Medtronic Inc. (NYSE:MDT) is touting a ruling by the U.S. Appeals Court for the Federal Circuit affirming its rights to a pair of patent claims, even though it’s still waiting on a lower court to decide if the $2.7 million award in the case should be reduced.
The court upheld two of the U.S. District Court for Eastern Pennsylvania’s rulings concerning alleged spine technology patent infringement by Globus Medical Inc., but ordered the lower court to reconsider a $2.7 million award to Medtronic.
The appellant court’s Jan 26 decision validated a district court jury’s Oct. 2008 finding that the patents related to Medtronic’s CD Horizon Sextant spinal stabilization system are valid and were infringed by Globus Medical but overturned two other claims in the case and remanded it back to Eastern Pennsylvania for a re-calculation of the damages award.
The Medtronic system is designed to provide a "minimally invasive method of placing implants that provide stabilization during spinal fusion surgery," according to the Fridley, Minn.-based company.
"The decision validates the solid patents we have protecting our minimally invasive portfolio and we remain committed to vigorously defending important intellectual property brought to us through inventing surgeons,” Medtronic Spine business general manager Doug King said in prepared remarks.
Medtronic was on the losing side of a $74 million patent infringement judgment yesterday over its CoreValve aortic valve replacement, although the judge in that case ruled that it can still sell the devices. Plaintiff Edwards Lifesciences Inc. (NYSE:EW) is planning to appeal that decision.
