Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. v. Cordis Corp.

392 F. Supp. 2d 676, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23612, 2005 WL 2605562
CourtDistrict Court, D. Delaware
DecidedOctober 14, 2005
DocketCIV. 03-283-SLR, CIV. 03-1138-SLR
StatusPublished

This text of 392 F. Supp. 2d 676 (Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. v. Cordis Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, D. Delaware primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. v. Cordis Corp., 392 F. Supp. 2d 676, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 23612, 2005 WL 2605562 (D. Del. 2005).

Opinion

MEMORANDUM OPINION

SUE L. ROBINSON, Chief Judge.

I. INTRODUCTION

Plaintiffs Boston Scientific Corporation and Boston Scientific Scimed, Incorporated (collectively “BSC”) filed this action against defendants Cordis Corporation, Johnson & Johnson, Incorporated, Guidant Corporation, Guidant Sales Corporation, and Advanced Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. (collectively “Cordis”) alleging Cordis’ Cypher stent infringes claims 33 and 40 of U.S. Patent No. 6,251,920 (“the ’920 patent”).

Pending before the court are Cordis’ motions for summary judgment. (C.A. No. 03-283-SLR, D.I. 374, 376) On August 18, *679 2005, the court heard oral arguments on these motions. The court has jurisdiction over these matters pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1338.

II. BACKGROUND

The ’920 patent generally relates to a method for treating or preventing cardiovascular pathologies by administration of a therapeutic agent. One of the original applications, Application PCT/US92/08220 (“the ’08220 application”), was filed on September 25, 1992. That application was abandoned. On January 28, 1993, Application Number 08/011,669 (“the ’669 application”) was filed as a continuation-in-part of the ’08220 application and subsequently abandoned. Application Number 08/062,-451 (“the ’451 application”), filed May 13, 1993 as a continuation-in-part of the ’669 application, also was later abandoned. On May 12, 1994, Application Number 08/241,-844 (“the ’844 application”) was filed as a continuation-in-part of the ’451 patent and subsequently abandoned. On May 21, 1998, Application Number 09/082,643 (“the ’643 application”), which led to the ’920 patent, was filed as a continuation-in-part of the ’844 application. The ’08220 application, ’669 application, ’451 application and ’844 application are incorporated by reference into the ’920 patent. (’920 patent, col. 1,11. 11-18)

The other original application, Application Number 08/061,714 (“the ’714 application”), was filed May 13, 1993. That application was abandoned. On May 12, 1994, Application Number 08/242,161 (“the ’161 application”, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,847,007) was filed as a continuation-in-part of the ’714 application. Application Number 08/486,334 (“the ’334 application”, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,770,609) was filed on June 7, 1995 as a continuation-in-part of the ’161 application. The ’643 application, which led to the ’920 patent, is a division of the ’334 application. The ’714 application, T61 application, and ’334 application are incorporated by reference into the ’920 patent. (’920 patent, col. 1,11. 5-11)

Claim 40 1 of the ’920 patent depends from claim 33 2 and discloses localized administration of the therapeutic agent at a site of vascular trauma. The court has construed the disputed limitations of these claims in an order which has issued concurrently with this memorandum opinion.

The accused device, the Cypher stent, is a drug-eluting Bx Velocity balloon expandable stent.

III. STANDARD OF REVIEW

A court shall grant summary judgment only if “the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law.” Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(c). The moving party bears the burden of proving that no genuine issue of material fact exists. See Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586 n. 10, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986). “Facts that *680 could alter the outcome are ‘material,’ and disputes are ‘genuine’ if evidence exists from which a rational person could conclude that the position of the person with the burden of proof on the disputed issue is correct.” Horowitz v. Fed. Kemper Life Assurance Co., 57 F.3d 300, 302 n. 1 (3d Cir.1995) (internal citations omitted). If the moving party has demonstrated an absence of material fact, the nonmoving party then “must come forward with ‘specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial.’ ” Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 587, 106 S.Ct. 1348 (quoting Fed.R.Civ.P. 56(e)). The court will “view the underlying facts and all reasonable inferences therefrom in the light most favorable to the party opposing the motion.” Pa. Coal Ass’n v. Babbitt, 63 F.3d 231, 236 (3d Cir.1995). The mere existence of some evidence in support of the nonmoving party, however, will not be sufficient for denial of a motion for summary judgment; there must be enough evidence to enable a jury to reasonably find for the nonmoving party on that issue. See Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 249, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986). If the nonmoving party fails to make a sufficient showing on an essential element of its case with respect to which it has the burden of proof, the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. See Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986).

IY. DISCUSSION

A. Cordis’ Motion For Summary Judgment That Claims 33 and 40 of the ’920 Patent Are Invalid Under 35 U.S.C. § 112

Cordis argues that claims 33 and 40 of the ’920 patent are invalid under 35 U.S.C. § 112 for three reasons. First, Cordis posits that the asserted claims are indefinite because they omit essential claim language. Second, Cordis contends that the specification does not enable the asserted claims because it does not provide sufficient teaching for one of skill in the art to practice the claimed invention without undue experimentation. Finally, Cordis argues that the specification does not provide an adequate description of the claimed invention so as to demonstrate that the inventors were in possession of the full scope of the claims.

A patent is presumed valid and the burden of proving invalidity, whether under § 112 or otherwise, rests with the challenger. See 35 U.S.C. § 282.

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