Cancer companies do battle

Zmed, a developer of image-guided radiotherapy equipment, has filed suit against Nomos in Boston federal court, alleging patent infringement by Nomos in its recently released ImageSync software on the company's tumor localization system. Zmed's SonArray, an ultrasound-guided adaptive positioning system, uses stereotactic optical guidance and 3D matching software to align the tumor target to the isocenter of the radiotherapy beam. Nomos contends that its new BAT SXi device, which also uses ultrasound to align the radiation beam, does not infringe the Zmed patent, and Nomos has promised to vigorously defend itself against the litigation. Both companies claim victory in a similar court case involving the two last year.