Ivera Takes on Covidien in Patent Kerfuffle

Ivera Medical Corp. (San Diego) launched a lawsuit against medtech giant Covidien. In the lawsuit, Ivera alleges that Covidien's Kendall Disinfectant Cap infringes on three of its patents that cover medical devices designed to protect and clean intravenous access ports.

In particular, the lawsuit alleges that Covidien's products infringe on Ivera's Curos Disinfecting Port Protector. Ivera's product has been on the market since 2008.

In Ivera's lawsuit, the company is requesting that a federal court ban the sale of the infringing products and pay it for damages. For Ivera, this isn't the company's first patent spat. In the past, it has battled with Excelsior Medical, Catheter Connections and Hospira over infringement related to its anti-sepsis technology.

"It seems incredible that a company like Covidien would knowingly enter a market, still in its early growth stage, with a product that is the subject of an existing patent infringement action," noted Bob Rogers, CEO of Ivera. "The exposure they have, including treble damages and the potential to disgorge all profits, for them is quite large."