Applied Medical Resources Company

An Orange County surgical devices maker has won $20.5 million against industry giant U.S. Surgical Corp. in a patent infringement case involving abdominal tubes used for less-invasive operations. Privately held Applied Medical Resources Corp. in Laguna Hills had won a jury verdict of more than $15 million and an unusual finding that U.S. Surgical had willfully violated Applied's patents. The finding gave the judge who presided over the case the option of trebling the damages.

Tyco International Ltd.'s healthcare unit sued Rancho Santa Margarita-based Applied Medical Resources Co., claiming infringement of patents for medical devices used in minimally invasive surgery. Pembroke, Bermuda-based Tyco wants a court order blocking sales of Applied Medical's devices. Applied Medical did not immediately comment. The lawsuit is the latest development in a decade-long dispute between Tyco Healthcare and Applied Medical over medical devices.

Applied Medical Resources Corp., a Rancho Santa Margarita developer of surgical devices, sued Johnson & Johnson, alleging that its larger rival engaged in "exclusionary and anti-competitive acts." Johnson & Johnson exploits its monopoly on sutures to force hospital group purchasing organizations to buy its trocars and clip appliers, according to the suit filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. Trocars and clip appliers are used in laparoscopic surgery.

A federal judge in Santa Ana increased the amount that a Tyco International Ltd. unit must pay Applied Medical Resources Corp. 25% to $54.5 million for infringing a patent for devices used in minimally invasive surgery. U.S. District Judge Cormac Carney increased a jury's July award against Tyco's U.S. Surgical unit by $11 million, a smaller boost than Applied Medical had sought.

An Orange County medical device maker, Applied Medical Resources Corp., has won the first round in a patent infringement suit against a large competitor that has already paid the firm millions previously for alleged violations. Federal Judge Alicemarie H. Stotler ruled last week that U.S. Surgical Corp. has infringed on two of Applied Medical's patents involving trocars, tubes through which surgeons insert cameras and other instruments to perform surgeries.

A federal appeals court this week upheld a $20.5-million award to a Laguna Hills maker of surgical devices in a patent-infringement case against industry giant U.S. Surgical Corp. The ruling will enable Applied Medical Resources Corp. to press ahead with plans to go public within months and other expansion activities, said an elated chief executive, Said Hilal. "The most heartwarming thing in my life is seeing the justice system work so elegantly.

Call him the Will Rogers of small business. Said Hilal sits in his sparsely furnished office at Applied Medical Resources and uses homespun, common-sense terms to describe his philosophy in building a small medical device manufacturing firm from the ground up. Consider: "What does the health care community need? It needs better medicine at a lower price." Or: "Too many people say, 'Business is business.' I say that business is relationships. And my commitment is to build relationships."

A federal judge in Santa Ana increased the amount that a Tyco International Ltd. unit must pay Applied Medical Resources Corp. 25% to $54.5 million for infringing a patent for devices used in minimally invasive surgery. U.S. District Judge Cormac Carney increased a jury's July award against Tyco's U.S. Surgical unit by $11 million, a smaller boost than Applied Medical had sought.

Applied Medical Resources Corp., a Rancho Santa Margarita developer of surgical devices, sued Johnson & Johnson, alleging that its larger rival engaged in "exclusionary and anti-competitive acts." Johnson & Johnson exploits its monopoly on sutures to force hospital group purchasing organizations to buy its trocars and clip appliers, according to the suit filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. Trocars and clip appliers are used in laparoscopic surgery.

An Orange County medical device maker, Applied Medical Resources Corp., has won the first round in a patent infringement suit against a large competitor that has already paid the firm millions previously for alleged violations. Federal Judge Alicemarie H. Stotler ruled last week that U.S. Surgical Corp. has infringed on two of Applied Medical's patents involving trocars, tubes through which surgeons insert cameras and other instruments to perform surgeries.

A federal appeals court this week upheld a $20.5-million award to a Laguna Hills maker of surgical devices in a patent-infringement case against industry giant U.S. Surgical Corp. The ruling will enable Applied Medical Resources Corp. to press ahead with plans to go public within months and other expansion activities, said an elated chief executive, Said Hilal. "The most heartwarming thing in my life is seeing the justice system work so elegantly.

An Orange County maker of surgical devices has won $20.5 million against industry giant U.S. Surgical Corp. in a patent-infringement case involving abdominal tubes used for less-invasive operations. Privately held Applied Medical Resources Corp. of Laguna Hills had won a jury verdict of more than $15 million and an unusual finding that U.S. Surgical had willfully violated its patents. The finding gave the judge who presided over the case the option of trebling the damages.

Call him the Will Rogers of small business. Said Hilal sits in his sparsely furnished office at Applied Medical Resources and uses homespun, common-sense terms to describe his philosophy in building a small medical device manufacturing firm from the ground up. Consider: "What does the health care community need? It needs better medicine at a lower price." Or: "Too many people say, 'Business is business.' I say that business is relationships. And my commitment is to build relationships."