Saphena files counter-suit against Getinge’s Maquet

Saphena Medical said today that late last month that it, and Dr. Albert Chin, filed counterclaims against Getinge‘s (PINK:GETI B) medical subsidiary Maquet Cardiovascular in response to a suit alleging patent infringement and breaches of contract.

The counterclaim, filed on Feb. 22, is in response to an ongoing spat between the companies related to patents and intellectual property pertaining to endoscopic vessel harvesting devices, specifically Saphena’s Venapax system.

Maquet alleged that while employed at Maquet, Dr. Chin had access to confidential work done by other Maquet employees on endoscopic vessel harvesting devices and techniques, and that Dr. Chin filed a patent application for such a device after leaving the company. Maquet also accused Saphena of false advertising of its Venaplex, and is seeking an injunction as well as Saphena’s profits and the cost of the suit.

Saphena refutes the allegations accusing it of infringement, breach of contract and false advertising, and is counter-suing, seeking compensation for “Maquet’s alleged unlawful and predatory misconduct,” according to a press release. The company claims that Maquet “engaged in a comprehensive range of anticompetitive practices designed to restrict fair competition and artificially maintain Maquet’s market share.”

“Competition drives innovation and permits insightful physicians to choose products that best promote the rapid and successful treatment of their patients. At Saphena, our focus is first and foremost on what is best for the patient. We hope that all other companies, including Maquet, share the same priorities and direct their resources to continuously surpassing expectations, improving medical device performance and promoting positive patient outcomes. Patients and caregivers deserve the best possible options, and physicians deserve new and improved medical device choices that move the medical industry forward,” Founder & CEO Michael Glennon said in a press release.

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