Luther Medical Products Inc.: The Tustin firm...

Luther Medical Products Inc.: The Tustin firm said Tuesday that it has sold five patents on its so-called stickless needles to a division of Johnson & Johnson for $4.7 million.

The patents cover needles that are designed to ensure that health care providers are not accidentally pricked by dirty needles.

Johnson & Johnson Medical Inc. in New Brunswick, N.J., had been licensing the patents from Luther, generating about $450,000 in revenue annually for the Tustin medical device manufacturer.

The cash infusion is a much-needed shot in the arm for the struggling company, which has not been profitable since 1990. Proceeds from the sale will be used to pay off debt and invest in new research and development.

“The sale will show our investors that our patents are valuable,” said David Rollo, Luther’s president.