KFx Medical won a $29 million decision after a California jury found that orthopedics rival Arthrex infringed its patent covering technology used to attach soft tissue to bone.
KFx sued Arthrex in August 2011, alleging infringement of the patents by Arthrex’s SutureBridge and SpeedBridge devices for rotator cuff repair and Achilles tendon repair.
"We are thankful to the judge, jury, and our attorneys at Knobbe Martens with lead counsel Joe Jennings for their hard and diligent work," KFx president & CEO Tate Scott said in prepared remarks. "The protection of patented innovations allows KFx to continue its research and development into products and technology that enhance patient care."
It’s the latest legal setback for Arthrex, following on the heels of a federal judge’s order to stop selling some of its suture anchors in the U.S. as of Oct. 2 in a patent infringement lawsuit filed by Smith & Nephew(FTSE:SN, NYSE:SNN). Arthrex suffered another legal loss earlier this year when a federal appeals court overturned its $85 million win over the British healthcare giant. Arthrex has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear an appeal of that decision.
Smith & Nephew inked a licensing deal with KFx for some of the products under dispute with Arthrex.
