US Patent Office Rejects Ethicon’s Petition for Inter Partes Review of EndoEvolution’s Patent

RAYNHAM, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–EndoEvolution, LLC, the leading innovator in advanced automated suturing
devices, announced that on April 28, 2016 the Patent Trial and Appeal
Board (“PTAB”) of the United States Patent and Trademark Office
(“USPTO”) denied instituting an Inter Partes Review (“IPR”) of
EndoEvolution’s 6,923,819 B2 (“ ‘819”) patent.
On October 22, 2015, Ethicon Inc. filed a petition challenging the
validity of 30 claims of EndoEvolution’s ‘819 patent (IPR2016-00071). In
its written decision, however, the PTAB determined that Ethicon failed
to establish that there is a reasonable likelihood of showing that any
of the challenged claims are unpatentable, and that therefore the
petition was denied.
The ‘819 is one of EndoEvolution’s 9 issued U.S. patents directed toward
automated suturing devices.
“We are pleased with the PTAB’s confirmation of the novelty of our
technology which continues to demonstrate clinical value across a broad
range of minimally invasive surgical procedures,” said Ron Rudowsky,
EndoEvolution President & CEO.
In its response to the petition, EndoEvolution was represented by
Dorothy P. Whelan, Michael J. Kane and Patrick J. Bisenius of Fish &
Richardson P.C. and Brian R. Pollack of Day Pitney, LLP.
About EndoEvolution
EndoEvolution,
LLC, the leading innovator in advanced automated suturing device
technology, is a privately held medical device company introducing and
developing the most advanced MIS (Minimally Invasive Surgery) automated
suturing devices delivering significant clinical advantages and
cost-effective to hospitals. EndoEvolution’s Endo360°® MIS suturing
device is the only automated articulating, curved needle driver that
precisely replicates the traditional method used by surgeons to place
stitches and tie intracorporeal knots. The only automated suturing
device available with a full complement of standard sutures,
EndoEvolution’s reusable automated suturing products are easier to use
with demonstrated clinical effectiveness in a broad range of surgical
procedures including bariatric, colorectal, and general surgery, as well
as gynecology and urogynecology.
Learn more at www.endoevolution.com.