Aretech, LLC Countersues Bioness, Inc., a Bioventus Company

On August 8, 2022, Aretech, LLC filed a countersuit against Bioness, Inc, alleging that Bioness engaged in fraud to secure patents from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and is now pursuing sham litigation against Aretech. In addition, Aretech has alleged claims of antitrust violations, patent invalidity, non-infringement, unenforceability, and intentional interference with business expectancy.

ASHBURN, Va., Aug. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Aretech LLC, a pioneer and leading provider of overhead robotic gait and balance systems, responded today to a patent infringement complaint previously filed by Bioness, Inc., a subsidiary of Bioventus Inc (Nasdaq: BVS). The complaint, which was filed in the U.S. District Court of Virginia on June 15, 2022, alleges that Aretech's ZeroG Gait and Balance System infringes Bioness patents. As part of its 70-page response filed on August 8, 2022, Aretech has asserted affirmative defenses and counterclaims alleging that Bioness engaged in fraud to secure patents from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and is now pursuing sham litigation against Aretech. Aretech's counterclaims allege that Bioness, while acting as Aretech's exclusive distributor, instructed an engineering firm to copy Aretech's pioneering ZeroG system along with certain enhancements that Aretech had conceived and disclosed to Bioness under the parties' distribution agreement. Aretech's counterclaims further allege that Bioness filed a patent application two days after the parties' distribution agreement was terminated and that Bioness failed to identify Aretech's founder as an inventor. In addition, Aretech has alleged claims of antitrust violations, patent invalidity, non-infringement, unenforceability, and intentional interference with business expectancy. "While we respect the intellectual property rights of third parties, we firmly believe that this patent infringement case is without merit and we intend to vigorously defend ourselves," said Dr. Joseph Hidler, founder and CEO of Aretech.

About the ZeroG Gait and Balance System
The ZeroG Gait and Balance System has been used by patients since 2008 and is intended for patients in rehabilitation who need dynamic body-weight support and are at a risk of falling. ZeroG gives therapists the opportunity to safely treat a broad range of patient populations with dynamic body-weight support in functional activities, apply TRiP perturbations while providing fall protection.

About Aretech
Aretech (http://www.aretechllc.com), headquartered in Ashburn, Virginia, is a world leader in developing advanced rehabilitation technologies for improving function and independence. The company has a strong commitment to quality, innovation, and developing technology based on evidence-based research.

Media Contact

Don Gronachan, Aretech, LLC, 1 571-292-8889, [email protected]

SOURCE Aretech, LLC