Virtual Radiologic Files Lawsuit against Tandem Radiology, Direct Radiology and Imaging Advantage Alleging Intellectual Property Infringement and Misappropriation
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - Aug. 19, 2013 - Virtual Radiologic (vRad), a technology-enabled national radiology practice and the largest telemedicine company in the world, and its subsidiary, NightHawk Radiology Services (NRS), have filed a lawsuit today in the United States District Court for the District of Arizona claiming patent and copyright infringement and misappropriation of trade secrets by Tandem Radiology and certain of its employees and founders, and claiming infringement of patent rights by Direct Radiology and Imaging Advantage through their use of Tandem's platform.
Among other claims of copyright infringement and misappropriation, the lawsuit alleges that the defendants directly infringe upon US Patent Numbers 7,970,634, 8,090,593, 8,145,503, and 8,195,481 relating to automated teleradiology study assignment, automated order creation and teleradiology image processing. The lawsuit seeks to enjoin the defendants' marketing, sale and use of infringing systems and monetary damages, among other relief. vRad has a total of 11 issued or allowed U.S. patents and 1 patent pending.
"Over more than a decade, vRad has been fortunate to be able to invest millions of dollars to design and develop innovative technology solutions that advance the practice of radiology and enable our clients and partners to provide their patients with the timely, high quality, subspecialized radiology reads," explained vRad Chief Executive Officer Jim Burke. "vRad has invested millions of dollars over many years in developing and commercializing the patented systems and processes. In the complaint, we have charged Tandem with misappropriating trade secrets and infringing on copyrights and patents to research, develop, and sell Tandem's teleradiology platform and services to its customers, including Direct Radiology and Imaging Advantage."
Burke concluded, "We have a duty to our radiologists, investors, employees, clients and patients to protect our investments, and to file this lawsuit to ensure that vRad will be able to continue delivering innovative solutions to enhance patient care, practice performance and physician satisfaction."
About vRad
Virtual Radiologic (vRad) is a technology-enabled national radiology practice working in partnership with local radiologists and hospitals to optimize radiology's pivotal role in patient care. vRad's more than 400 radiologists serve over 2,000 facilities, reading more than 7 million studies annually. Delivering access to extensive subspecialty coverage, vRad contributes to improved quality of patient care. And with its next-generation technology, vRad enhances productivity, helping to lower the overall cost of care while expediting time to accurate diagnosis and treatment. For more information, visit www.vrad.com. For real-time updates, follow us on Twitter (@vRad), or "like" us on Facebook.