Federal Circuit Clarifies Patent Standards: a clear signal for PEF Innovation
12. February 2026 - We are pleased to share that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has confirmed the invalidity of the main claims of U.S. Patent No. 6,821,540, which related to electric‑field‑based pre‑processing methods for vegetables.
Legal Clarity Strengthens Innovation in Industrial PEF Applications
The ruling reinforces an important principle for the food‑processing sector: Patent claims must be technically well‑supported and cannot obstruct innovation through overly broad or insufficiently substantiated definitions.
As ELEA Technology GmbH and FOOD PHYSICS GROUP were directly involved in the proceedings, we welcome this decision as it reinforces the established and widely accepted understanding of how PEF is used in industrial environments. It provides a clear legal framework for all processors working with our PEF technology.
Elea’s Leadership in PEF Technology Reinforced by Industry‑Proven Expertise
As a global technology leader in PEF, Elea continues to drive progress through:
🔹 industry‑proven PEF equipment
🔹 deep application know‑how
🔹 advanced in‑line measurement and optimisation technologies
🔹 comprehensive technical support for processors worldwide.
Many thanks to our IP advisors at GRÜNECKER and Ice Miller LLP for their excellent guidance and support throughout this process.
The published version of ruling 24-1845 is available here