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NAPLES, FL – December 12, 2016 – On Friday, December 9, 2016, a jury in the United States Eastern District of Texas upheld the importance of Arthrex Inc.’s innovation, issuing a verdict that Smith & Nephew, Inc. and Arthrocare, Corp. have been willfully infringing two of Arthrex’s patents on their knotless and cross-support technology. Today, a judgment was entered confirming this verdict and granting Arthrex Inc. more than $17 million in damages.
The jury found every variation and size of Smith & Nephew and Arthrocare’s HEALICOIL™ Suture Anchors, TWINFIX™ Ultra Suture Anchors, TWINFIX™ PK FT and SPYROMITE Suture Anchors, Titan Ti Suture Implants, SpeedFix Suture Implants, SPEEDSCREW™ Suture Implants, SPEEDLOCK™ Knotless Implants, SPEEDLOCK™ Hip Knotless Implants, Spartan Suture Anchors, BIORAPTOR Knotless Suture Anchors, FOOTPRINT PK Suture Anchors, FOOTPRINT Ultra, LabraLock™ P Knotless and MULTIFIX™ Knotless, all infringe an Arthrex Patent.
Arthrex will seek an injunction prohibiting Smith & Nephew and ArthroCare from further manufacturing or selling the infringing devices in the United States and will also seek enhanced damages and attorney fees as allowed by statute.
“Since its foundation, Arthrex has been committed to the mission of helping surgeons treat their patients better, and we are very appreciative for the extraordinary efforts of our trial team and the sound judgment of the jurors of East Texas which have helped Arthrex continue this mission and protect its innovative technology,” said John Schmieding, Senior Vice President, General Counsel at Arthrex.
The Arthrex patents involved are U.S. Patent No. 9,179,907, invented by Dr. Stephen S. Burkhart, Peter J. Dreyfuss and Dr. Neal S. ElAttrache and U.S. Patent No. 8,821,541, invented by Peter J. Dreyfuss and William C. Benavitz.
Arthrex, headquartered in Naples, FL, is a global leader in orthopaedic product development and medical education for orthopaedic surgeons. More than 10,000 products for arthroscopic and minimally invasive orthopaedic surgical procedures have been developed by Arthrex and are currently marketed worldwide. For more information, visit www.arthrex.com.
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