| | Thermo Electron Responds to Suit by Applera Corporation, MDS
2004-09-08 13:26 (New York)
Inc. and Applied
Biosystems/MDS Scientific Instruments for Patent Infringement
WALTHAM, Mass., Sept. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Thermo Electron
Corporation (NYSE: TMO) announced that Applera Corporation, MDS Inc. and
Applied Biosystems/MDS Scientific Instruments have filed a complaint in U.S.
District Court for the District of Delaware alleging that Thermo Electron's
mass spectrometer systems infringe U.S. patent number 4,963,736 entitled "Mass
Spectrometer and Method and Improved Ion Transmission." The Company believes
that the primary focus of the lawsuit is the Company's triple quadrupole mass
spectrometers; the U.S. sales of these spectrometers represent approximately
one percent of the Company's annual revenues.
This patent has been the subject of prior litigation against a subsidiary
of Waters Corp. with respect to triple quadrupole mass spectrometers. Thermo
Electron believes that its TSQ triple quadrupole product line, utilizing a
significantly different design, does not infringe the patent. The Company
intends to vigorously defend its legal rights and protect the competitive
market for these instruments.
Thermo Electron Corporation is the world leader in analytical instruments.
Our instrument solutions enable our customers to make the world a healthier,
cleaner and safer place. Thermo's Life and Laboratory Sciences business
provides analytical instruments, scientific equipment, services and software
solutions for life science, drug discovery, clinical, environmental and
industrial laboratories. Thermo's Measurement and Control business is
dedicated to providing analytical instruments used in a variety of
manufacturing processes and in-the-field applications, including those
associated with safety and homeland security. Based near Boston,
Massachusetts, Thermo has revenues of more than $2 billion, and employs
approximately 10,000 people in 30 countries. For more information, visit
thermo.com. |
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