Jury Finds Medtronic Violated Stent Patents

A federal jury found that products made by Medtronic Inc.’s AVE unit infringed two pioneering stent patents owned by Johnson & Johnson’s Cordis unit. The jury reached its unanimous verdict after 6 1/2 hours of deliberation. U.S. District Judge Sue Robinson in Wilmington, Del., told members of the jury they were to return Dec. 18 to determine the damages to be awarded to Johnson & Johnson. At issue were the patents of Dr. Julio Palmaz and Dr. Richard Schatz, awarded in 1988 and 1993, that provided a less invasive alternative to open-heart surgery. The patents describe a flexible metal tube, or stent, which when inserted into clogged arteries will support vessel walls after plaque has been disbursed by dilation. Johnson & Johnson rose $1.56 to close at $97.75, while Medtronic rose $1.56 to close at $51.13, both on the NYSE.