AGA Medical Patent Declared Valid in U.K. Patent Infringement Lawsuit against Occlutech.MINNEAPOLIS -- AGA Medical Holdings, Inc. (AGA) today announced that a U.K. court has determined that an AGA-held patent for its Atrial Septal Defects Atrial Septal Defect Definition An atrial septal defect is an abnormal opening in the wall separating the left and right upper chambers (atria) of the heart. (ASD ASD abbr. atrial septal defect ASD Atrial septal defect, see there ) and Patent Foramen Ovale patent foramen ovale PFO Cardiology An opening between the left and right atria which allows blood to bypass the lungs in utero; the FO normally closes shortly after birth, but remains open in up to 20%; a PFO is, in absence of other cardiac defects, is of no consequence (PFO PFO Patent Foramen Ovale (defect of the heart) PFO Paphos, Cyprus - International (Airport Code) PFO Principal Federal Official (US Departement of Homeland Security) ) devices is valid. However, the U.K. court determined that Occlutech GmbH's (Occlutech) products do not infringe on AGA's patent, as AGA has contended. AGA is a leading developer of interventional devices for the minimally invasive treatment of cardiovascular defects and peripheral vascular disease Peripheral Vascular Disease Definition Peripheral vascular disease is a narrowing of blood vessels that restricts blood flow. It mostly occurs in the legs, but is sometimes seen in the arms. . AGA intends to appeal the decision that Occlutech did not infringe upon its patent. In January 2009, the German court of appeals in Dusseldorf enjoined Occlutech from infringing on the German part of AGA's European patent (EP 0 808 138). Occlutech is based in Jena, Germany. "The U.K. court decision affirms the validity of AGA's patent, while falling short of determining that Occlutech products infringe on our intellectual property, which we believe they do," said John Barr For other persons named John Barr, see . John Barr (March 4 1843 – November 19 1909) was an Ontario-based Canadian physician and political figure. He represented Dufferin in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1875 to 1879, from 1890 to 1894 and from 1898 to 1904 and , president and chief executive officer of AGA. "The patent at issue is only one of a number of patents that our company holds, and we will doggedly protect them against Occlutech and other companies as necessary." About AGA AGA Medical Holdings, Inc., based in Plymouth, Minnesota, is a leader in developing interventional devices for the minimally invasive treatment of cardiovascular defects and peripheral vascular disease. Founded in 1995 by Dr. Kurt Amplatz, a former professor and researcher at the University of Minnesota (body, education) University of Minnesota - The home of Gopher. http://umn.edu/. Address: Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. Department of Radiology, AGA Medical develops and commercializes devices for a range of structural heart repair and circulatory conditions. Several of these devices have been major innovations in the treatment of the most common congenital "holes in the heart," such as atrial septal defects and patent foramen ovales. More than 700 articles have been published in medical literature that support the benefits of AGA Medical devices, including improved patient outcomes, reduced length of stay and accelerated recovery times for the patient. AGA Medical devices have received regulatory approval and are marketed in 101 countries. For more information, visit www.amplatzer.com. |
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