Synergetics and Iridex Come to Terms

Synergetics and Iridex resolved all outstanding claims on Tuesday in the patent litigation suits related to their respective laser probe technologies. Synergetics will cough up an initial payment of $2.5 million, and continue paying $800,000 per year until 2012. The two companies, which both make lasers for eye surgery, agreed to cross license the patents in dispute without collecting any royalties. And Synergetics obtained the right to manufacture and supply various disposable products for Iridex — an end result with which Synergetics CEO Gregg Scheller was reportedly pleased. He said in a statement that revenues from the products manufactured for Iridex will “more than offset their cross licensing fees in the settlement.” The manufacturing agreement could be worth a reported $3 million in revenue over the next five years.