US Patent and Trademark Office confirms validity of Smith & Nephew patent

Smith & Nephew (NYSE:SNN;LSE:SN), the global medical technology business, today announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued a decision confirming the validity of U.S. Patent 5,601,557 at issue in an infringement case with Arthrex, Inc. of Naples, Fla.

The patent in question, now expired, pertains to fundamental technology used to implant suture anchors to surgically repair the shoulder, including Smith & Nephew’s BIORAPTOR◊, FOOTPRINT◊ Ultra PK and OSTEORAPTOR◊ suture anchors.

Arthrex Inc. requested re-examination of the patent after a 2013 U.S. District Court ruling which ordered it to stop selling multiple products based on a 2011 jury finding that Arthex’s Bio-SutureTak, PEEK SutureTak and certain Bio-PushLock and PEEK PushLock suture anchors infringed the patent owned by Dr. John O. Hayhurst of Portland, Ore. and exclusively licensed to Smith & Nephew. 

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About Smith & Nephew

Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business dedicated to helping healthcare professionals improve people's lives. With leadership positions in Orthopaedic Reconstruction, Advanced Wound Management, Sports Medicine and Trauma & Extremities, Smith & Nephew has around 14,000 employees and a presence in more than 90 countries. Annual sales in 2013 were more than $4.3 billion. Smith & Nephew is a member of the FTSE100 (LSE: SN, NYSE: SNN).

For more information about Smith & Nephew, please visit our corporate website www.smith-nephew.com, follow @SmithNephewplc on Twitter or visit SmithNephewplc on Facebook.com

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