The complaint
The case is MR Access Inc. v. GE HealthCare Technologies, Inc., No. 1:26-cv-01277 (D. Del.). The complaint says MR Access was founded by magnetic resonance scientists, engineers, and radiologists with the goal of expanding access to MRI. It accuses GE's SIGNA systems "without limitation," giving as examples SIGNA 3T scanners (Bolt, Hero, Premier, Architect, Pioneer, and MAGNUS), "associated and compatible RF coils," SIGNA 7.0T scanners, and SIGNA 1.5T scanners (Sprint, Champion, Artist, Voyager, Victor, and Prime). All three patents list J. Thomas Vaughan as an inventor; the '471 patent adds the suffix Jr.
Court dockets show MR Access filed two other suits the same day: one against Koninklijke Philips N.V. and Philips Medical Systems Nederland B.V. in the Eastern District of Texas, No. 2:26-cv-00881, and one captioned MR Access Inc. v. Siemens Healthineers AG in the District of Delaware, No. 1:26-cv-01278. The GE complaint does not mention either case.
The charted claims
U.S. Patent 6,969,992, Parallel Transceiver for Nuclear Magnetic Resonance System, issued November 29, 2005. Claim 16 covers a method of selecting an imaging criteria; configuring a multi-channel transceiver for excitation based on the imaging criteria, with each channel of the transceiver coupled to a respective one of a plurality of current elements of a multi-element radio frequency magnetic resonance coil; delivering excitation to the coil; detecting a plurality of received signals as a function of the excitation; evaluating the received signals as a function of the imaging criteria; and adjusting a selected parameter of at least one channel of the transceiver, each channel controllable independent of any other channel of the transceiver. The complaint maps this claim to MultiDrive RF Transmit, including a Per-Patient Optimization mode that, according to GE materials the complaint quotes, executes a rapid calibration scan and calculates RF amplitude and phase values from the resulting RF map.
U.S. Patent RE47,026, High Field Magnetic Resonance, reissued September 4, 2018. Claim 11 covers a system with an RF transmit coil having a plurality of current elements; a multichannel transmitter whose transmit channels each couple to at least one of the current elements and are configured for independent selection of at least one of frequency, phase, magnitude, and time; and a processor coupled to the transmitter and configured to execute instructions to control a current in each element and to perform a non-linear algorithm that implements a non-linear relationship between flip angle and magnetic resonance signal intensity to shim the RF transmit coil, where the algorithm uses a penalty function that returns a value describing at least a phase and a magnitude for each current element in the RF transmit coil. The complaint alleges, on information and belief, that GE optimizes phase and amplitude, in systems with MultiDrive RF Transmit and in the SIGNA 7.0T, "through a non-linear algorithm that uses the non-linear relationship between flip angle and signal intensity to shim the coil and includes a penalty function that constrains, for example, SAR limits."
U.S. Patent 9,847,471, Method and Remotely Adjustable Reactive and Resistive Electrical Elements, issued December 19, 2017. Claim 1 covers a method of providing an RF circuit in a remote environment, the circuit including an electrical component having a characteristic impedance at a resonance frequency of the RF circuit in the remote environment; changing a characteristic of the remote environment that affects the characteristic impedance and the resonance frequency; sensing a parameter of the RF circuit and generating an electrical feedback signal based on the sensed parameter; and, based on that signal, automatically changing the electrical component to adjust both the characteristic impedance and the resonance frequency. The complaint maps this claim to SIGNA systems with AIR Technology, alleging on information and belief that systems with AIR coils have miniaturized tuning and matching circuitry in each coil.
Knowledge and relief
For knowledge, the complaint points to an October 30, 2009 information disclosure statement in a General Electric Co. application that cited the '992 patent, and to examiner citations of the '026 patent during prosecution of two later applications, one filed by General Electric Co. and one prosecuted by GE Precision Healthcare LLC, which it describes as Defendants' own patent applications. It also alleges, on information and belief, that Defendants' employees and developers have been at meetings and talks during which the inventors discussed aspects of their patented inventions, and it cites a December 13, 2024 letter that, according to the complaint, gave GE HealthCare notice of the patents and of its alleged infringement. Each count pleads direct infringement under 35 U.S.C. 271(a) and (f), induced infringement under 271(b), contributory infringement under 271(c), and willfulness. Count I alleges that Defendants infringed the '992 patent during its term and that the patent was valid and enforceable "during the period relevant to this action," although its inducement paragraph also says Defendants "continue to induce infringement." Counts II and III allege that Defendants "have infringed, and continue to infringe," the '026 and '471 patents. The complaint says MR Access has complied with 35 U.S.C. 287. The prayer asks for damages under 35 U.S.C. 284, enhanced damages, an exceptional-case finding and fees under 35 U.S.C. 285, and the injunction or ongoing royalty on the '026 and '471 patents.
What to watch next
Watch for GE's answer or any motion to dismiss, any petitions for inter partes review, and whether the Philips case in Texas and the Siemens case in Delaware move on a similar track. The case can end at any time by license, settlement, or dismissal.