A Medical Device Daily

ICU Medical (San Clemente, California) reported that a federal district court has granted its motion for summary judgment of non-infringement of Medegen’s(Scottsdale, Arizona) patent.

Medegen’s Medical Manufacturing Services division filed a lawsuit in 2006 against ICU Medical alleging that it infringed one of Medegen’s patents by selling the CLC2000 medical connector (Medical Device Daily, July 12, 2006).

“We believed all along that we were not infringing Medegen’s patent and are very pleased that the court agrees with us,” said Frank O’Brien, ICU Medical’s CFO.

Still pending are ICU Medical’s claims that the patent Medegen asserted against ICU Medical is invalid and unenforceable due to inequitable conduct of Medegen before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the company said.

Medegen said it would appeal the court’s decision.

“We are very disappointed by and disagree with the court’s decision,” said Jeff Goble, president of Medegen. “We intend to pursue an appeal, and are confident in our chances of prevailing on such appeal.”

In other patent news: Ultreo (Redmond, Washington) said it was issued 19 claims, of which three are independent, under U.S. patent number 7,269,873. The patent covers multiple aspects of Ultreo’s ultrasound power toothbrush technology, the company said.

Ultreo’s ultrasound waveguide is designed to efficiently channel ultrasound energy from a transducer in the brush head directly into bubbles generated by sonic bristle action, the company noted. Without this waveguide, the ultrasound energy would dissipate and thus be rendered ineffective, according to Ultreo. The waveguide is made of silicone rubber.

Ultreo claims that its toothbrush can remove up to 95% of plaque in the first minute of brushing, as well as providing naturally whiter teeth in 14 days and improving gum health in 30 days.