J&J’s DePuy Owes $12 Million for Infringing Spinal-Fusion Patent

Johnson & Johnson must pay RSB Spine LLC $12 million after a federal jury in Delaware found that four products sold by its DePuy units infringe under the doctrine of equivalents a patent related to implantable devices used in spinal fusion surgeries.

The verdict was issued Friday in the US District Court for the District of Delaware. Jurors upheld the asserted patent claims as valid, rejecting arguments that they should be voided.

RSB alleged infringement by DePuy Synthes Sales Inc. and DePuy Synthes Products LLC’s Zero-P VA, Zero-P, Zero-P Natural, and SynFix Evolution products. The technology is used ...