B. Braun Sues Becton, Dickinson for Patent Infringements

B. Braun Medical and Affiliates have filed a lawsuit against Becton, Dickinson and Company and Becton Dickinson Infusion Therapy Systems for infringing 10 U.S. patents relating to IV catheter safety mechanisms.

B. Braun alleges that Becton Dickinson infringed its patents by manufacturing and distributing the BD Insyte, Autoguard BC IV Catheter and BD Nexiva Closed IV Catheter System. The company is seeking an injunction and damages from BD.

The lawsuit, filed on June 6 in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, follows patent litigation victories in Germany, Austria and the European Patent Office involving a European manufacturing counterpart to three of the U.S. patents in the current suit.

B. Braun has additional lawsuits involving foreign counterparts of the patents in question pending in Belgium, Australia and the Netherlands. — Joya Patel