Medtronic to Pay $106.5 Million to Colibri for Heart Valve Patent Infringement

A jury in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California has awarded cardiac devicemaker Colibri Heart Valve $106.5 million for infringement by Medtronic’s CoreValve devices of Colibri’s patents for a self-expanding valve device used to replace diseased heart valves.

Colorado-based Colibri had filed the suit in May 2020, saying that each of Medtronic’s four CoreValve device systems “including their use in accordance with the guidance and instructions that Medtronic provides for these products” infringes its two patents for the devices.

The suit also stated that Medtronic has been inducing infringement of the patents by others, “such as surgeons, other medical professionals, and patients, in the United States.”

Medtronic told FDAnews that it “strongly disagrees with the ruling and will continue to vigorously defend against these allegations at the appellate level.”

Colibri did not respond to a request for comment.