Federal Judge Rules Against Medtronic in Patent Infringement Case

A federal judge ruled this week that Medtronic must pay rival Synthes $7.4 million in a patent infringement lawsuit over artificial spinal discs.

The decision by US District Judge John Phipps McCalla follows a Memphis-TN jury’s verdict Friday against the Fridley, MN-based medical device maker. 

Jurors believe Medtronic willfully infringed a patent on artificial discs that are made by Spine Solutions Inc., a company that Synthes, a global company with Swiss roots, purchased  several years ago. 

“We don’t think this verdict is supported by the facts, and we intend to appeal,” Medtronic spokeswoman Marybeth Thorsgaard said. 

For the time being, Medtronic can continue to sell the artificial disc products, which are currently only sold overseas, despite the jury’s finding that the firm is infringing on the competitor’s patent. The company is pursuing federal clearance to sell them in the United States, according to court documents. 

It is possible, though, that Synthes might still request a court order to get Medtronic to stop selling the artificial spin discs, which include the Maverick, A-Mav and O-Mav brand devices. 

Synthes spokesman Gilgian Eisner said it’s his understanding that Medtronic can keep selling the discs but must pay Synthes royalties on sales.