ITC Begins Section 337 Investigation on Imported Tourniquets
The International Trade Commission began a Section 337 investigation on imported tourniquets (ITC Inv. No. 337-TA-1364) that could lead to a general exclusion order against all imported blood flow restriction devices with rotatable windlasses, it said in a notice.
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Composite Resources Inc. (CRI), a South Carolina-based manufacturer, and North American Rescue (NAR), a medical supply distributor, complained to the ITC in April, alleging that 30 named respondents had imported knock-offs of CRI's Combat Application Tourniquet that infringed on three patents as well as trademarks and trade dress (see 2304280005).
Widespread infringement and sales through internet-based resellers made identification of other infringing parties nearly impossible, the complaint said. A general exclusion order is required to prevent circumvention due to a "widespread pattern of violation." In addition to the general exclusion order, CRI and NAR asked the commission for cease and desist orders against all the named respondents.