Mealey's (December 16, 2016, 8:13 AM EST) -- WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) argues in a Dec. 7 opposition brief that the U.S. Supreme Court should stay a petition in favor of Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. v. Covidien LP (No. 16-366, U.S. Sup.) on issues concerning whether the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA) permits the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) instead of the PTO’s director to make inter partes review (IPR) institution decisions (LifeScan Scotland Ltd. v. Pharmatech Solutions Inc. and Michelle K. Lee, Director, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, No. 16-377, U.S. Sup.)....