Medtronic Ordered Not to Sell Screws in Dispute

Medical device maker Medtronic Inc. said Wednesday that a California judge had barred the company from selling a redesigned product that is the subject of a patent lawsuit filed by Biomet Inc.

Medtronic said it would appeal the injunction, which was issued Tuesday and takes effect Aug. 22.

A judge last year ordered Medtronic -- the biggest maker of spinal implants -- to stop selling some polyaxial screws used in spinal surgery and later ruled that Medtronic’s redesigned screws also infringed Biomet’s patent. The latest ruling halts the sales of the new screws.

The lawsuit, which was filed in federal court in Santa Ana, is related to multi-axial screws that are used in spinal fusion surgery to repair degenerative disc disease, deformity or injuries.

“We disagree with this ruling and believe the judgments against Medtronic will be successfully challenged on multiple grounds ranging from procedural issues to more complex issues of patent interpretation and validity,” said Michael DeMane, senior vice president and president of Minneapolis-based Medtronic’s spinal and navigation divisions.

The injunction doesn’t prevent Medtronic from providing customer support to surgeons who used the disputed polyaxial screws.

A spokesman for Biomet said it would like to settle the case before the injunction takes effect. Warsaw, Ind.-based Biomet makes artificial hips and knees.

Interpore Cross International -- the parent company of Cross Medical Products, which supplies Biomet with the contested screws -- is based in Irvine.

Shares of Medtronic rose 22 cents to $53, while Biomet shares fell 5 cents to $38.76.

Bloomberg News and Reuters were used in compiling this report.