ICU Accuses Medex of Patent Infringement

ICU Medical Inc., which makes disposable connectors for intravenous medical procedures, filed a patent-infringement suit last week against competitor Medex Inc., accusing it of making connectors based on ICU’s inventions. In the suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, San Clemente-based ICU says it is the owner of U.S. patents awarded in 1997 and 1998 for connectors that snap onto IV lines to protect patients from infection and nurses from exposure to blood. The suit seeks to stop Medex’s use of the technology and also damages and legal fees. Medex officials were not immediately available to comment on the suit. Medex is based in Hilliard, Ohio, and is owned by plastics designer Furon Co. of Laguna Niguel. ICU shares fell 13 cents to close at $18.63 on Nasdaq.. Furon shares fell 31 cents to close at $17.75 on the NYSE.