Epigenomics, RainDance, and Brightree name new leadership, and more personnel news from around the industry.

Patent attorneys suggest lawsuits from firms that buy up device patents purely to pursue litigation, which appears to have occurred recently with Medtronic’s kyphoplasty patents, may become a more common occurrence.

Despite the dire headlines, VCs are still investing in medtech start-ups, although the deals are becoming fewer and later stage. Start-ups looking for funding have to be more creative and look beyond traditional sources of funding, according to a discussion by six European venture capitalists speaking at the IN3 meeting in Dublin in April 2013.

Recently incorporated Orthophoenix, which shares the same Dallas address as IPNav, a company that provides “full-service patent monetization,” is suing six device firms for infringement of the Medtronic kyphoplasty patents it recently acquired.