Opto Circuits subsidiary wins patent case against US firm

To get Rs 147 crore towards loss of royalty from Zoll LifeCor

Opto Circuits (India), maker of invasive and non-invasive medical equipment and devices, has won a patent violation case against US-based Zoll LifeCor Corporation. According to a Los Angeles Superior Court verdict delivered late last month, the US firm will pay $23 million (Rs 147 crore) towards the loss of royalty to Opto Circuits group company Cardiac Science Corporation.

Cardiac Science, which makes automated external defibrillators (AEDs), was represented by law firm Patterson Thuente Pedersen.

A defibrillator is a piece of equipment used to control the movements of the heart muscles by giving the heart a controlled electric shock.

The dispute relates to the company's patented wearable defibrillator technology. In 2002, LifeCor began marketing its LifeVest product, which violated a number of patents of Cardiac Science. To avoid patent-violation claims, LifeCor entered into a cross-licence pact with Cardiac Science and was able to sell its device. In 2006, Zoll Medical Equipment acquired LifeCor. It stopped paying royalties linked to the agreement. Cardiac Science sued Zoll Medical and Zoll Lifecor for violation of contract in 2011.

“This unanimous jury verdict represents a significant victory for Cardiac Science and the extensive damages validate the significant value of Cardiac Science’s wearable defibrillator technology and other technologies in the AED space,” said Vinod Ramnani, chairman and managing director of Opto Circuits (India).

Cardiac Science develops, manufactures and markets automated external defibrillators. The company has customers in 100 countries and has operations in North America, Europe and Asia.