
California medical device maker Ivera Medical announced a 2nd lawsuit against Covidien (NYSE:COV), this time in a district court in Southern California, claiming infringement of patents for disinfecting caps for medical devices.
The new lawsuit alleged infringement of a 4th patent, adding to the 3 cited in a separate patent infringement lawsuit filed against Covidien earlier this month. Ivera has also filed similar patent infringement lawsuits against at least 3 rivals in the last year.
"This new patent infringement case against Covidien serves as continued evidence that we will strongly defend the intellectual property portfolio that we have worked hard to build," Ivera business development president Matt Heindel said in prepared remarks. "
The devices in question are small caps that fit over the ends of needle-less IV connectors, helping protect them from bacteria or other infectious agents and thus limiting patients’ exposure to blood-borne disease. Inside the caps are small sponges containing 70% isopropyl alcohol.
In the 1st lawsuit, Ivera asked the court to award damages for Covidien’s alleged infringement, ban Covidien from selling the caps and to issue an injunction preventing Covidien from infringing on the patents in question. Ivera is seeking additional damages and injunctions from the new lawsuit.