Karlen, Christopher

Chris Karlen is the IP Director for Medtronic’s Structural Heart and Aortic operating unit, overseeing the IP strategy for Medtronic’s portfolio of heart valve products and therapies.  As an IP Director with a decade of in-house experience, Chris leads the SH&A IP team in the development of creative IP solutions that further Medtronic’s mission of alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending the lives of cardiovascular patients.  Chris has held multiple leadership roles at Medtronic in Cardiovascular Diagnostics, Mechanical Circulatory Support, Neuromodulation, and IP Mergers & Acquisitions.  Before joining Medtronic, Chris was Senior IP Counsel at 3M and also worked in private practice at Shumaker & Sieffert and Fish & Richardson.  Chris has particular interests and expertise in implementing IP strategies where artificial intelligence, sensors, and imaging are used in medical and industrial applications.