ST. LOUIS, Mo., June 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Mallinckrodt Inc. (NYSE: MKG) said
today that it will launch a new sales and marketing program to significantly
expand its WarmTouch(R) patient warming business in the United States
following a ruling in Mallinckrodt's favor last week by a Federal Circuit
Court of Appeals. The appeals court decision overturns a 1997 federal
district court ruling in a patent infringement case that was filed against
Mallinckrodt approximately five years ago.
"Now that the court has ruled that we did not infringe the patents of
Augustine Medical, we will pursue our warming blanket business even more
vigorously than in the past," said John Q. Hesemann, president of
Mallinckrodt's Respiratory Group.
"This is not only a major win for Mallinckrodt, it is a win for patients
who benefit from warming therapy during and after surgery," Hesemann added.
"That's why we have persisted through the appeals process and were encouraged
when the federal appeals court stayed an injunction in 1997, making it
possible for us to continue selling our blankets until the case could be
resolved."
Earlier this year, a District Court in the Netherlands ruled in
Mallinckrodt's favor in a patent infringement case Augustine had filed in
Europe.
Mallinckrodt's WarmTouch blankets connect to blowers that fill the
blankets with warm air. This creates a warming system that helps control
patient body temperatures. Medical research has demonstrated patient benefits
from such warming, including improved post-surgical recovery time.
Mallinckrodt introduced its line of patient warming blankets in the early
nineties. The company is a market leader in temperature management products
in addition to other critical care products, including endotracheal and
tracheostomy tubes and other airway management systems.
Based in St. Louis, Mo., Mallinckrodt Inc. has three healthcare product
groups -- Imaging, Pharmaceutical and Respiratory. The company operates in
more than 100 countries and had fiscal 1998 net sales of $2.4 billion. The
Mallinckrodt web site address is http://www.mallinckrodt.com .
SOURCE Mallinckrodt Inc.
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CONTACT:
Media, Barbara Abbett, 314-654-5230, or
e-mail, Communications@mkg.com, Investors, Barbara Gould,
314-654-3190, or e-mail, Invest@mkg.com
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