Healthcare Industry News:  negative pressure wound 

Devices Wound Care Litigation

 News Release - March 10, 2010

KCI Wins Patent Case against Smith & Nephew

United States District Court Jury Finds that Smith & Nephew’s Product Infringes Wake Forest Patents Licensed to KCI

SAN ANTONIO--(HSMN NewsFeed)--Kinetic Concepts, Inc. (NYSE: KCI ) today announced that a United States District Court jury has found that a negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) product marketed and sold by Smith & Nephew plc (NYSE: SNN ) infringes two patents owned by Wake Forest University Health Sciences, which are exclusively licensed to KCI. The jury held that each of the patents in the case are valid and has awarded KCI and Wake Forest damages related to the infringement. KCI will be seeking an injunction in the United States District Court in post-trial proceedings to prevent further infringement by Smith & Nephew.

“The outcome of this trial exemplifies the protections provided to innovators like Wake Forest and KCI under the U.S. patent system,” said Catherine M. Burzik, KCI’s president and chief executive officer. “And for the nearly 7,000 people of KCI, this decision reinforces the purpose and promise of the innovative spirit. For KCI, it is that spirit — combined with our unparalleled clinical expertise — that produces the superior outcomes that differentiate KCI from the competition.”

KCI’s negative pressure wound Therapy solutions are offered through the company’s Active Healing Solutions™ unit, which continues to expand its Negative Pressure Technology Platform while entering new global markets.

For more information, please visit www.kci1.com.

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 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.

All trademarks designated herein are proprietary to KCI Licensing, Inc. its affiliates and/or licensors.


Source: Kinetic Concepts

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