St. Jude Medical has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Volcano Corp. that accuses the company of infringing on key patents used for St. Jude's PressureWire interventional technology for its PrimeWire products. Both companies use an index called Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) to evaluate blood flow blockages in the heart. St. Jude acquired the technology from Radi Medical Systems when it acquired the firm in 2008.
"St. Jude Medical has made significant investments in the interventional cardiology space, including the coronary assessment and more recently the coronary imaging markets,” says Frank Callaghan, president of the St. Jude Medical Cardiovascular Division. “From clinical research to important product advancements, Radi Medical Systems and now St. Jude Medical have contributed considerably to the success of this marketplace. As a company that values the innovations we bring to the marketplace, we intend to protect our intellectual property.”
St. Jude Medical also filed a legal complaint this week alleging that former executive Joseph McCullough violated an employment agreement by leaving the company and joining competitor Medtronic soon after. St. Jude says that McCullough, who was group president of the company's U.S. and international division, had "complete and unfettered access to the company's most sensitive and confidential information" about business development and global operations. One of the juicier bits of information he could have given Medtronic? Details about a program for replacement heart valves inserted without major invasive surgery. Medtronic is currently a player in that market.