Court Says CoreValve Infringes Patent, to Pay $74 Million

February 9, 2011 – The U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware reaffirmed an April 2010 federal jury decision that determined Medtronic CoreValve LLC willfully infringed Edwards Lifesciences' U.S. Andersen transcatheter heart valve patent and awarded Edwards $74 million in damages.

The court also ruled that Edwards is entitled to recover additional damages due to continued infringing sales from the date of the trial through the life of the patent, plus interest.

In the same ruling, the court denied Edwards' motions for increased damages and a permanent injunction relating to Medtronic CoreValve's willful infringement. Edwards plans to appeal these rulings.

Edwards claims the CoreValve transcatheter aortic heart valves infringes its patents use in its Sapien transcatheter aortic heart valve. The companies are also involved in litigation over the same issue in European courts. Courts in the United Kingdom and German both said the CoreValve did not infringe the patent.

Both valves are currently in FDA pivotal trials seeking FDA clearance. Both valves are already cleared for use in Europe.

For more information: www.edwards.com