Medtronic says a preliminary review of an Edwards Lifesciences patent for the Sapien heart valve by the European Patent Office went its way.
Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) is claiming a win in Europe in its patent row with Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE:EW) over their competing transcatheter aortic valve implants.
The European Patent Office issued a preliminary, non-binding ruling that the Edwards patent at the center of a dispute in Germany is invalid, Medtronic said.
In July a German court ruled that Medtronic’s CoreValve TAVI infringes an Edwards Lifesciences patent, forcing it to cede the German market to Edwards and its Sapien valve. Now it appears that the EPO plans to undercut the Edwards patent, at least according to Medtronic.