Marketing image of Butterfly Network IQ+ handlheld ultrasound
The Butterfly Network IQ+ system [Image courtesy of Butterfly Network]

Butterfly Network (NYSE: BFLY) announced today that it asked a federal judge in Delaware to dismiss Fujifilm Sonosite’s patent infringement lawsuit against the handheld ultrasound creator.

Fujifilm Sonosite (Bothell, Washington) filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware in March. The suit claims infringement of seven patents (U.S. Patent Nos. 7,169,108; 7,867,168; 8,128,050; 8,861,822; 9,538,985; 6,901,157; and 8,360,981) involving fundamental technologies for acquiring ultrasound images at the point of care with portable handheld systems.

Guilford, Connecticut–based Butterfly Network said today that the lawsuit lacks merit and that it will mount a vigorous defense that will include consideration of “all means necessary and appropriate to eliminate obstacles to its mission to enable more informed clinical decisions for all patients worldwide.”

“We’re disappointed that Fujifilm Sonosite chose this approach. We believe this litigation is an attempt by Fujifilm Sonosite to distract from its failure to innovate and keep pace with Butterfly’s next-generation clinical assessment platform,” Butterfly SVP and Chief Legal Officer Larry Weiss said. “Our state-of-the-art technology is the result of years of innovation and is evidenced by our more than 800 patents and applications. We will continue to vigorously protect both our innovations and our intellectual property.”

This appears to be a clutch moment for Butterfly Network, with the company announcing last week that it would reduce its workforce by a tenth to help it realize efficiencies and better focus on its commercial organization and R&D. Many medtech companies are reporting macroeconomic headwinds, but Butterfly Network is sticking by its projection of full-year revenues between $83 million and $88 million.