Electro Optical Systems (EOS), a manufacturer of laser-sintering systems used in a variety of industries including dentistry, has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Phenix Systems, a French company that designs, manufactures, and markets similar equipment.
EOS' laser sintering tools are used in the rapid manufacture of dental implants, crowns, and other dental restorative products. Phenix Systems also markets laser-sintering equipment for the rapid manufacture of dental prostheses.
The lawsuit, filed March 5 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, alleges that Phenix is infringing two of EOS' U.S. patents through the manufacture, sale, and use of the PXL, PXM, PXS and PXS Dental product lines in the U.S.
According to the EOS complaint, during the second half of 2011, Phenix announced the sale and use of these product lines in the U.S., even though EOS had apprised Phenix of its patent portfolio several times.
The EOS patent portfolio currently includes more than 50 patent families worldwide. The company owns exclusive worldwide rights to all patents owned by 3D Systems applicable to the field of laser sintering that were filed prior to August 20, 2002.
