CoorsTek Bioceramics, a subsidiary of Golden-based CoorsTek Inc., has won a significant victory in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, affirming the company’s right to sell its Permallon Tru ceramic hip components in the United States. This decision upholds the 2022 ruling by the U.S. PTO Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB), which canceled trademark registrations claimed by Ceramtec GmbH.
“Alternative sourcing of these components is necessary to prevent supply shortages for this critical care market,” said Jonathan Coors, CEO of CoorsTek.
CoorsTek entered the hip arthroplasty market in 2013, offering the Permallon Tru technical ceramic material, which includes a chromium oxide additive for enhanced performance. This additive results in the natural pink coloring of the products. CoorsTek began legal proceedings in 2014 after Ceramtec attempted to enforce its trademark claims over the pink color used in its hip components. The TTAB concluded that the pink color is functional and stems from the teachings in an expired Ceramtec patent, leading to the recent U.S. Court of Appeals ruling that affirms this cancellation.
The TTAB’s 2022 decision followed a prior victory for CoorsTek in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, which was later vacated on procedural grounds. Lucian Strong, president of CoorsTek Bioceramics, said, “Products manufactured from Permallon Tru ceramic material demonstrate exceptional mechanical performance and durability. We are pleased to continue offering these products to leading medical device OEMs who have come to rely upon high-performance, high-quality components provided by CoorsTek.”
Hip systems utilizing Permallon Tru components have been registered for use by CoorsTek’s customers worldwide, including in the U.S., Korea, China and the EU.
CoorsTek Bioceramics specializes in the manufacturing of technical ceramic implant components for the medical device industry. The company focuses on ceramic bearing surfaces for total joint arthroplasty, with additional applications in neurological, cardiological, spinal and radiation fields. Since 2005, more than 6 million CoorsTek Bioceramics components have been sold for clinical use.
