Medtronic Seeks to Overturn $394 Million CoreValve Verdict

Medtronic is requesting that a federal judge in Delaware order a retrial, or at least reduce $394 million in damages, after a jury found the medical device giant willfully infringed on an Edwards Lifesciences' patent with its CoreValve transcatheter heart valve.

Edwards is still awaiting a decision on its request to enjoin Medtronic's entrance into the U.S. market with the CoreValve System, which Edwards claims violates one of its patents.

Medtronic in an opening brief filed this week argues that it deserves a retrial because the court improperly excluded technical evidence about the CoreValve.

"There was no basis to preclude Medtronic from entering evidence that clearly shows--as a matter of law--that the CoreValve cannot infringe any of the asserted claims," Metronic lawyer argued in a brief field Wednesday.

Medtronic is also arguing that the jury overestimated Edwards' lost profits while awarding damages. It also claims the $394 overlaps with damages from a 2010 federal jury finding that Medtronic CoreValve LLC willfully infringed on Edwards' U.S. Andersen transcatheter heart valve patent.

The finding in the Andersen case was upheld on appeal, with Medtronic making an initial payment of $84 million to Edwards last year.

Last month's ruling in Delaware is a big deal for Edwards. The company has had trouble meeting U.S. sales projections for its flagship product: the Sapien percutaneous heart valve, which is still the only transcatheter aortic valve replacement product on the domestic market.

Medtronic entering the U.S. market with the CoreValve could further erode sales for the Sapien.

Medtronic had success last year getting the CoreValve back on the German market on appeal.