Paul C. Onderick

Paul is a partner in the firm’s Minneapolis office and is a member of the Intellectual Property Group and he is also a licensed optometrist.  He may be the only patent attorney in the country who is also a licensed optometrist with a history of clinical practice.  He assists clients with protecting, developing, and managing their patent portfolios and enforcing their IP rights.   He enjoys developing intellectual property strategies that contribute to the success of the exceptionally talented and driven innovators who are his clients.

His experience as a licensed optometrist benefits many of his clients who seek to protect innovations in technologies that relate to his background in optometry, including optical products such as microscopes and digital projectors, clinical and surgical instrument-related products, heads-up and night vision displays, and laser-refractive surgical technologies.  In addition to his work related to optometry inventions, Paul also works with manufacturers who develop biomedical instruments, automated and robotic manufacturing equipment, and other medical devices.   In the area of mechanical devices, he has assisted numerous clients with obtaining patent protection for their intellectual property. 

While in clinical practice, Paul was responsible for diagnosis and treatment of eye disease, monitoring disease progression and coordinating care with sub-specialists for conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, dry and wet aging related macular degeneration, retinal and choroidal dystrophies and degenerations, anterior segment disease and vitreous disease.

Prior to becoming a patent lawyer, Paul was a clinical optometrist for nearly twenty years.  He was president and owner of Professional Eye Care, Ltd., where he cared for patients and managed the day-to-day operations of the business.  His broad scientific background, which includes areas of optics, medicine, biology, biotechnology, chemistry, and physics, coupled with first-hand knowledge of the running a business, gives him a unique ability to relate to the needs of his clients.

Representative Technology Experience

• Cataract & Intraocular surgery
• Surgical microscopes
• Refractive, vitreo-retinal & glaucoma surgery
• LASIK (Laser Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis) procedures
• FLEx (Femtosecond Lenticule Extraction) procedures
• Small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) procedures
• Ophthalmic clinical instruments
• Femtosecond & excimer lasers
• OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography
• Microsurgery & surgical instruments
• ZEISS technology
• Automated manufacturing systems, including window and door manufacturing
• Mechanical devices
• Post Grant Proceedings
• IP Licensing
• Appeals to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board