Vascular Solutions (NSDQ:VASC) said yesterday that it settled a patent infringement spat with Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX) over their respective coronary guide extension catheters, putting to rest a pair of lawsuits each had filed against the other.
Other terms of the deal were not disclosed.
"As part of the settlement agreement, all litigation between the 2 parties related to guide extension will be dismissed. The terms of the settlement are confidential," Vascular Solutions said.
Minneapolis-based Vascular Solutions sued in May 2013, alleging that Boston Scientific’s Guidezilla catheter "is a copy of VSI’s GuideLiner catheter. Guidezilla’s design, materials, and dimensions are materially the same as those of GuideLiner and those described and claimed in the patents-in-suit," according to court documents. Boston Scientific counter-sued, alleging infringement of its own patent covering the Guidezilla device.
A year ago Vascular Solutions asked Judge John Tunheim of the U.S. District Court for Minnesota to grant an injunction blocking its larger rival from "making, using, offering for sale, or selling Boston Scientific’s Guidezilla guide extension catheter, or any other guide extension catheter" that allegedly infringes the patents, according to the documents. Boston Scientific filed a sealed motion opposing the injunction bid, but Tunheim granted the injunction in December 2013. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit denied Boston Scientific’s request to stay the injunction pending appeal in January, but later ruled that there’s too much unknown to justify the ban.
Boston Scientific launched the Guidezilla catheter in July 2013 in the U.S. and Europe.