Company Stands Behind Independently Developed, Patented Oxismart(R) XL
Technology
ST. LOUIS, Oct. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Mallinckrodt Inc. (NYSE: MKG)
management said today that it intends to defend vigorously against a patent
infringement lawsuit filed against it last week by Masimo Corporation.
Mallinckrodt further stated that it believes the allegation is without merit
and that the advanced Oxismart(R)XL technology it is selling with its
wholly-owned subsidiary Nellcor Puritan Bennett does not infringe a Masimo
patent.
"Nellcor pioneered the widespread commercialization of pulse oximetry.
Since its inception in 1981, Nellcor has been the technology leader in the
field," C. Ray Holman, chairman and chief executive officer of Mallinckrodt,
said. "We have over 80 issued U.S. patents and numerous additional pending
patent applications covering our oximetry technology. Mallinckrodt's Nellcor
Oxismart XL technology was independently developed and patented by the
company, and represents a technology which is fundamentally different and
distinct from the Masimo patented technology.
"We are confident there is no basis for Masimo to allege infringement of
any of its patents, and we intend to vigorously defend our right to
continuously develop and introduce advanced technologies to the marketplace,"
Holman stated.
Mallinckrodt's Oxismart XL technology is incorporated in Nellcor pulse
oximetry products which have been on sale since December 1998. Mallinckrodt
makes a stand-alone pulse oximeter monitor (the N-395) and an OEM circuit
board (the MP-404). This technology is motion-tolerant and allows oxygenation
monitoring of adults and neonates who are poorly perfused.
Mallinckrodt Inc. is a global manufacturer and marketer of specialty
medical products. Based in St. Louis, Missouri, the company had fiscal 1999
net sales of $2.6 billion, operates in more than 100 countries and has three
healthcare product groups -- Respiratory, Imaging and Pharmaceuticals. The
Respiratory Group develops, manufactures and markets products that help
diagnose, monitor and treat respiratory and anesthesiology patients across the
continuum of care. The Respiratory Group is a world leader in pulse oximeters
and sensors, airway management products, critical care ventilators and
alternate care products. Mallinckrodt's website address is
http://www.mallinckrodt.com .
Contact: Media, Barbara Abbett, 314-654-5230, or barbara.abbett@mkg.com,
or Investors, Barbara Gould, 314-654-3190, or Invest@mkg.com, both of
Mallinckrodt Inc.
SOURCE Mallinckrodt Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.mallinckrodt.com
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/440950.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 440950
CONTACT:
Media, Barbara Abbett, 314-654-5230, or
barbara.abbett@mkg.com, or Investors, Barbara Gould,
314-654-3190, or Invest@mkg.com, both of Mallinckrodt Inc.
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