Trimedyne Hit by Patent Lawsuit: Trimedyne Inc.,...

Trimedyne Hit by Patent Lawsuit: Trimedyne Inc., a maker of medical laser products, is the target of a suit alleging patent infringement. Coherent Inc., a Santa Clara laser systems manufacturer, has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in San Francisco alleging Trimedyne in Irvine is infringing on three patents covering the use of a type of laser in orthopedic surgery and a laser tool. Trimedyne Chairman Marvin P. Loeb said the lawsuit is without merit. “In our opinion, the patents are invalid and may have been obtained improperly. What they are doing is trying to damage our business,” Loeb said. Coherent said its laser system was the first of its type to be cleared by the Food and Drug Administration. The laser, delivered through small fiber-optic probes, is finding widespread applications in minimally invasive surgery, the company said. In very heavy trading, Trimedyne stock was down 87.5 cents, closing at $13.875 per share on Nasdaq.