Johnson & Johnson subsidiary DePuy Synthes on March 15 was ordered to pay Gary Lynn Rasmussen, MD, $20 million after one of its products was found to infringe on one of the orthopedic surgeon's patents, according to Law360.com.
A federal jury in Massachusetts found that the "Balanced Sizer" product included in DePuy's Attune knee system infringes on a device invented by Dr. Rasmussen that reshapes existing bone and cartilage before knee replacement procedures.
Dr. Rasmussen, who practices with the Orthopedic Specialty Clinic in Murray, Utah, had previously pitched the device to DePuy but could not persuade the medtech company to license the technology, according to court documents.
The jury awarded a $20 million verdict to Dr. Rasmussen after finding that DePuy willfully violated one of his patents with its Balanced Sizer product.
DePuy did not respond to Becker's request for comment on the verdict.