March 29, 2013 - A federal judge found that Johnson & Johnson infringed three patents belonging to Covidien, a healthcare products provider, and awarded Covidien $176.5 million.
The patents-at-suit cover "ultrasonic cutting and coagulation surgical devices" and were found to be infringed by the Harmonic line of ultrasonic surgery products sold by J&J's Ethicon Endo-Surgery division.
A spokesperson for Ethicon said the company is "evaluating the court's decision and our options for appeal."