ICU Sues Rival Over Patents

ICU Medical Inc., which makes disposable connectors for intravenous medical procedures, accused rival Medex Inc. of infringing two patents protecting the technology.

In a suit filed last week in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, San Clemente-based ICU says it is the owner of U.S. patents awarded in 1997 and 1998 for connectors that snap onto intravenous therapy lines while protecting patients from infection and nurses from exposure to blood.

ICU alleges that Hilliard, Ohio-based Medex, owned by Laguna Niguel-based plastics designer Furon Co., wrongly is making the connectors based on ICU’s inventions.

“Due to the acts of infringement by Medex, ICU has suffered great and irreparable injury,” ICU says in the suit, which asks a judge to stop Medex’s use of the technology and to award damages and legal fees.

Officials of Medex were not available to comment on the suit.