Sound Sleep

A Winter Haven respiratory device distributor is considering adding a production center that will create up to 30 manufacturing jobs by early next year — if it can secure a state direct-to-patient sales license for home medical equipment.

The company, 3B Medical Inc., is the U.S. distributor for Chinese respiratory mask-maker BMC Medical Co. Ltd. The manufacturing opportunity stems from a complicated legal settlement. In January, 3B Medical announced a five-year settlement with ResMed, a San Diego-based firm. ResMed produces devices that treat and manage sleep apnea and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, in addition to cloud-based software that remotely monitors more than 2 million patients around the world.

3B Medical and BMC Medical had been embroiled in a legal dispute with ResMed since 2014, with litigation before the U.S. International Trade Commission, in Florida and California district courts, and in China and Germany. ResMed claimed 3B Medical was distributing BMC Medical Chinese-made products that violated its CPAP humidifier, nasal mask and nasal pillow interface patents. 3B alleged RedMed was guilty of antitrust violations.