October Term 2005 · Docket 04-607
Does a patent cover a doctor's mental correlation of test results?
The parties dispute whether a patent claim covers a doctor's mental correlation of test results.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Mr. Franklin argued the claim covers a doctor's mental correlation.
Mr. Hungar argued the claim satisfies patent law requirements.
questions_asked_by_justices
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 5-19 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 5-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-54 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 5-11
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case concerns a patent claim for a medical test. The parties argue over the scope of that claim.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 5-19 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 5-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-1
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 21, 2006.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-17
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the Court to reverse the lower-court action.
the opposing side wants the Court to affirm the lower-court action.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 5-19 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 5-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-1
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the claim covers a doctor's mental correlation.
the opposing side argues the claim satisfies patent law requirements.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 5-19 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 5-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-1
What the justices asked
Justice Kennedy asked where the lower-court opinion is wrong.
Justice Ginsburg asked if the case is a definiteness case.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-54 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 5-11
Why it matters
The outcome defines the scope of medical test patents. It affects how doctors interpret test results. It impacts the cost of medical diagnostics.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 5-19 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 5-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-1
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-54 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 5-11
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 5-19 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 5-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 5-19 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 5-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-1
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.