LONDON, Dec. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- ConvaTec, a world-leading developer of innovative medical technologies, is pleased to announce that the Court of Appeal in the Royal Courts of Justice in the United Kingdom has upheld a previous court's decision validating ConvaTec's  patent for its innovative design and manufacturing process for  producing silver wound dressings.

This mirrors a similar decision in the European Patent Office last month that ConvaTec's patents for silver wound dressings around Europe are valid.

ConvaTec's AQUACEL^® Ag wound dressings include ionic silver, which kills harmful bacteria.

"We were pleased with the original court's decision to uphold our patent and are gratified with this new ruling against Smith & Nephew's appeal," said Ken Berger, CEO. "This ruling recognizes ConvaTec's scientific innovation in the wound care area and the need to protect such work."  

ConvaTec's AQUACEL^®  wound dressings have a gel-forming wound contact layer that promotes healing and protects against infection.  The AQUACEL^® Ag wound dressing adds ionic silver for even more protection against harmful bacteria.

About ConvaTec

ConvaTec is a leading developer and marketer of innovative medical technologies that have helped improve the lives of millions of people worldwide.  With four key focus areas – Ostomy Care, Wound Therapeutics, Continence and Critical Care, and Infusion Devices – ConvaTec products support healthcare professionals from the hospital to the community health setting.  The company has world class manufacturing on nearly every continent and a production network of 12 plants in nine countries. For more information, please visit www.convatec.com.

SOURCE ConvaTec