Olympus Challenges Given Imaging Patents

YOQNEAM, Israel, Jan. 9 -- Given Imaging announced yesterday that Olympus Corp. has submitted a request to the US Patent and Trademark Office to re-examine certain claims of one of Given Imaging's five US patents.

Given said the process is expected to be protracted and no final decision is expected this year. Since the request does not propose that Given Imaging has infringed a third-party patent, the company said, it cannot limit marketing and sales of its diagnostic imaging system and M2A capsule endoscope.

"This initiative is an indication that Olympus shares our view that the market for capsule endoscopy holds enormous potential and has attracted their attention," said Gavriel D. Meron, president and CEO of Given Imaging.

For more information, visit: www.givenimaging.com