The U.S. Supreme Court ruled today that Patent Trial and Appeal Board judges are unconstitutionally appointed, but that greater supervision by the PTAB director would solve the problem. The opinion in the case followed a 2019 appeals court ruling in the closely watched patent spat between Arthrex and Smith+Nephew (NYSE:SNN). In the original lawsuit, Smith+Nephew and ArthroCare (which Smith+Nephew acquired in 2014) petitioned […]
Arthrex Inc.
DTW Podcast: Who will win medtech’s own Supreme Court fight; and can the many mini Medtronics plan work?
In this week’s DeviceTalks Weekly podcast, we’ll first delve into Medtech’s own brewing Supreme Court battle. J. Michael Jakes, a partner at Finnegan, will tell us why the industry should be watching when the Supremes review the latest patent battle between Arthrex and Smith+Nephew. We’ll also talk about Medtronic’s Analyst Meeting where CEO Geoff Martha […]
U.S. Supreme Court to hear Arthrex challenge to constitutionality of patent judges
The U.S. Supreme Court said today that it will review a 2019 appeals court ruling in a patent spat between Arthrex and Smith+Nephew (NYSE:SNN), in which the appeals court judges found that Patent Trial and Appeal Board judges are unconstitutionally appointed. The 2019 ruling by the U.S. Federal Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. could […]
Arthrex loses another round in patent spat with Smith & Nephew
Arthrex has lost another battle in a patent dispute with Smith & Nephew’s (NYSE:SNN) ArthroCare. A U.S. Court of Appeals panel today rejected Arthrex’s attempt to overturn a Patent Trial and Appeal Board ruling that two claims of an Arthrex patent on a surgical suture anchor are unpatentable. Smith & Nephew had challenged claims 10 […]
Sterilization plant closures: Here’s why you need to care
The recent shutdown of a Sterigenics medical device sterilization plant in Willowbrook, Ill. has affected medtech giants such as Becton Dickinson (NYSE:BDX), Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX), Medtronic (NYSE:MDT), Smith & Nephew (NYSE:SNN) and Stryker (NYSE:SYK), according to an FDA list of devices processed at the sterilization plant. Medium-sized and smaller firms, including Teleflex (NYSE:TFX), Arthrex and ArthroCare also had devices processed there. The Willowbrook plant sterilized 594 types of devices, including sutures, clamps, […]
7 medtech stories we missed this week: March 16, 2018
From Intricon expanding its manufacturing space to Arthrex signing a global distribution deal, here are seven medtech stories we missed this week but thought were still worth mentioning. 1. Intricon expands medical footprint Intricon announced in a March 13 press release that it has signed a 5-year lease that will secure 30,000 sq. ft of manufacturing […]
Arthrex loses appeal in patent spat with Smith & Nephew
Arthrex has lost an appeal before the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in a patent spat with Smith & Nephew (NYSE:SNN) related to suture anchors, according to court documents. The decision from Federal Circuit Judges Newman, Dyk and O’Malley reaffirmed an earlier decision from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, which entered an adverse […]
Johnson & Johnson’s DePuy can’t stop ex-rep from working for Arthrex distributor
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) subsidiary DePuy Synthes can’t stop a former sales rep from working for an Arthrex distributor in Idaho, a federal judge ruled last week. DePuy hired Richard “Jake” Williams in June 2015 to rep its orthopedic implants in Boise and had him sign employee secrecy, intellectual property, non-competition and non-solicitation agreements barring him from […]
Arthrex to build $74m plant, add 1,000 jobs to SC over 5 years
Arthrex is planning to build a $74 million manufacturing plant and add 1,000 jobs over 5 years in South Carolina, according to a Naples Daily News report. The plan was announced Monday and had been kept secret as the company worked out incentives with Anderson County, where the facility will be built, according to the report. […]
Smith & Nephew, Arthrex settle 12-year suture anchors spat
Smith & Nephew (NYSE:SNN) and Arthrex this week buried the hatchet on a 12-year-old dispute over patents covering suture anchors used in joint repair surgeries. Details on the settlement, which puts to bed several lawsuits filed in federal court in Texas, were not disclosed, according to court documents filed Feb. 13. The agreement follows a $17.4 million […]
Arthrex ponies up $5m royalty payment to Tiger X Medical
Arthrex this month paid $5.6 million in a royalty settlement and release agreement with Tiger X Medical, previously known as Cardo Medical, according to an SEC filing. The payment relates to a previously inked asset purchase agreement, signed in January 2011, in which Arthrex picked up Cardo Medical’s arthroplasty division, including all hip and knee […]
