Medtronic loses to Guidant as to validity, infringement in D. Del.

Medtronic Inc. reported Feb. 18, 2005 that a federal jury in D. Del. found that rival Guidant Corp.'s so-called Lau patent is valid and that some Medtronic stents, including the S7 and Driver stents, infringe upon certain Guidant patents.

A ruling by the judge on an asserted defense of inequitable conduct is currently outstanding. If Medtronic prevailed on this assertion, the patent could be found unenforceable, even though valid.