Fed Circ upholds challenge to J&J robot patent
24-08-2021
Philips settles ultrasound copyright claims
27-05-2021
Michael Vi / Shutterstock.com
US medtech company Conformis has filed a lawsuit against J&J Medical Devices-owned DePuy Synthes, alleging that it infringed on its custom implant and surgery software patents.
Conformis’ custom-fitted implant technology ‘iFit’ allows surgeons to customise shoulder and knee implants to each individual patient using patent-protected surgical tools to “reduce surgical time and trauma”.
The technology is protected by seven patents covering both the technology and surgery: US patent numbers 8,460,304, 9,295,482, 8,623,026, 9,326,780, 9,186,161, 8,377,129, and 8,083,745.
All patents were issued by the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) between 2011 and 2016.
Conformis claims that DePuy’s ‘Trumatch’ line of patient-specific surgical systems and its proprietary software infringed Conformis’ patents in a complaint filed on Friday to the US District Court for the District of Delaware.
The company is seeking cash compensation and a court order to block further unauthorised usage of the patent-infringing technology.
“Conformis has developed significant intellectual property associated with its iFit technology, its patient-specific implants,” the complaint says.
“DePuy has caused, and unless restrained and enjoined, will continue to cause, irreparable injury and damage to Conformis for which there is no adequate remedy at law.”
John Emerson, Jason Lao and Linfeng Yang of Haynes and Boone are representing Conformis in the lawsuit.
This is not the first case of patent infringement faced by DePuy. In 2018, a Wisconsin jury concluded that the J&J-owned company should pay $8.2 million for willfully infringing on an orthopaedic implant patent.
Did you enjoy reading this story? Sign up to our free daily newsletters and get stories sent like this straight to your inbox
Conformis, USPTO, DePuy, Haynes and Boone
