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Ithaca, N.Y, - October 7, 2003 - Transonic Systems Inc. announced today
that the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a ruling in Transonic’s patent dispute with Non-Invasive Medical Technologies Corporation (dba
HemaMetrics). Transonic prevailed on all counts. Most notably, all critical claim terms of Transonic’s US patent No. 5,685,989 have now been given a broad scope. According to Mr. Cornelis Drost, President of Transonic Systems: “The scope of Transonic Systems ‘989 patent has now been fully reviewed by the US Court of Appeals and the patent has received a very broad interpretation. Based on this and a previous appellate court ruling, we believe that our access flow measurement patent covers all indicator dilution-based access flow measurement approaches using blood line reversal during hemodialysis.” Based on this ruling, Transonic expects to succeed in obtaining a judgment against HemaMetrics that the saline injection and Delta-H access flow measurement approaches offered in connection with its Crit-Line device infringe the ‘989 patent. Transonic is represented in this dispute by intellectual property law firm Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear.
The blood line reversal method of measuring access blood flow, which is the subject of the ‘989 patent, was
invented by Transonic’s Senior Scientist Dr. Nikolai Krivitski in 1994.
His invention led to breakthrough improvements in the management of stenotic disease in the hemodialysis access. Approximately 300,000 USA patients have lost functionality of their kidneys, and a well-functioning dialysis access (A/V shunt or fistula) is their link to life as it facilitates hemodialysis. Research studies using the Transonic ultrasound access flow monitor quickly revealed that flow-based surveillance of the access, coupled with minimally-invasive procedures to restore flow, would lead to reduced patient morbidity and hospitalization and prolonged life of the hemodialysis access shunt. The “Krivitski Method” was incorporated in the “Dialysis Outcome Quality Initiative” guidelines published by the National Kidney Foundation in 1997 as the preferred method for surveillance of patients during their routine dialysis treatment.
Transonic Systems manufactures and sells a broad range of blood flow measurement devices for intraoperative
surgery, hemodialysis, biomedical research, and provides embedded flow measurement solutions to manufacturers of medical devices.
Contacts:
Transonic Systems, Inc., Ithaca, NY
Cor Drost, 800/353-3569
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