and device names.
Federal Trademark Applications →Problem 2Product-design trade dress
Device designs often face functionality problems as trade dress.
Federal Trade Dress →Problem 3Counterfeit and gray-market devices
Counterfeit and diverted devices create safety and liability risks.
Counterfeiting Claims →Problem 4Latin American distribution
Distribution abroad requires registrations in each market.
Madrid: Filing Abroad from the U.S. →What we recommend for medical technology brands
Our five most important steps for protecting a brand in this industry, in the order most clients need them.
Clear names against drugs and devices
Search the USPTO register and existing device and drug names, because confusion in medicine carries extra weight.
Pair trademarks with design patents
Device designs are often functional. Design patents protect new designs that trade dress cannot.
Register in distribution markets first
Register in Latin American and other markets before appointing distributors, and keep the registrations in your own name.
Record with CBP
Recordation helps stop counterfeit and some gray-market devices at the border.
Control distributors
Distribution agreements should limit use of the brand and require its return at termination.
Medical technology brand filings at the USPTO, 2021 to 2026
Applicants filed 62,140 U.S. trademark applications in this category from 2021 to 2025, and filings in 2025 were down 14% from 2021. 87,299 live registrations cover it today.
Applications filed per year
U.S. applications by filing date. The 2026 bar covers January to late October.
View data table
| Year | Applications filed | Registered to date | Abandoned | Registrations issued that year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 14,409 | 8,478 | 5,481 | 8,426 |
| 2022 | 11,757 | 6,695 | 4,332 | 7,232 |
| 2023 | 11,731 | 6,505 | 3,575 | 6,872 |
| 2024 | 11,872 | 6,476 | 3,048 | 7,874 |
| 2025 | 12,371 | 5,330 | 2,092 | 8,558 |
| 2026 (Jan.–Oct.) | 11,984 | 1,011 | 254 | 8,002 |
Applications filed and registrations issued
Applications by filing year, and registrations by the year they issued.
What happened to each year's applications
Status today of applications filed each year. Recent years are still largely pending.
How we counted. USPTO trademark records, retrieved October 28, 2026. The USPTO does not classify filings by industry, so this page counts: Applications naming Class 10 (medical, surgical, and dental apparatus and devices), excluding adult novelty products. An application is counted once even if it names several qualifying classes.
Top five trademark registrants: Medical Technology Brands
The owners that received the most U.S. registrations in this category since January 2021.
U.S. registrations issued since January 2021, by owner
Registrations issued January 2021 to October 2026 in the category described in the data section, by current owner.
View data table
| Rank | Owner | Registrations since 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Novartis AG | 89 |
| 2 | Medline Industries, LP | 84 |
| 3 | Stryker Corporation | 81 |
| 4 | Asahi Intecc Co., Ltd. | 78 |
| 5 | Siemens Healthineers AG | 73 |
Owners identified from a random sample of 17,856 of the 46,964 registrations in the category, then counted across all of them by owner name. Listed for information only. These companies are not clients of the firm, and their inclusion implies no affiliation.
What the law says
- Device designs often face functionality problems as trade dress (TrafFix Devices v. Marketing Displays, 2001), so pair trademarks with design patents.
- The FDA reviews proprietary names of some products for confusion, separately from the USPTO. Clear both.
- Medical devices are in Class 10, diagnostics in Classes 1, 5, or 10, and digital-health software in Classes 9, 42, and 44.
Start here: a checklist for a new brand
Your checks are not saved.
Who does what for your brand
A licensed attorney is responsible for each matter, supported by paralegals and docketing staff who manage documents, deadlines, and monitoring.
Attorneys
Strategy, filings, and enforcement.
- Clearance searches and written risk opinions
- Applications drafted for medical technology goods and services
- Responses to USPTO refusals and oppositions
- Demand letters, licenses, and litigation
Paralegals and docketing
Files complete and deadlines met.
- Specimens, dates of use, and evidence
- Docketing of every USPTO and renewal deadline
- U.S. Customs recordation and Amazon Brand Registry
- Watch notices for new conflicting filings
Client service
Clear, bilingual, and easy to reach.
- Service in English and Spanish
- Copies of every USPTO notice, explained
- A written estimate before each filing
- Renewal reminders well in advance
Frequently asked questions
Can I protect my device's design as trade dress?
Only if it is distinctive and not functional, which is difficult for devices. Design patents are often more effective.
Does the FDA review device names?
The FDA can review proprietary names for confusion in some contexts, separately from the USPTO.
How do I protect my brand in Latin America?
Through the Madrid Protocol for member countries, and national filings elsewhere, before appointing distributors.
Can Customs stop counterfeit devices?
Yes, once the registration is recorded with CBP.
What class is digital-health software in?
Class 9 for downloadable software, Class 42 for software as a service, and Class 44 for medical services.
Should my distributor register the brand abroad?
No. Registrations should be in your name, with the distributor using the brand under license.
Talk to us about your medical technology brand
Tell us your brand, what you sell, and where. We will check the register, recommend the right filings, and give you a written estimate.
- Clearance searches
- Federal and Florida filings
- Enforcement and litigation
- Customs and marketplace protection