Getinge (PINK:GETI B) said today it inked an exclusive distribution agreement with Ultra Clean Systems to distribute its ultrasonic surgical instrument cleaning systems.
Through the deal, Getinge will gain exclusive rights to distribute the full line of Ultra Clean Systems hospital-grade ultrasonic cleaning equipment and accessories and detergent for cleaning Intuitive Surgical’s da Vinci robotic instruments in the US and Canada.
“This partnership with Getinge Group will expand the use of our ultrasonic cleaning systems at medical centers throughout the Americas. Our goal is to further advance the field of sterile processing with more efficient products through constant research and innovation. This partnership will help us strengthen our research and development initiatives,” Ultra Clean Systems prez Becky Cale said in a prepared statement.
Getinge will also supply service and support for all installed Ultra Clean Systems equipment in those regions, the company said.
“Ensuring patient and technician safety at healthcare facilities is one of our highest priorities. With this large-scale distribution partnership, we will now be able to expand our offering by supplementing our existing ultrasonic cleaner with robust, versatile, timesaving, energy-efficient solutions from Ultra Clean Systems. Ultra Clean Systems’ state-of-the-art surgical instrument cleaning systems have many benefits and are validated by Intuitive Surgical to clean its full line of da Vinci robotic instruments. With this agreement, sterile processing departments throughout the U.S. and Canada can now access all of their ultrasonic cleaning equipment from a single source,” Getinge Group Americas prez Raoul Quintero said in a press release.
Earlier this month, Getinge medical subsidiary Maquet Cardiovascular said it expanded a patent infringement suit against Saphena Medical and former employee Dr. Albert Chin, adding 2 specific actions taken by the defendants to the case.
The amended complaint, originally filed on Dec. 16 in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, addresses the application for and receipt of a patent for an invention which originated at Maquet, the company said.
The company alleges 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.