Medtronic Must Pay J&J for Patent Infringement

Medtronic lost a patent infringement case in federal court last week and must now pay $226.3 million to rival Johnson & Johnson (J&J).

A Medtronic subsidiary was found to have infringed on a spinal screw patent owned by DePuy Spine, a unit of J&J.

The judge rejected Medtronic’s argument to overturn a verdict earlier this year that found Medtronic infringed on the patent.

At a hearing Dec. 19, a U.S. district judge in Boston will consider DePuy’s request for an injunction preventing Medtronic from using the screws. Medtronic spokesman Bert Kelly said the company will wait to hear that decision before determining its next legal steps. The company has retained appellate counsel and may appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.