California medical device company Axonics has won its patent infringement trial after Medtronic alleged the company had copied three elements of its sacral neuromodulation technology.
The lawsuit brought before the US Court for California’s Central District by Medtronic in 2019 sought to prove that Axonics had infringed three technical elements individually patented within the Medtronic’s InterStim device. The suit argued that Axonics’ sacral neuromodulation systems, known as r-SNM, infringed US patents No. 8036756, No. 8626314, and No. 9463324, all of which pertain to the charging, temperature control, and wiring system within the device.
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Axonics announced that the first commercial implants of the Axonics rSNM System in the United States took place on October 29, 2019.
A full jury trial before the US courts cleared Axionics, finding that the company did not infringe on any of Medtronic’s patents by way of the technology being deemed obvious. In the verdict sheet issued by the court Medtronic failed to adequately prove its claims.
Speaking following the verdict, Raymond Cohen chief executive officer of Axonics, said: “A jury of our peers recognised that Axonics’ proprietary tined lead design and temperature sensor technology is differentiated from our competitor’s intellectual property.
“As we have said since this case was first filed in late 2019, our view is that Medtronic’s lawsuit was initiated to stifle competition, limit patient and physician choice, and protect the incumbent’s monopoly in sacral neuromodulation. We are very pleased with the jury’s finding and continue to remain focused on fulfilling our mission of positively impacting the lives of adults with bladder and bowel dysfunction.”
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By GlobalDataThe court case follows after Axonics was acquired by US MedTech giant Boston Scientific in a bid to expand its urology portfolio in a deal valued at approximately $3.7bn.
It also follows after a similar case before the US Patent and Trademark Office in which Axonics sought to invalidate the same patents ahead of the California trial. In that case, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) upheld Medtronic’s patents.
Elsewhere in legal battles across the medical device space, US investment firm Politan Capital has been found in contempt of court amid an ongoing dispute with medical device giant Masimo as the investment firm seeks to reselect the company’s board of directors.
