Court approves St. Jude's settlement over pacemaker patent
During a court ruling in the patent infringement case involving St. Jude Medical, a judge from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas has dismissed the trial and approved a confidential settlement between the company and cardiologist Raul Chirife, MD.
The case, filed in December 2008 by Chirife, accused St. Jude of violating U.S. Patent No. 5,179,949, a patent covering technology used in the operation of pacemakers, which Chirife claimed he owned.
According to the Lanier Law Firm in Palo Alto, Calif., who represented Chirife during the trial, Chirife also accused St. Jude of breaching contracts, fraud and trade secret misappropriation.
“Chirife had engaged in discussions with St. Jude Medical regarding his patented technology and trade secrets under a non-disclosure agreement in 2003,” said Lanier Law Firm.
Chirife accused the company of continuing to produce pacemakers that used his patented technology without permission and without providing a licensing fee.
The case, filed in December 2008 by Chirife, accused St. Jude of violating U.S. Patent No. 5,179,949, a patent covering technology used in the operation of pacemakers, which Chirife claimed he owned.
According to the Lanier Law Firm in Palo Alto, Calif., who represented Chirife during the trial, Chirife also accused St. Jude of breaching contracts, fraud and trade secret misappropriation.
“Chirife had engaged in discussions with St. Jude Medical regarding his patented technology and trade secrets under a non-disclosure agreement in 2003,” said Lanier Law Firm.
Chirife accused the company of continuing to produce pacemakers that used his patented technology without permission and without providing a licensing fee.