Medtronic Responds to Verdicts in Guidant Stent Litigation

Medtronic has announced that a Delaware jury rendered verdicts in patent litigation between Medtronic and the ACS subsidiary of Guidant, stating that Guidant's patents on its Lau stent are valid and that certain Medtronic stents, including the S7 and Driver stents, infringe those patents.

The jury verdict represents the end of the jury phase of the trial but does not conclude this court proceeding. A further hearing regarding Medtronic's claim that Guidant's patent is unenforceable due to "inequitable conduct" will be conducted by the U.S. District Court in Delaware at a time yet to be determined by the court.

The jury's findings do not inhibit Medtronic from selling its coronary stents in the U.S. and have no jurisdiction over the sale of such products outside the U.S. In addition, the jury's verdict has no immediate impact on the commercialization of the Endeavor Drug Eluting Coronary Stent outside the U.S. or the ENDEAVOR Clinical Program.