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5 July 2017Americas

Orthodontics companies in legal battle over treatment technology

Medical device company OrthoAccel Technologies has filed a complaint against Propel Orthodontics for patent infringement.

The case was filed yesterday, July 4, at the US District Court for the Northern District of California.

OrthoAccel alleged that Propel had infringed its US patent number 9,662,184, which covers an orthodontics device that speeds up treatment and decreases patient discomfort during the process.

The allegedly infringing product is called VPro5 and is a device which serves the same purpose.

The complaint said: “At least since the date of service of this complaint, Propel also has induced and continues to induce its customers to infringe at least claim 10 of the ‘184 patent because it intends for its customers to use and/or resell the VPro5.”

It added: “Propel encourages its customers’ acts with full knowledge of the ‘184 patent, or is wilfully blind to the likelihood that its acts cause customers to infringe.”

OrthoAccel also said that because Propel had known of the patent, it is also liable for wilful infringement.

The suing company has asked the court for damages and costs for bringing the case to court.

It has also asked for the court to order an inventory that will cancel all outstanding orders for any infringing products.

According to IBISWorld’s 2016 "Orthodontists Market Research Report", the industry generates $11 billion in revenue globally.

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