Cook Incorporated (Cook) has filed a complaint with the US District Court, Southern District of Indiana, against Endologix, Inc. (Endologix) claiming infringement of two critical patents for endovascular stent-grafts. The suit was filed on October 6, 2009 and asks that a jury trial be held to determine the outcome of the complaint. The two patents in question are critical for Cook in the EVAR field.
“Cook has clearly established itself as the world leader in developing advanced endovascular technologies to treat aortic aneurysms and dissections, and this suit seeks to protect that position from damages caused by Endologix’s infringement of U.S. Patents No. 5,755,777 and No. 5,035,706,” said Cook general counsel Cynthia Kretz. “As part of our vigorous defense of out patent portfolio in this area, Cook has asked the U.S. District Court to enjoin Endologix from selling all products infringing on these patents and to award Cook damages adequate to compensate for the infringement, including interest and costs.”
The `777 Patent protects Cook’s technology for its “Expandable Transluminal Graft Prosthesis for Repair of Aneurysms,” and was awarded on May 26, 1998. The `706 Patent covers Cook’s “Percutaneous Stent and Method of Retrieval Thereof,” and was granted on July 30, 1991.