JURY AWARDS DOCTOR $690,000 IN PATENT DISPUTE WITH SPECTRANETICS

A New York jury has awarded a physician $690,000 in a patent litigation dispute with Spectranetics, the firm announced.

The verdict in favor of physician Peter Rentrop was handed down in the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York, Spectranetics said Feb. 20. The firm has filed several post-trial motions seeking to overturn the verdict.

Rentrop alleged that the patent issued to him Jan. 6, 2004, was infringed on by Spectranetics' Point 9 millimeter catheters, according to the firm. Spectranetics does not believe Rentrop's patent was infringed on and has asserted counterclaims of "invalidity, breach of contract and inequitable conduct."

The jury awarded Rentrop $500,000 related to royalties on the sale of the catheters, $150,000 in legal fees and $40,000 of accrued royalties for the final two months of 2006, the firm said.

Rentrop had been seeking damages of $7.5 million, consisting of treble damages on a base royalty of $2.5 million, Spectranetics said.

The firm said it is awaiting the ruling on its post-trial motions and "intends to pursue all available appeal options, if necessary."