Carl Zeiss Meditec Archives - Medical Design Sourcing

Zeiss, Topcon settle trade secret theft lawsuit

Carl Zeiss Meditec said today that it reached a favorable resolution to settle a lawsuit against Topcon subsidiaries regarding trade secrets.

The company’s suit against Topcon’s U.S.-based subsidiaries had been pending in the U.S. federal court for the Northern District of California. Zeiss said the settlement reinforces the protection of its trade secrets and “restores a level playing field for fair competition.”

In the suit, Zeiss asserted that Topcon illicitly obtained stolen company files containing highly confidential information. A court previously issued a preliminary injunction against Topcon. It then denied Topcon’s motion for summary judgment on Zeiss’ trade secret misappropriation claims. If not for the settlement, a jury trial was set to begin this month.

As part of the settlement, Topcon agreed to several concessions. It agreed to pay a substantial, undisclosed financial award ot Zeiss’ U.S. subsidia…

FDA approves Zeiss software that treats nearsightedness

The VisuMax 800 Smile pro. [Image courtesy of Zeiss]Zeiss Medical Technology announced that the FDA approved the VisuMax 800 with Smile Pro software.

The Carl Zeiss Meditec unit designed the software to treat nearsightedness, with or without astigmatism. Its latest generation of femtosecond lasers enters the U.S. market with more than 8 million eyes already treated with Smile software.

“The increasing global adoption of Smile from Zeiss represents the positive impact the small incision lenticule extraction procedure continues to have on the quality of life for patients,” said Andrew Chang, head of global sales for Ziess Medical Technology. “With the availability of the Zeiss Smile pro software module in the U.S. market, surgeons can now offer the latest refractive technology to help expand their business and provide excellent outcomes for patients.”

VisuMax 800 with Smile pro software enables faster treatment, according to a news rel…

Carl Zeiss Meditec enhances ophthalmic portfolio with $1B acquisition

Carl Zeiss Meditec announced today that it entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares in Dutch Ophthalmic Research Center.

The Germany-based company acquired DORC from the France-based investment firm Eurazeo. It expects the acquisition to enhance and complement its broad ophthalmic portfolio and range of digitally connected workflow solutions. The company develops offerings that address eye conditions such as retinal disorders, cataracts, glaucoma and refractive errors.

Carl Zeiss Meditec values the deal at €985 million (approximately $1.07 billion). It expects the deal to close in the first half of the 2024 calendar year.

The company said in a news release that the acquisition expands its position in the vitreo-retinal surgery segment. It also believes the deal strengthens its position as “the fastest-growing manufacturer of ophthalmic medical devices globally.” DORC’s portfolio includes devices, disposables and liquids f…

Zeiss to unveil new intraocular lens, other opthalmic tech

The AT Elana 841P trifocal intraocular lens. [Image courtesy of Zeiss]Zeiss Medical Technology intends to unveil new ophthalmic innovations within its cataract and corneal refractive workflows.

The Car Zeiss Meditec unit plans to showcase these technologies at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery conference next month. As part of its ecosystem, the new offerings bolster Zeiss’ leadership position in ophthalmic diagnostic and surgical workflow solutions.

Updates include a new trifocal intraocular lens, updated corneal refractive workflows and a hyperopia indication for the Smile Pro. Zeiss also plans to unveil its new Atlas 500 for cataract and corneal refractive workflows. The company also touts a refreshed Visulas portfolio with therapeutic laser enhancements and connectivity across workflows.

“Our long-proven legacy of innovation continues to meet the ever-evolving needs of healthcare providers and the billions of patients t…

FDA clears Zeiss bipolar forceps for electrosurgery

The MTLawton device. [Image from Zeiss]Zeiss Medical Technology announced that it received FDA 510(k) clearance for its MTLawton disposable bipolar forceps.

Jena, Germany-based Zeiss designed the forceps with a special copper-base alloy. MTLawton potentially reduces tissue adhesion and subsequent charring during the dissection of tissue.

The system also features an extended shaft that helps the forceps reduce visual restrictions in the surgical field. This helps surgeons with efficiency during electrosurgical procedures. MTLawton came out of a close collaboration with neurosurgeon Dr. Michael T. Lawton, according to a news release.

“The MTLawton Disposable Bipolar Forceps are a real advance in electrosurgery over aluminum forceps. Our copper-base alloy has superior thermal conduction to improve cautery-based hemostasis and reduce tissue adhesion,” said Lawton, president and CEO of the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix and chair of its Dep…