A Surgeon’s Quest for Justice: Accusing a Medical Giant of Patent Theft
Dr. Shirin Towfigh, a renowned Beverly Hills surgeon, thought she had created a game-changing medical device for hernia care in women. Instead, she found herself entangled in a bitter battle with Medtronic, a global leader in medical devices, over allegations of patent theft.
A Personal Mission to Improve Hernia Care
With over 22 years of experience, Towfigh noticed a disturbing trend: many of her hernia patients experiencing post-surgery complications were women. She realized that most mesh designs on the market were tailored to the male anatomy, leaving women with subpar care. Determined to make a difference, Towfigh filed for an international patent in 2016 to protect her innovative design aimed at improving outcomes for female patients.
A Meeting That Turned Sour
In 2015, Towfigh met with Medtronic representatives, signing a mutual non-disclosure agreement. She shared her patent-pending design, hoping for a potential collaboration. However, things took a dark turn when Medtronic filed its own hernia mesh patent in May 2017, eerily similar to Towfigh’s design.
A Pattern of Alleged Patent Infringement
This is not the first time Medtronic has faced allegations of patent infringement. In 2014, Dr. Mark Barry sued the company for violating two of his patents, resulting in a $23.5 million award. Similarly, in 2014, Medtronic agreed to pay over $1 billion to settle patent litigation with Edwards Lifesciences. More recently, in 2020, Colibri Heart Valve sued Medtronic, resulting in a $106.5 million payment.
A Fight for Justice
Towfigh is suing Medtronic for damages, citing the company’s alleged theft of her design. She claims to have followed up multiple times with Medtronic, only to be met with empty promises. In a 2019 email exchange, Towfigh expressed concern that Medtronic’s new mesh design mirrored her pending patent. When she raised her concerns further, Medtronic offered her a job as chief medical officer of their hernia division, which she declined.
A Shocking Revelation
In 2020, a local Medtronic sales representative approached Towfigh with a pre-market sample of the company’s new hernia mesh product. To her horror, the product was nearly identical to her own patent-pending design. Towfigh’s international patent was approved in October 2019, while Medtronic launched its new hernia mesh product, Dextile, in May 2020.
The Battle Ahead
As Towfigh takes on Medtronic, she hopes to expose the company’s alleged pattern of patent infringement and fight for justice. Her story serves as a reminder that even the most powerful companies can be held accountable for their actions.
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