Gaymar Industries Responds To Victory In Thermacare Suit

Gaymar Industries, Inc., a worldwide manufacturer of advanced medical devices, today issued a formal response to the decision of the Washington, D.C. Federal Circuit Court of Appeals regarding Gaymar's triumph in a suit pertaining to the Gaymar Thermacare Patient Warming System.

Augustine Medical Inc. of Minnesota had charged Gaymar with infringing on its patents relating to forced airwarming blankets. The Federal Circuit's ruling determined that Gaymar did not infringe on any patents regarding its Thermacare product, and dismissed Augustine's claims. Augustine was also unsuccessful in its claims against three other major medical device manufacturers.

Gaymar spokesperson, Marc Wiley, vice president of Sales/Marketing, issued the following statement in response to the decision. "We are delighted with our victory in Federal Court that determined we did not infringe in any way on Augustine patents, and that we are free to continue to provide the medical community with Thermacare quilts. We are now more determined than ever to expand our efforts in making the benefits of Thermacare quilts known to an even wider range of potential customers. This ruling makes it clear that caregivers can offer this proven, high quality Gaymar product to their patients with complete confidence."

"We are gratified to know, too, that by prevailing in this case, our victory serves to preserve the freedom of consumers in choosing which healthcare products best fit their particular needs," Wiley said. "It is also our position that this represents a victory in the prevention of escalating medical costs, which often result from the pursuit of unsubstantiated lawsuits."