QCT firms continue legal fight

Quantitative CT firms Imagix andImage Analysis continue to pursue litigation involving patentsfor bone mineral phantoms marketed by the companies. The courtfight began in 1992, when Image Analysis of Irvine, CA, filedsuit against San Francisco-based Imagix, charging the companywith infringing on its patent.

QCT packages consist of a calibration phantom and accompanyingsoftware, which runs on either the CT scanner or a separate personalcomputer. The QCT systems are offered as add-ons to installedCT scanners.

Image Analysis accused Imagix of infringing on the Volz patent,which Image Analysis licensed from GE in the 1980s. Imagix respondedwith a countersuit seeking to have the Volz patent invalidatedand a declaration that its technology did not infringe on itscompetitor's.

After several rounds of legal battles, Image Analysis droppedits claims earlier this year. Image Analysis released Imagix anda co-defendant, Christopher Cann, from all claims for infringementof the Volz patent. Image Analysis also offered to drop patentinfringement counterclaims brought against Imagix and Cann lastyear.