Edwards Lifesciences Corp. and CoreValve Inc., a pair of Irvine-based medical device makers, on Friday claimed victories in a British patent fight over a new type of heart valve.
Edwards in a statement called the British court decision a win because it upheld the validity of its patent for a heart valve that doesn’t require major surgery.
But CoreValve issued its own release saying it prevailed because the court said its specific design didn’t infringe on Edwards’ patent.
CoreValve, which is privately held, said it was “gratified” by the British court’s decision and would continue defending its own patents, although it did acknowledge that an appeal was possible.
Edwards said it still “remains convinced” that CoreValve infringes on its patent and would consider appealing that aspect of the case.
The long legal fight is over a new type of heart valve that is seen as becoming a big part of the market in coming years.
Edwards is in U.S. clinical trials for its Sapien valve, which is already sold in Europe.
CoreValve is undergoing its own trials and could seek U.S. approval next year.
The valves are seen as the biggest development in the heart valve industry in years. They are inserted via a catheter through a vein in the legs or through the ribs, instead of during open-heart surgery.
In a separate case, Edwards said it expects a ruling from a German federal patent court on the validity of its German patent early this year.
Edwards has also filed a lawsuit against CoreValve in the U.S. for alleged patent infringement, and is appealing an October decision by a German district court that CoreValve didn’t infringe on its German patent.
