Engenex Negative Pressure Wound Therapy System - KCI Files Patent Infringement Suit Against Convatec And Boehringer

Main Category: Litigation / Medical Malpractice
Also Included In: Medical Devices / Diagnostics
Article Date: 20 Dec 2008 - 1:00 PST

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Kinetic Concepts, Inc. (NYSE: KCI), announced today that, together with Wake Forest University Health Sciences, it has filed a patent infringement suit against Convatec Inc., Boehringer Wound Systems, LLC and Boehringer Technologies, L.P. in Federal District Court in the Middle District of North Carolina. KCI filed the lawsuit against Convatec and Boehringer for the commercialization of the Engenex negative pressure wound therapy system.

"Wake Forest and KCI are leading innovators in advanced wound care, having invested substantial resources to develop a revolutionary wound care therapy that has positively affected nearly three million patients worldwide," said Catherine M. Burzik, President and Chief Executive Officer of KCI. "This case will help KCI and Wake Forest to continue building upon years of innovation and continue to improve the lives of the patients we serve."

About KCI

Kinetic Concepts, Inc. (NYSE: KCI) is a leading global medical technology company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of innovative, high-technology therapies and products for the wound care, tissue regeneration and therapeutic support system markets. Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, KCI's success spans more than three decades and can be traced to a history deeply rooted in innovation and a passion for significantly improving the healing - and the lives - of patients around the world.

KCI's three primary businesses include:

Advanced Wound Care - Includes KCI's proprietary Vacuum Assisted Closure, or V.A.C. Therapy System, which has been clinically demonstrated to promote wound healing through unique mechanisms of action while reducing the overall cost of treating patients with complex wounds.

Regenerative Medicine - Represented by KCI's LifeCell business and includes tissue-based products for use in reconstructive, orthopedic and urogynecologic surgical procedures to repair soft tissue defects.

Therapeutic Support Systems - Includes specialty hospital beds, mattress replacement systems and overlays designed to address pulmonary complications associated with immobility, to reduce skin breakdown and assist caregivers in the safe and dignified handling of patients of size.

The company employs 7,000 people and markets its products in more than 20 countries. For more information about KCI, and how its products are changing the practice of medicine, visit http://www.KCI1.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and are subject to a number of uncertainties. All information set forth in this release is as of its date, and we undertake no duty to update this information. More information about the company is described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2008, both of which are on file with the SEC and available at the SEC's Web site at www.sec.gov.