Press release of January 19, 2015
iVIS technologies, based in Italy, is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of eye surgery devices and software. It has pioneered customized and minimally invasive eye surgery for treating ametropia and various corneal diseases.
For its innovation in corneal lamellar keratoplasty, a transplantation of corneal tissue, iVIS was granted the European patent 1 428 470. In corneal lamellar keratoplasty, a layer of a patient’s cornea is removed and replaced by a layer of a donor cornea. Such transplantations may be used to restore the vision of patients who suffer from corneal diseases such as keratokonus.
Based on EP 1 428 470, iVIS initiated an infringement action against the company SCHWIND eye-tech-solutions before the Regional Court of Turin in Italy. In response, SCHWIND eye-tech-solutions GmbH & Co. KG challenged the validity of the patent by filing an opposition at the EPO. BARDEHLE PAGENBERG, together with iVIS’ Italian representative, successfully defended the patent against the opposition:
With its decision announced on January 15, 2015, the Opposition Division of the EPO maintained the patent with its independent claim 1 as granted. The decision may be appealed by SCHWIND eye-tech-solutions GmbH & Co. KG.
Representatives for iVIS technologies:
BARDEHLE PAGENBERG (Munich):
Dr. Hans Wegner (Patent Attorney and European Patent Attorney, Partner)
Dr. Georg Anetsberger (Patent Attorney, Associate)
Notarbartolo & Gervasi (Milan):
Dr. Orazio Fiume (European Patent Attorney)
Representatives for SCHWIND eye-tech-solutions GmbH & Co. KG:
Dr. Alfons Hofstetter (Hofstetter, Schurack & Partner)