Diomed Favored by Court in Patent Case

ANDOVER, Mass. –Medical device maker Diomed Holdings Inc. said Monday a judge granted a permanent injunction against AngioDynamics Inc. and Vascular Solutions Inc. in a patent case over the laser treatment of varicose veins. Diomed’s shares jumped nearly 16 percent in after-hours electronic trading following the announcement. In late March, a federal jury in Boston found that devices made by AngioDynamics of Queensbury, N.Y., and Vascular Solutions of Minneapolis infringed a Diomed patent that deals with laser treatments. The company said at the time that the jury found both companies liable and awarded combined damages of just under $12.5 million. Monday’s ruling prohibits the two companies from “promoting, marketing and selling” laser consoles or any disposable products covered by Diomed’s patent, said James A. Wylie, president and chief executive of Diomed, in a statement. Vascular Solutions said in a statement that on April 11, it converted its U.S. Vari-Lase customers to its new Vari-Lase Bright Tip fiber, which is “is clearly outside the scope of Diomed’s sole patent in this area and today’s injunction order.” SOURCE: Boston Globe