Medegen, a provider of medical devices, components and contract manufacturing services, specializing in infusion therapy medical products, announced that it has won an important appeal in the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C. The decision reverses a judgment issued by a district court judge in the Central District of California of patent non-infringement entered in favor of ICU Medical Inc.

In May 2001, Medegen brought the original action against ICU, alleging infringement of the '418 patent by ICU's CLC2000 Connector. Medegen successfully argued in appellate court that the decision below inappropriately narrowed the definition of key terms of one of its patents (U.S. Patent No. 5,730,418 entitled "Minimum Fluid Displacement Medical Connector."). This patent covers a number of Medegen's inventions in needleless connectors, including the use of positive displacement technology, which reduces the occurrence of common vascular access device-related complications. According to the court's decision, the appellate court considered the construction of the term "plug," and stated that "a bedrock principle" of patent law was that the claims of a patent define the invention, and Medegen had claimed the term broadly, and not expressly limited by the language of the claim, as ICU had contended. The case is now returned to the lower court with the appellate court having interpreted key claim language as Medegen had requested.

"Medegen's intellectual property is valuable and we feel strongly about protecting our innovations. We are encouraged by the successful outcome of our appeal," said Jeffrey Goble, President of Medegen.

Jeff Goble further commented to DOTmed News, "We are very pleased with the appellate court decision, and we now anticipate returning to the lower court to continue with the litigation process."

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