Corporate Report

Kinetic Concepts wound-care patent negated in Germany

Smith & Nephew Inc.'s Advanced Wound Management division in St. Petersburg reports that the German Federal Patent Court in Munich ruled that the Wake Forest patent for negative-pressure wound therapy licensed to San Antonio-based Kinetic Concepts Inc. is invalid in Germany.

Smith & Nephew and KCI have been involved in litigation in the United States which has led to the rejection of three KCI patents by the U.S. Patent Office.

“Having cleared this legal hurdle in Germany ensures our ability to provide patients with the optimal care and clinicians with choice when utilizing NPWT,” Robin Carlstein, senior vice president of Advanced Wound Devices at Smith & Nephew, said in a press release. “Smith & Nephew takes intellectual property rights seriously and considers such issues carefully before any new product launches. We are extremely pleased with the German Federal Court's decision.”

Smith & Nephew is a global medical technology business that specializes in orthopeadics, including reconstruction, trauma and clinical therapies, endoscopy and advanced-wound management.

ETC.

Technology Research
issuing cash dividend
Technology Research Corp. announced a planned 2-cent dividend for the newest quarter. The Clearwater-based company plans to issue it on April 15. Technology Research designs, manufactures and markets electrical-safety products.

Odato agency to open
new office in Pittsburgh
Sarasota-based advertising, public relations and Internet marketing agency Odato Marketing Group Inc. is opening an office in Pittsburgh.
Odato, launched five years ago, recently acquired property near downtown and plans to add freelance and staff talent as business grows in that market.
“Sarasota is my home now and I enjoy being part of our business community,” said a company press release. “Over the last few years, we've done project work for clients in Pittsburgh and we want to expand our presence there.”

Sun Hydraulics Corp.
plans 9-cent dividend
Sarasota-based Sun Hydraulics Corp. announced a 9-cent per share dividend on its common stock. The dividend is payable on April 15, to shareholders of record as of March 31.
Sun Hydraulics is a designer and manufacturer of high performance screw-in hydraulic cartridge valves and manifolds.

Lakewood-Amedex appoints
former Pfizer exec to board
Lakewood-Amedex Inc., a Sarasota-based development-stage biopharmaceutical company focusing on a portfolio of anti-bacterial and anti-viral products, appointed William J. Robison, a former Pfizer senior executive, to the company's board of directors.
Most recently, Robison was an executive vice president of Pfizer until he retired in 2001. He joined the company's pharmaceutical sales division in 1961 and eventually became senior vice president of sales for Pfizer Labs. He was subsequently named general manager for Pratt Pharmaceuticals, and in 1992 was named president of Pfizer's consumer healthcare group and made a Pfizer corporate officer. In 1996, he joined Pfizer's corporate management committee and was promoted to the position of executive vice president and head of worldwide corporate employee resources.

Lee Roy Selmon's restaurants
lowers menu prices, adds TVs
In reaction to the current economic slowdown, Lee Roy Selmon's restaurant chain has lowered its prices. The average lunch now costs $6.49, and the average dinner entree is $9.99, down from $12 and $17, respectively.
OSI Restaurant Partners LLC sold the restaurant chain in 2007 to an entity controlled by Bob Basham and Chris Sullivan.
Also, the chain is investing in new TV screens throughout the restaurant and bar areas at its locations to continue to attract sports fans.
“My aim has always been to create a casual place where people come together to enjoy soul-satisfying food and one another,” said Selmon, the NFL Hall of Famer formerly with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. “Now with lower prices, our famous recipes and advanced technology for sports fans, I know we have a winning combination for saying to heck with economic bad news and yes to celebrating the simple pleasures of American life.”

Royal Blue Services expands
into St. Petersburg
Bradenton-based Royal Blue Services LLC is expanding its service area to include St. Petersburg.
The company's residential services include carpet, tile, grout, furniture and window cleaning along with pressure washing and estate clean out. It also has a commercial division offering janitorial cleaning, commercial window cleaning, floor care, vinyl composition tile maintenance, and office cleaning.