Spineology, Inc. sued Wright Medical Technology, Inc. (Wright Medical) in the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota .  Spineology’s complaint alleges that Wright Medical’s X-REAM percutaneous expandable reamer infringes one or more claims of U.S. Patent No.  RE42,757 (the ’757 patent), which is entitled “Expandable Reamer” and was reissued on September 27, 2011.  The suit includes claims for direct, induced, contributory, and willful infringement.

In support of its claim of willful infringement, Spineology alleges that it sold fifty of its own expandable reamers to Wright Medical in 2006, but did not convey any license to the ’757 patent along with that sale.  The complaint states that Spineology sent a cease-and-desist letter in 2014, which attached the ’757 patent, requesting that Wright Medical stop selling its X-REAM product because the product was covered by the ’757 patent.  After Wright Medical continued selling its product, Spineology filed the current suit.

According to its website, Minnesota-based Spineology is focused on developing methods and products that not only treat spinal ailments, but also reduce the invasiveness of spine surgery for patients, aid the surgeon in overcoming the hurdles of minimally invasive surgery, and minimize the burden of healthcare expense.

According to its website, Tennessee-based Wright Medical is a specialty orthopaedic company that provides extremity and biologic solutions that enable clinicians to alleviate pain and restore their patients’ lifestyles.