Synergetics found guilty in patent battle

Iridex has been granted a summary judgement, by the US District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, on its claim that Synergetics' adapter-based connector systems infringe 12 separate claims of Iridex's Patent No. 5,085,492.

A jury trial is now scheduled for April 2007, during which time the jury will be asked to award damages and decide whether Synergetics' infringement was wilful, if so the damages will be increased. Iridex now feels that its requests for triple damages and an injunction are now more likely to be granted.

Two summary judgement motions remain for the Court to decide.