Abbott, Medtronic to Battle Over Patent

Abbott has filed a lawsuit against Medtronic for infringing on its patent for the Rapid Exchange system. The lawsuit comes on the heels of Medtronic’s announcement that it is launching its Endeavor drug-eluting stent and other angioplasty products in the U.S. on the Rapid Exchange delivery system, which it anticipates will increase use of its devices, Medtronic says. Abbott says its Xience V drug-eluting stent has rapidly become the U.S. market leader. It does not expect Medtronic’s launch of a new delivery system to change market dynamics.