3M has filed its third patÂent inÂfringeÂment lawÂsuit in Germany in 16 months in reÂgard to its denÂtal techÂnolÂoÂgy.
3M Co. sued GerÂman denÂtal firm DenÂtal Direkt GmbH over the weekÂend. The lawÂsuit, which was filed in Dusseldorf, Germany, said DenÂtal Direkt was not licensed to use 3M's tooth-color-matchÂing techÂnolÂoÂgy, which is emÂployed worldÂwide by denÂtists and laÂboraÂtoÂries makÂing ceÂraÂmic denÂtal resÂtoÂraÂtions.
OfÂfiÂcials of DenÂtal Direkt, which is based in Spenge, Germany, could not be reached for comÂment.
The lawÂsuit said DenÂtal Direkt ilÂleÂgalÂly used 3M's techÂnolÂoÂgy when makÂing zirÂcoÂnia CAD/CAM block proÂducts that are sold unÂder the brand names DD Bio Z and DD Bio ZX transÂluÂcent. The comÂpany also is acÂcused of ilÂleÂgalÂly using 3M's techÂnolÂoÂgy in colÂorÂing liÂquids sold unÂder the brands DD Bio Z color clasÂsic and DD Bio ZX monÂoÂlith Zero.
3M's denÂtal diÂviÂsion, called 3M ESPE, is conÂsidÂered an inÂdusÂtry leadÂer in the world of ceÂraÂmic denÂtal imÂplants, crowns and fillÂings. It has worked to imÂprove colorations and draÂmatÂiÂcalÂly speed up the time in which denÂtal labs and denÂtists can make crowns and othÂer imÂplants for paÂtients.
In AuÂgust, 3M unÂveiled a new oral scanÂner deÂsigned to quickÂly creÂate three-diÂmenÂsionÂal imÂagÂes of paÂtients' teeth so reÂalÂisÂtic-lookÂing imÂplants could be made more quickÂly.
3M ofÂfiÂcials said the Maplewood-based conÂglomÂerÂate liÂcenses its techÂnoloÂgies to much of the denÂtal inÂdusÂtry and reÂmains open to "licensÂing this techÂnolÂoÂgy to othÂer inÂterÂestÂed parÂties."
In 2013, 3M filed two patÂent inÂfringeÂment lawÂsuits against denÂtal-prodÂuct firms in Dusseldorf.
The lawÂsuit against Metoxit AG alleged inÂfringeÂment reÂgardÂing colÂorÂing liÂquids or zirÂcoÂnia blocks sold unÂder the brands Z-CAD FlowPen, Z-CAD LiÂquid HD and Z-CAD. 3M has setÂtled the othÂer lawÂsuit, against White Peaks DenÂtal Systems GmbH & Co. KG.
3M ofÂfiÂcials have said in the past they must enÂforce the paÂtents 3M reÂceives to proÂtect its growÂing annuÂal reÂsearch and deÂvelÂopÂment efÂfort.
In a meetÂing with anaÂlysts last week, CEO Inge ThuÂlin notÂed that 3M is comÂmitÂted to growÂing its denÂtal and health care busiÂness — one of its fastÂest-growÂing segÂments — and strongÂly comÂmitÂted to inÂcreasÂing its R&D comÂmitÂments.
He said 3M will inÂcrease its R&D spendÂing on new proÂducts from 5.6 percent of sales in 2013 to 6 percent of annuÂal sales by 2017. As a reÂsult, R&D spendÂing will jump from $1.5 bilÂlion in 2013 to about $1.9 bilÂlion by 2017.
Dee DePass • 612-673-7725