Healthcare Industry News: negative pressure wound
News Release - July 14, 2009
KCI Announces Intention to Appeal UK Court Ruling Revoking NPWT Patent
SAN ANTONIO--(HSMN NewsFeed)--Kinetic Concepts, Inc. (NYSE: KCI ) announced today that the Court of Appeal of England and Wales has revoked a patent licensed to KCI from Wake Forest University. The Court determined that the KCI patent (EP UK 0 620 720) covering the use of foam dressing kits with negative pressure wound Therapy (NPWT) systems is not valid and lifted a previously issued injunction against Smith & Nephew (LSE: NS ; NYSE: SNN ). The lower court had ruled that key claims in the patent were valid and enforceable, which established the basis for the injunction.“We are disappointed with this ruling and plan to appeal the decision to the House of Lords,” said Stephen Seidel, KCI Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel. “This ruling is limited to the UK patent at issue and does not directly affect the other patents in KCI’s portfolio or any other proceedings outside the UK.”
About KCI
Kinetic Concepts, Inc. (NYSE: KCI ) is a leading global medical technology company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of innovative, high-technology therapies and products for the wound care, tissue regeneration and therapeutic support system markets. Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, KCI’s success spans more than three decades and can be traced to a history deeply rooted in innovation and a passion for significantly improving the healing and the lives of patients around the world.
The Company employs approximately 6,700 people and markets its products in more than 20 countries. For more information about KCI, and how its products are changing the practice of medicine, visit www.KCI1.com.
Source: Kinetic Concepts
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