Patent infringement filings run rampant

'Tis the season for litigation. Mammography vendor Fischer Imaging has filed suit against Hologic and its distributors in France and Germany for the alleged infringement of a European patent relating to key features in Fischer's stereotactic breast biopsy systems. This is the second such action initiated by Fischer, which filed a suit against Hologic in November, alleging infringement of a U.S. patent covering the same technology.

PointDx filed a suit in late December alleging infringement of a U.S. patent by Voxar. The suit charges the Scottish 3D software developer with infringing virtual endoscopy patents. Sublicensing deals pertaining to the same patents have been struck with Vital Images and GE Medical Systems.