Medtronic sued by Abbott over stent and catheter patents

Abbott Laboratories has sued Medtronic in an effort to stop the sales of stents and catheters, following a court ruling that one of Abbott’s patents was violated.

Medtronic however said that it would start marketing the products, after an Oakland federal judge allowed a ban to be lifted.

The products in question are Medtronic’s Endeavour Zotarolimus-Eluting Coronary Stent and Driver Rapid Exchange Coronary Stent System.

In a statement, Medtronic said: “Medtronic anticipates that access to (Rapid Exchange) will increase usage of its angioplasty products in the United States.”

“Our patent on Rapid Exchange has been extended on an interim basis and remains valid,” Abbott spokesman Scott Stoffel said.

Sales of drug-coated stents topped $1.8 billion US dollars (1.1 billion pounds) in 2007, with the Rapid Exchange system being the most commonly used stent-delivery tool in the US, according to CNN.

The news organisation adds that following the judgements, shares of both Abbott and Medtronic traded higher on Thursday amid an upswing in the broader market.

Medtronic employs approximately 38,000 people and holds six major businesses within the company.