| As Medical Patents Surge, So Do Lawsuits
A surge in patents that protect surgeries and other medical methods has triggered numerous lawsuits in recent years, with inventors fighting more vigorously than ever to protect their intellectual property rights. Patent lawyers say doctors and scientists are suing to protect everything from laser eye surgery techniques to stent procedures to methods for declawing a cat. The medical community is weary of the trend, noting that threats of patent infringement litigation could interfere with effective patient care. Attorney John Dragseth said he has noticed a new trend: doctors getting their own patents, and then asserting them against medical device companies in court. "Many physicians are constantly coming up with new techniques and devices.
Third & Short
TAMPA, Fla. - Mike Alstott's season, and perhaps his career, is over. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday placed the six-time Pro Bowl fullback on injured reserve with a neck problem that Alstott said was not related to a career-threatening injury that required surgery in 2003. Alstott, 33, arguably the most popular player in team history, couldn't bring himself to say that he may have played his last game. He shrugged off several retirement-related questions, saying that's something that will be answered in time. The team's second all-time leading rusher with 5,088 yards had been preparing for his 12th season, but became concerned when soreness in his neck persisted as training camp progressed at Disney World. BEREA, Ohio - Browns linebacker Willie McGinest was scheduled to have back surgery Thursday and will miss at least six weeks, another blow to a Cleveland team decimated by major injuries the past few seasons.
ORLive Presents: Diabetic Vitrectomy Surgery Lessens the Damage to Retinal Blood Vessels
Shawnee Mission Medical Center will showcase a procedure that can repair damaged blood vessels in the retinal during a live surgery Webcast on www.OR-Live.com on September 20 at 7 PM CDT. Ophthalmologist/Retina Specialist David S. Dyer, MD, of Retina Associates, will perform a procedure known as diabetic vitrectomy, which lessens the damage that may have occurred due to diabetic retinopathy, a condition that damages the blood vessels in the eye. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in American adults and is the most common diabetic eye disease. Close to fifty percent of people with diabetes have some degree of diabetic retinopathy. These blood vessels are often affected by the high blood sugar levels associated with the disease. .
Press Quotes
"Since 1987, saxophonist Julie Joslyn and drummer Leo Ciesa have been honing a surprisingly rewarding performance style built around short, sharp works that pick you up and throw you against the wall over the course of about two minutes. The Dreadful Dance is their latest set of jagged tonal tantrums." --Richard Gehr, The Village Voice, NYC
“Their 17 pieces last 40 minutes and each is a perfectly sculpted rock vignette with as much structural integrity as any two-minute workout could need. Their hard-edged energy is nonstop, but, refreshingly, doesn't slide into ruts; it jumps, it turns corners, and changes tempo with finer attention to detail than you expect from such Downtown noisemakers." --Kyle Gann, The Village Voice, NYC
“Drummer Leo Ciesa and saxophonist Julie Joslyn bare sharp teeth in their electronically augmented duets; their sometimes disturbing neon-noir effects always demonstrate more harnessed musicianship than your garden variety noisemongers --Richard Gehr, The Village Voice, NYC
"These are two mighty dexterous musicians.
Business owners, leaders discuss health care reform
FORT COLLINS -- Nobody has a complete cure for Colorado's ailing health care system, but as state lawmakers prepare to tackle the issue next spring, they'll have a team of specialists ready to help.
Several business owners and community leaders filled a room at the Fort Collins Hilton Wednesday morning for the first of several planned meetings of the new Business Health Forum, which is intended to bring business into the discussion about health care reform.
Colorado lawmakers, members of the health care industry and many other groups are working on plans to bring affordable health insurance coverage to all Coloradans.
Whatever the final proposal looks like, business needs to be more involved, Amy Fletcher, associate director of the health forum, told the participants.
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