Court cuts Boston Scientific patent penalty

Boston Scientific Corp., the Natick medical device maker, said today that a US District Court has reduced a patent dispute award owed to rival Medtronic Inc. from $250 million to $19 million.

In May, a Texas jury ruled that several Boston Scientific devices used to clear and prop open arteries infringed three Medtronic patents.

Boston Scientific stated Friday a U.S. District Court in Marshall, Texas, ruled that two of those patents are invalid and reduced Medtronic's award to $19 million.

Natick, Mass.-based Boston Scientific said it planned to appeal the $19 million decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

On the New York Stock Exchange, shares of Medtronic Inc. fell 49 cents Friday to $54.72 while shares of Boston Scientific Corp. fell 18 cents to $12. (AP)