A U.S. District Court jury in Marshall, Texas, has ordered Boston Scientific (Natick, Massachusetts) to pay Medtronic (Minneapolis) $250 million in damages for infringing on three patents owned by Medtronic.

"We are delighted with the results. We believe the jury did an excellent job of interpreting the evidence and the law," Medtronic spokesman Daniel Beach told Medical Device Daily.

Beach said the $250 million figure is "almost exactly the amount we requested."

Medtronic sued Boston Scientific in 2006, asserting that Boston Sci's Taxus Express2, Express2, Liberte, Maverick, Maverick2 and Quantum Maverick products infringed the Fitzmaurice and Anderson catheter patents owned by Medtronic.

The trial began on May 16 and lasted 1-1/2 weeks. It was heard by Judge T. John Ward and concluded Tuesday when jurors issued their verdict following five hours of deliberations.

A team of attorneys from law firm McKool Smith (Dallas) represented Medtronic, including firm principals Sam Baxter, Kevin Burgess, Mark Mathie, Rosemary Snider and Ted Stevenson.

"Both our team and our client are extremely pleased with this verdict," said Baxter, lead counsel for Medtronic. "The jury closely considered the facts and delivered what we believe is a just result."

The Fitzmaurice patents cover angioplasty catheters with narrowed distal ends, which improve the deliverability of angioplasty catheters. The Anderson patent covers semi-compliant angioplasty balloons. The Anderson balloons provide sufficient strength to withstand repeated inflations allowing custom vessel sizing.

In a statement, Boston Scientific said it raised a number of defenses which were not considered by this jury, but which will be heard by the U.S. District Court in Marshall on July 31.

If those defenses are successful, the jury's verdict will be set aside.

If the verdict stands, Boston Scientific said it will seek its overturn in post-trial motions, and, if necessary, appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington. The company said it is "confident" it will prevail on appeal.

Boston Scientific had claimed non-infringement, invalidity, unenforceability and other equitable relief. A federal court had previously granted Boston Scientific's summary judgment motion on one of the patents and dismissed Medtronic's claim of willful infringement.