German court finds Medtronic infringes Edward Lifesciences’ patent

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A court in Mannheim, Germany, has found that Medtronic’s CoreValve, a transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) device, infringes a patent owned by Edwards Lifesciences (the Spenser patent). However, Medtronic has said that it “respectfully disagrees with the court’s decision and intends to appeal.”

According to a Medtronic press statement, in a separate European Patent Office proceeding, Medtronic and others have challenged the validity of the Spenser patent. The company believes that Edwards’ patent claims will be found to be invalid, which will negate the ruling of patent infringement.

The press statement also reported that the court’s decision only affects commercial sales of the CoreValve system in Germany. It added that these actions have no impact in any market on the Medtronic Engager valve, the Melody pulmonic transcatheter valve, or any other Medtronic product.