Mako Seeks to Block Stanmore Surgical Guidance System Imports

Mako Surgical Corp. (MAKO) said it filed a U.S. trade action seeking to block imports of competing orthopedic-surgery guidance systems made by Stanmore Implants Worldwide Ltd.

Mako filed complaints today with the U.S. International Trade Commission in Washington and in federal courts in Boston and California. The company claims Stanmore is infringing three patents related to computerized surgical devices and software.

In January, London-based Stanmore received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval to market its Sculptor Robotic Guidance Arm, used for knee surgery. It competes with Mako’s RIO Robotic Arm Interactive Orthopedic system, which accounted for $41.2 million in sales last year, or 40 percent of the Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based company’s revenue, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

“Mako has invested tens of millions of dollars developing a significant portfolio of technologies,” Chief Executive Officer Maurice R. Ferré said in a statement. “We are intent on protecting our leadership position in the field of robotically assisted orthopedic surgery.”

In the ITC case, Mako is seeking to block imports of the Stanmore devices. The civil suits seek cash compensation and an order blocking sales.

The Boston case is Mako Surgical Corp. v. Stanmore Implants Worldwide, 13cv10635, U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts (Boston).

The California case is Mako Surgical Corp. v. Stanmore Implants Worldwide, 13cv1221, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

To contact the reporter on this story: Susan Decker in Washington at sdecker1@bloomberg.net; Catherine Larkin in Indianapolis at clarkin4@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Bernard Kohn at bkohn2@bloomberg.net