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Spine surgeon confronting Johnson & Johnson over controversial spinal technology dispute

John Webb contributed to creating advanced devices branded as Synthes from 1987 to 2005, marking his design expertise during this period.

Spine surgeon confronting Johnson & Johnson over controversial spinal technology dispute

Spinal Implant Dispute: British Surgeon John Webb Takes on US Giant Johnson & Johnson

In a prolonged legal battle, renowned British surgeon John Webb, formerly attending physician to the Royal Family, is seeking compensation from the American medical titan, Johnson & Johnson. The disagreement centers around their shared history in developing groundbreaking spinal implant technology.

The current owners of the implants, Johnson & Johnson, are the result of a complex chain of mergers spanning over two decades.

Webb and an anonymous Swiss partner designed revolutionary spinal implants under the brand name Synthes between 1987 and 2005 while working for the AO Foundation research organization in Switzerland.

The devices, now in the hands of Johnson & Johnson, have stirred controversy. Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss, 89, proprietor of Chelsea Football Club, acquired the rights to Synthes devices from AO for £900 million in 2006. However, Webb and his partner allege that they unintentionally signed away their intellectual property during the transaction.

Johnson & Johnson, in a statement, maintains that there is no validity to the claimants' arguments.

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Meanwhile, ongoing legal actions involving medical devices continue to surface. For instance, McCarter & English LLP recently filed multiple first-party document requests with the FDA for MRI PowerPort, Titanium PowerPort, and Plastic Low Profile Subcutaneous Port, as of March 2025[1]. These, though not spinal implants, showcase ongoing legal activity concerning Johnson & Johnson-associated devices.

Whether related to the dispute involving John Webb and Johnson & Johnson or other medical devices, clarification often requires case-specific court filings not included in public databases such as the FDA's. For updated information, consider checking specialized legal databases like PACER or Bloomberg Law.

[1] FDA Documents, Accessed 22 March 2023

  1. In the realm of health and wellness, the legal maze around medical devices persists, as seen in the ongoing dispute between renowned British surgeon John Webb and American medical titan Johnson & Johnson over groundbreaking spinal implant technology.
  2. For those venturing into the finance industry, DIY investing can be a lucrative route, with platforms such as AJ Bell, Hargreaves Lansdown, interactive investor, InvestEngine, and Trading 212 offering guidance in navigating the world of stocks, shares, and business.
  3. Despite the ongoing implant dispute, Johnson & Johnson remains a force in the medical-conditions industry, recently facing multiple first-party document requests from McCarter & English LLP for MRI PowerPort, Titanium PowerPort, and Plastic Low Profile Subcutaneous Port, as of March 2025.
  4. As the legal battle between Webb and Johnson & Johnson unfolds, the importance of investigating your investment account choices becomes increasingly crucial. Our comprehensive guide helps you make an informed decision about the best and cheapest stocks and shares Isa and DIY investing accounts.
  5. But remember, for case-specific court filings not included in public databases like the FDA's, seeking information from specialized legal databases like PACER or Bloomberg Law might be necessary.
  6. From the dynamic world of science and technology creating innovative spinal implants to the practical realm of finance managing investments and business, both Webb's legal battle and DIY investing provide valuable lessons in the intricacies of health, business, and finance.
John Webb contributed to the conception of advanced Synthes devices from 1987 to 2005, which gained patent protection under that brand.

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