Premier Laser Accused of Patent Infringement

Premier Laser Systems Inc., an Irvine maker of dental lasers, has been accused of patent infringement by a Salt Lake City company. BriteSmile Inc. claims in a lawsuit filed last week in U.S. District Court in Utah that Premier’s argon laser system used in teeth-whitening procedures infringes on its patent for a competing product. Premier said that the complaint is without merit and that it will defend itself aggressively. Premier rocketed to international attention last spring when one of its laser systems became the first to be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treating tooth decay. That product is not part of the dispute with BriteSmile.