Irvine-based heart valve maker Edwards Lifesciences Corp. said Thursday that a German court determined that it didn’t infringe on a patent held by Cook Inc.
Bloomington, Ind.-based Cook, a subsidiary of medical device firm Cook Group, sued Edwards in a Dusseldorf district court in 2008.
Cook had alleged that Edwards’ Sapien less-invasive heart valve directly infringed on a German patent Cook holds.
Edwards is “very pleased” with the decision, said Larry Wood, its corporate vice president who oversees the device maker’s transcatheter valve program, in a statement.
Cook will appeal the decision, said Cynthia Kretz, its general counsel. Cook believes that the court relied on an “improper interpretation” of its patented technology, Kretz said.
Edwards said its countersuit claiming invalidity of Cook’s German patent is expected to be heard in Munich in 2010. Wood said the company believed that case was “even stronger” than the infringement one.
Edwards has sued Cook in Britain to challenge the validity of Cook’s British less-invasive heart valve patent.
Cook has countersued Edwards, alleging infringement. Edwards said its suit against Cook in Britain is scheduled to be heard in May.
