A Medical Device Daily

Smith & Nephew (S&N; Memphis, Tennessee/London) and Synthes (West Chester, Pennsylvania/Solothurn, Switzerland) reported that they have settled patent infringement litigation concerning trochanteric fixation nails (TFN).

S&N has agreed to license its patents to Synthes and to dissolve the injunction against the Synthes TFN devices for an undisclosed amount.

S&N is a leading global orthopedic company.

In other court action: Covidien (Hamilton, Bermuda) reported that a federal jury has ruled in its favor in the patent litigation case Applied Medical Resources Corp. v. United States Surgical.

The jury ruled that U.S. Surgical (Norwalk, Connecticut), a subsidiary of Covidien, does not infringe Applied Medical's U.S. Patent No. 5,385,553 related to trocar seal technology and U.S. Surgical's Step and Versaport trocar products

"We are very pleased with the jury's verdict and look forward to continuing to provide innovative surgical instruments to our customers," said Scott Flora, president, Surgical Devices, Covidien.