Saint-Gobain wins the right to market crystals. Source: Saint Gobain Ceramics & Plastics

Siemens Medical Solutions has lost a court attempt to stop Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics of Courbevoie, France, from marketing crystals used in medical diagnostic scanners.

Siemens told Health Imaging News that in “April 2007, Siemens Medical filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Saint-Gobain for its sale of crystals that are equivalent to Siemens’ patented crystal technology, which has been described as a ‘breakthrough.’ This week the Court denied a procedural request by Siemens to stop Saint-Gobain from continuing to deliver the accused infringing crystals between now and the trial.”

Bloomberg News reported that Siemens sued the unit of Cie. de Saint-Gobain in federal court in Wilmington, Del., in April 2007 for allegedly infringing a 1990 patent by selling crystals for 3D PET procedures.

“Although plaintiff adduced evidence that ultimately may demonstrate infringement,” at this stage in the case “does not weigh predominantly in plaintiff's favor,'” Judge Sue L. Robinson wrote in a Jan. 8 opinion denying the injunction request, Bloomberg reported.

William Seiberlich, a Saint-Gobain spokesperson, said in a statement that the company it is “pleased” with the decision and declined to comment further, according to Bloomberg.

Siemens also told Health Imaging News that it “is vigorously pursuing its lawsuit and looks forward to the jury trial in September.”