General Electric Company, currently involved in federal patent litigation with SonoSite, Inc. in the Western District of Wisconsin, has filed a new action in the same court to invalidate SonoSite's "412" patent. The subject of the new litigation is GE's plans to introduce new ultrasound systems weighing less than ten pounds. In its federal complaint, GE states that SonoSite has a history of enforcing its 412 patent, having previously sued Zonare Medical Systems, Inc. over patent infringement for its ultrasound system. The complaint quotes SonoSite's vice president as saying that SonoSite will monitor the market for possible patent violations by other companies, and that the company's patent was broad enough to cover most hand-carried ultrasound units weighing less than ten pounds.

In the prior litigation, GE has alleged that Sonosite infringed GE patents. SonoSite in turn asserted counterclaims of four patent infringements against GE, seeking damages and an injunction against the accused GE products. In the most recent complaint, GE says that due to the history of the litigation, it is likely to be sued by SonoSite over its new ultrasound system in development. GE asserts that SonoSite's 412 patent is invalid.

In response to the new litigation, SonoSite has stated that there is no legal basis for GE's claims. In October 2007, SonoSite introduced its fourth generation of hand-carried ultrasound products. SonoSite manufactures ultrasound units, specializing in hand-carried units, and is headquartered in Washington state near Seattle.

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