Doctor Files Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Abbott Laboratories

A New Jersey doctor who claims Abbott Laboratories infringed his patent used for heart devices has filed a lawsuit against the Abbott Park, Ill.-based device manufacturer.

In the suit filed in federal court in Marshall, Texas, Bruce Saffran, who earlier won a $500 million verdict against Natick, Mass.-based Boston Scientific Corp., said Abbott has used his invention related to stents used to prop open heart arteries.

“Abbott has willfully undertaken and carried out the aforesaid infringing activity with knowledge of” the patent, according to the lawsuit.

Adelle Infante, an Abbott spokeswoman, said the company “believes that this patent is not valid and its product does not infringe.”