Medtronic,Smiths Medical settle patten suit.

[Tony]

In 2003 Medtronic sued Smith Medical, claming that the Deltec Cozmo insulin pump violated a medtronic's patent.

On July 1 Medtronic settled the patent lawsuit with Smiths Medical over their monitors and pumps. The court found that the cozmo infringed Medtronic's patent and dismissed Smith medical's counterclaim.

Smith Medical will have to pay medtronic an Initial payment and royalty on future sales of the current cozmo.

More info here (http://wwwp.medtronic.com/Newsroom/NewsReleaseDetails.do?itemId=1120253933838&lang=en_US)

[Belinda]

Wow!!! BTW Tony when do you find the time to read all the current info?????

[camjen1]

Well of course!!! They have to sue someone considering they have to fork out millions to the last lawsuit they lost.

[Dewey]

Well of course!!! They have to sue someone considering they have to fork out millions to the last lawsuit they lost.
Good point, Sandi, and I agree completely. It kind of frustrates me, as I'm really starting to believe that Medtronic's "Only about the money!"

From my understanding (and readings I've done in the past), Minimed and Deltec (formerly known as CPI) signed an agreement of sorts back in the day (in 1983), which stated that Deltec was to wait five years or thereabouts (can't remember All explicit details) to release any competetive products (i.e. insulin pumps). Deltec has held true to their word, and did not start selling pumps until 2002. So truthfully, I do not see where Medtronic can legally sue them, unless they've found some loopholes somewhere.... :thumpdown As a former Minimed 511 and 512 user (& current Cozmo owner), I also did not see any similarities, cosmetically or otherwise...Each has different functionalities (and unique names for those functions), differing screen sizes, varying meter-to-pump (& PC to pump) communications, Unlike case designs and even different backlighting!

This was taken from a former page at DiabetesMall (http://vps2139.securesites.net/diabetes_technology/insulinpumps_deltec.php) :

"Deltec has received FDA approval for what appears to be a serious new player in the insulin pump market. Like Disetronic and Medtronic, Deltec is located in the St. Paul/Minneapolis area, making the twin cities area a hotbed for insulin pumps. Deltec, short for DEL-ivery TECH-nologies, began making computerized medical delivery pumps in 1983. The company was founded by the original developers of the CPI insulin pump, which was bought by Lilly in the early 1980s. Part of the settlement with Lilly included an agreement not to compete in the insulin pump market for five years, and the time has apparently passed as they begin to introduce their Cozmo insulin pump."

I do Not like that Medtronic is putting across the "air" that they are attempting to weed out All other competition. Truthfully, this lawsuit displays to me that they are worried about loss of sales, etc. I may be wrong, but that's the feeling I'm getting.... :frown: :mad:

Please note, I mean No disrespect to Minimed users. I am merely sharing personal feelings and beliefs, based on personal experience and background knowledge/research/info. I used to use Minimed products, and still firmly believe in the 506,7 and 508 models.

[twocute64001]

I have to agree with you, I was on a mm 507C for nearly 6 years when I started checking out all the other pumps. Cozmo and Animus were the most advanced I found. At the time though Anamus was having finacial dificulties and I was afraid warrany issue might be a problem if the went under so I chose Cozmo. (Luckily it is my understanding that Animus is now stronger that before and in no way going to disapear)

My Cozmo pump is NOTHING even close to the old MM I had. The advancements through the years for MM are great, but Cozmo has them beat. I do not understand how they lost this suit. I see no comparison in the two pumps. If I had I would have stuck to MM as my doctior prefered it, but I didnt.

[duck]

There's probably some deep, internal workings that MM could "prove" was too close for comfort, so Deltec capitulated.