BrainLab triumphs in patent case

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C., last week ruled that BrainLab Inc.'s ExacTrac product does not infringe Nomos Corp.'s U.S. patent for Nomos' BAT ultrasound-based target locating device.

BrainLab's ExacTrac is a patient positioning system designed for the precise treatment of tumors with stereotactic radiotherapy and radiosurgery. The system's ultrasound localization allows a daily verification of the position of organs, such as the prostate or liver in live ultrasound images. By providing greater positioning accuracy, the system is designed to improve clinical results and reduce risks and side effects for patients.

BrainLab President and CEO Stefan Vilsmeier said the company is "pleased to see that the court has reconfirmed the uniqueness of our patient positioning technology and that our technology does not infringe Nomos' patent."

Nomos could not be reached for comment prior to publication.

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