GIVEN IMAGING, OLYMPUS FIGHT OVER ENDOSCOPY PATENTS

Given Imaging, based in Israel, announced Oct. 23 it filed claims of patent infringement against Olympus and its subsidiaries Olympus Medical Systems and Olympus America.

The claims assert that the capsule endoscopy system, which Olympus stated it intends to market in the U.S., will infringe on four of Given Imaging's patents.

Given Imaging said its claims were filed as a counterclaim to a complaint filed by Olympus in May in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

The patents in the lawsuit cover "innovative features of capsule endoscopes and capsule endoscopy systems," according to Given Imaging. Given Imaging is requesting an injunction to prevent Olympus from selling any product in the U.S. that infringes on Given Imaging's patents.

At the same time, Given Imaging said it filed its answer to Olympus' allegation that Given Imaging infringes on an Olympus patent. In its answer, Given Imaging denies infringement and asserts that the relevant patent is invalid.