Uni of South Florida researchers accuse Hologic of patent infringement

The University of South Florida Research Foundation ( USFRF) has accused medical technology company Hologic of patent infringement, related to diagnosis methods for digital mammography.

The action alleges infringement of US patent number 6,630,937, describing a workstation-user interface for evaluating computer-assisted diagnosis for digital mammography, said the filing.

The main thrust of the accusation is focussed on the Hologic SecurView DX Mammography System (SecurView), manufactured by Hologic, which according to Hologic’s website offers “advanced, customisable workflows and innovative image manipulation tools, designed to ensure accurate, efficient evaluation of 2D and 3D mammography exams”.

In a filing at the US District Court for the District of Delaware on Wednesday, March 11, USFRF claims that Hologic has “infringed, and continues to infringe literally and/or through the doctrine of equivalents, one or more claims of the ‘937 Patent, including but not limited to the independent claims of the ‘937 patent by using, making, offering to sell, and/or selling without authority in the US”.

“The [‘937] patent further provides for a monitor capable of displaying image data in a predetermined format, and in varying grayscale colours, said monitor having a predetermined illumination capability. Hologic’s SecurView provides a monitor for displaying a mammography image at a default illumination. The image is displayed in shades of grade, in a format that is supported for display,” said the court filing.

USFRF has requested, among other things, an award of damages adequate to compensate USFRF for Hologic’s infringement and post-judgment damages for the period of infringement.

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